Augustana is an alternative rock (or piano rock) band that originally met a… Read Full Bio ↴Augustana is an alternative rock (or piano rock) band that originally met and formed at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois, United States. The original band members included Dan Layus, Josiah Rosen, Simeon Lohrmann, and Kyle Baker. The band recorded Midwest Skies and Sleepless Mondays on campus in early 2003. After locally releasing their Mayfield EP, the band parted ways with drummer Kyle Baker and bass player Simeon Lohrmann; and added Josh Calhoun (drums) and Jared Palomar (originally keys, moved to bass guitar) to the lineup. Soon after, the band decided to quit school and head to Los Angeles in search of a label. Augustana quickly signed by Epic Records in California during 2004. Josh Calhoun was replaced by Justin South. Their first major-label album, All the Stars and Boulevards, was produced by Epic Records and catapulted them into the spotlight. The band is perhaps best known for its single, Boston, whose music video features the lead singer on a beach full of pianos and was featured on the WB show "One Tree Hill." Their music has also been largely played on NBC's comedy, Scrubs. Characterized by piano lines and the breathy vocals of Dan Layus (the lead singer), Augustana's sound is at once contemplative and slow, but also captivating. Josiah Rosen left the band in April of 2006. Chris Sachtleben replaced Josiah. David Lamoureux also parted ways with the band end of 2006/early 2007. John Vincent replaced David.

In early 2014 the band announced that they had signed with Razor & Tie. On April 22, 2014, Augustana released the album, Life Imitating Life. On September 2, 2015, Augustana release three new tracks ("Climb", "Must Be Love" and "You Can Have Mine").

In 2016, they began touring as an opener for the Dixie Chicks on their DCX MMXVI World Tour. On August 3, 2016, Augustana's social media sites changed their named to Dan Layus, the name of the sole remaining founding member and lead singer/songwriter. Dan Layus released the album, "Dangerous Things," on October 21, 2016.

The band members are:
Dan Layus (lead vocals, piano, guitar)
Jared Palomar (bass, keyboards, vocals)
Chris Sachtleben (lead guitar, mandolin)
Justin South (drums)
John Vincent (keyboards, vocals)

Former band members include:
Simeon Lohrmann (bass, vocals)
Josiah Rosen (lead guitar, vocals)
Kyle Baker (drums)
Josh Calhoun (drums)
David Lamoureux (keyboards, vocals)

Fire
Augustana Lyrics

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No it don't come easy
No it don't come fast
Lock me up inside your garden
Take me to the riverside

[Chorus]
Fire burning me up
Desire taking me so much higher

And leaving me home

There you were in your black dress
Moving slow to the sadness
I could watch you dance for hours
I could take you by my side

[Chorus]

Its like fire turning me on

Desire taking me so much higher
And leaving me home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Augustana’s song Fire contain two distinct ideas that appear to be intertwined. On the one hand, there is the idea of attraction and connection, which is exemplified in the lines “Lock me up inside your garden, take me to the riverside.” These lines suggest a desire to be with someone, to feel close to them, to be held and surrounded by their presence. The repetition of the chorus lines about “Fire burning me up, desire taking me so much higher” reinforces this idea of being swept away by passion and intimacy.

However, there is also a sense of melancholy and loss present in the song. The lines “There you were in your black dress, moving slow to the sadness” suggest that the object of the singer’s desire is unhappy or perhaps mourning. The lines “I could watch you dance for hours” and “And leaving me home” suggest that the singer is a passive observer, longing for connection but unable to fully participate in the other person’s life. This contrast between desire and separation underscores the sense of unease and longing that permeates the song.

Overall, Fire is a complex meditation on the nature of desire, attraction, and connection. Through its use of both positive and negative imagery, the song conveys the complexity of human relationships and the ways in which they can both create and destroy us.

Line by Line Meaning

No it don't come easy
Achieving greatness is not a simple task

No it don't come fast
Success takes time and effort

Lock me up inside your garden
Let me be close to you, in a safe and protected place

Take me to the riverside
Bring me to a place that is peaceful and calming

[Chorus]
The feeling of desire is powerful, like fire, and it takes me to a higher level, but ultimately leaves me longing for more

There you were in your black dress
I saw you looking stunning in your outfit

Moving slow to the sadness
You were dancing slowly to a melancholic tune

I could watch you dance for hours
I was so captivated by your moves that I could have kept watching you for a long time

I could take you by my side
I wanted to be close to you and share the moment

Its like fire turning me on
The feeling of desire is like a burning flame inside of me

And leaving me home
But ultimately, it leaves me feeling empty and longing for more