BALLYHOO! is undeniably turning the world of music upside down and sideways as they blur the lines between rock, reggae, punk and pop to craft their own hybrid of music that can’t be held down to one definitive genre. This signature sound of theirs is one they have been perfecting since their high school days in Aberdeen, Maryland - the sweet melodic voice of lead singer and guitarist Howi Spangler; the hard hitting beats set forth by brother and drummer Donald “Big D” Spangler; the skillfully added funk of bassist JR Gregory and Scott Vandrey (aka DJ Blaze) rounds it out on the turntables and keys.
BALLYHOO!’s unique sound, hardcore devotion to the road and to their fans, partnered with their irresistible “life of the party” approach have pitched them into the position of America’s favorite feel good party band. They didn’t get here by accident; rather, they had been single-handedly growing their empire through unparalleled hard work and dedication until Jan 2011, when they got a well-deserved nod from LAW Records and were signed to the Hawaii-based independent record label. Yesod Williams of the dub rock music mega-sensation PEPPER and owner of LAW Records says of his newest addition, “Having BALLYHOO! join the LAW Records family is a perfect fit. They are an incredibly talented band with a really catchy style”. Now, with the backing of LAW, 2011 promises to be a paramount year on BALLYHOO!’s trajectory destined for greatness!
BALLYHOO! has toured the country with some of the biggest and most respected names in the reggae rock genre – 311, Authority Zero, Pepper, The Supervillains. “It’s always intimidating when playing for another band’s crowd, you never know how they’re gonna react,” explains front man Howi, “but then you see that they’re enjoying it and the worry goes away. You’re free to rock at that point!”.
BALLYHOO! will start their tour of the southeast with fellow label mates Iration in February 2011. Their rigorous, nonstop nationwide touring schedule has certainly been the catalyst for the exponential growth in their fan base. BALLYHOO! fans are some of the most loyal and enthusiastic fans out there and their love for the band runs deep.
In 2006, BALLYHOO! released Do It For The Money! which “opened a lot of doors for us and spread like wildfire in the underground” says Howi. Their follow up album, Cheers!, was released in May of 2009 and was an opportunity to work with 311’s Scotch Ralston as the producer. In addition, BALLYHOO!’s stellar rendition of “40 Oz. To Freedom” is featured on the compilation album, Forever Free: A Tribute to Sublime, and helped stimulate a surge in their popularity. Fans can also hear their songs on the Rock Band Network and in feature films.
BALLYHOO! currently has a single out on iTunes (“The Front Porch”) and when they aren’t on the road, they are in the studio, finishing their new album, which is slated for release on LAW Records in the summer of 2011.
http://www.ballyhoorocks.com
http://www.facebook.com/Ballyhoo
Last Breath
Ballyhoo! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And no matter how close I get you're still six feet away
If you could show me the sun
I could accept this but I can't forget
Cuz I know that you're the one that made me who I am
(Chorus)
I need to have you there
I need to have you there
Cuz it's not the same, no it's not the same
So tell me how loved you been
Is it like we hoped it would be (like we hoped it would be)
Can you see me staring back at you,
With my youth around my feet
And the eyes see you that day
It was too strong for you to carry on
As you lay and drift away
I lose my faith cuz there is no god
(Chorus)
I need to have you there
Cuz it's not the same, no it's not the same
I need to have you there
Cuz it's not the same, no it's not the same
Someone once told me that these arms could save a life or two
But it still kills me to know that I could not save you
(Chorus)
I need to have you there
Cuz it's not the same, no it's not the same
I need to have you there
Cuz it's not the same, no it's not the same
In "Last Breath," Ballyhoo! sings about the pain of losing someone they love and feeling a distance between themselves and the person they lost, even after death. The opening lines set the tone for the song, with the singer feeling helpless and unable to express themselves: "Stand beside myself with no words left to say, And no matter how close I get you're still six feet away." The use of the six feet distance, which is often cited as the recommended distance for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, adds a powerful layer of meaning to the lyrics, making them more poignant and relatable.
The chorus repeats the need to have the person they have lost close, as the singer knows that life is not the same without them. The following verse is full of regret and unanswered questions, asking if the person they lost had fully experienced love and if they could see the singer from beyond the grave. The line, "It was too strong for you to carry on," implies that the lost one may have taken their own life, and the singer is grappling with that loss of control and the despair that follows.
The final lines of the song, "Someone once told me that these arms could save a life or two, but it still kills me to know that I could not save you," are heart-wrenching and speak to the feeling of helplessness and guilt that often accompanies loss. Overall, "Last Breath" is a powerful song about love, loss, and the deep connection that can exist between people even after death.
Line by Line Meaning
Stand beside myself with no words left to say,
I am standing next to myself, unable to express the words I want to say.
And no matter how close I get you're still six feet away
I cannot get close enough to you, you always feel six feet away from me.
If you could show me the sun
If you could bring light into my life.
I could accept this but I can't forget
I would be able to move on, but I cannot forget what you have done to me.
Cuz I know that you're the one that made me who I am
I realize that you have played a large role in shaping me as a person.
I need to have you there
I require your presence in my life.
Cuz it's not the same, no it's not the same
My life has changed in a way that cannot be replicated without you.
So tell me how loved you been
Please let me know how much love you have experienced in your life.
Is it like we hoped it would be (like we hoped it would be)
Has your life turned out as we had imagined it would?
Can you see me staring back at you,
Are you aware of my presence and my gaze upon you?
With my youth around my feet
As a young person, I stand before you.
And the eyes see you that day
I vividly recall the day I saw you.
It was too strong for you to carry on
The emotions or events from that day were too overwhelming for you to handle.
As you lay and drift away
As you pass away or fade from memory.
I lose my faith cuz there is no god
I lose hope and belief in a higher power or meaning.
Someone once told me that these arms could save a life or two
Someone once told me that my embrace or support could save someone's life.
But it still kills me to know that I could not save you
It pains me to realize that I was unable to save you despite my best efforts.
Contributed by Victoria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.