Current members of Blue October include Justin Furstenfeld (lead vocals), Ryan Delahoussaye (violin/viola, mandolin, keyboards, and vocals), Jeremy Furstenfeld (drums, percussion), Matt Noveskey (bass guitar) and Will Knaak (guitar).
Popularized by their platinum-certified album Foiled (2006), which features the hit singles “Hate Me” and “Into the Ocean,” the group has continued to evolve… shifting from a far more pensive sound to one that is more optimistic and reflective of lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Justin Furstenfeld’s transformation—which will also be the focus of his soon-to-be-released documentary film, I Want It.
Once known for their stormy dynamic and self-destructive tendencies, Blue October couldn’t be more distinct from the band it once was, which is why their latest studio album, I Hope You’re Happy, looks to push the envelope even further with a whole new approach. Justin Furstenfeld is quoted as saying "I think Blue October should never be limited to the instruments we have in the band. I’m always about bringing in whoever can play what’s best for the song in. I’m also a huge fan of Peter Gabriel, and if you were to him all you can have is a guitarist a bassist and a drummer, he’d go “what?!” That’s how I feel. We took all the tools we had gotten from working all these kinds of people over the twenty-year span and made a really good album and we’re super proud of it. It’s nice and colorful and positive and universally themed. It’s something you can really sink your teeth into and not get sick of. You can always discover little new secrets about it along the way."
Their latest album, I Hope You're Happy, was released on August 17, 2018 on the band's own Up/Down Records label and was produced by Justin Furstenfeld and engineer Eric Holtz.
Previous band members have included Liz Mulally, Brant Coulter, Dwayne Casey, Piper Dagnino, Julian Mandrake, CB Hudson and Matthew Ostrander.
Blue October has an official site www.blueoctober.com/.
For the British band, please see Blue October UK
Black Orchid
Blue October Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is no one there to hold?
Just pull me in or disown me
And then climb inside
My arms are open wide
Have a look inside
It is not that I am scared to learn
Hold my hand or show some concern
If I live or die
My eyes are open wide
Help me look inside
Singing ha de de ha ha de de ah
I hear the water drip from the faucet
It's sweetly falling in tune
I'm gently closing the closet and I
Fall to the floor
And crawl to my room
The thought of ending it soon
Just let me sleep in my room
Hear me cry! Cry! Cry!
I hear a knock at the front door
Don't come in!
I try to look at you
But I can't stop shaking
Leave me alone, just go away
Mother I'm so scared, I'm so scared
An empty bed and all of the sheets are gone
They're wrapped around me and you
All is quiet but the drop of my gun
'Cause I, I want to belong, to someone
But maybe life's not for everyone
Ha de de ha ha de de ah
The song Black Orchid by Blue October is a hauntingly beautiful ballad about loneliness and emptiness. The first verse of the song describes a feeling of complete loneliness, where there is no one to hold and the only option is to either pull the singer in or disown him. The singer begs the listener to show some concern as they feel empty inside and need help to fill that emptiness. The chorus of the song is a repetition of "Ha de de ha ha de de ah," which seems to be a way of coping with the pain and emptiness that the singer is feeling.
The second verse of the song adds to the picture of loneliness painted in the first verse. The sound of water dripping from a faucet is a metaphor for the tears that the singer is crying, and the gentle closing of the closet and the falling to the floor create a somber and melancholic scene. The singer mentions the thought of ending it soon, hinting at suicidal ideation. The following lines about an empty bed and the sheets wrapped around the singer and the listener create a sense of intimacy, but the fact that the singer is holding a gun adds a dark and uncomfortable element to the scene.
Overall, Black Orchid is a deeply emotional song that explores the complex emotions of loneliness, emptiness, and the desire for human connection in a moving and poetic way.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever been so lonely
Have you ever experienced extreme isolation and lack of support?
There is no one there to hold?
Is there no one to provide comfort and care during these lonely times?
Just pull me in or disown me
Either offer support or reject me entirely, but do not leave me in this state of uncertainty and discomfort.
And then climb inside
Join me in my struggles and experience them for yourself.
My arms are open wide
I am ready to accept you as you are, challenges and all.
Have a look inside
Take a reflective look at your own life and acknowledge your own struggles.
It is not that I am scared to learn
I am not afraid of facing difficult truths about myself.
Just why I'm empty inside
But it is difficult to grapple with this sense of emptiness I feel.
Hold my hand or show some concern
Either offer me emotional support or demonstrate a genuine interest in my wellbeing.
If I live or die
Acknowledge the severity of my situation and help me find a way out of it.
My eyes are open wide
I am fully aware of the reality of my situation.
Help me look inside
Assist me in facing my internal struggles and finding a path towards healing.
Singing ha de de ha ha de de ah
The repetition of this phrase reflects the cyclical nature of struggles with mental health.
I hear the water drip from the faucet
The small, seemingly mundane sounds of life can be overwhelming during moments of distress.
It's sweetly falling in tune
But these small comforts can also be soothing, in contrast to the chaos of one's own thoughts.
I'm gently closing the closet and I
I am making an effort to quiet my surroundings in order to focus internally.
Fall to the floor
Sometimes the weight of one's own mind can be overwhelming, leading to physical collapse.
And crawl to my room
Retreating to a place of solace can offer temporary relief from one's struggles.
The thought of ending it soon
However, the thought of giving up can also be a temptation in moments of weakness.
Just let me sleep in my room
At times, rest is the only recourse in dealing with mental health struggles.
Hear me cry! Cry! Cry!
The repetition of this phrase reflects the desperation and urgency of one's need for help.
I hear a knock at the front door
The arrival of unexpected visitors can be distressing when one feels vulnerable and exposed.
Don't come in!
The need for privacy and isolation can be overwhelming in moments of weakness.
I try to look at you
Interacting with others can be difficult when one is struggling with their own mental health.
But I can't stop shaking
Physical symptoms can manifest as a response to overwhelming emotional distress.
Leave me alone, just go away
At times, the need for space and alone time is a necessary part of facing and overcoming one's internal struggles.
Mother I'm so scared, I'm so scared
The relationship with a mother figure can play a significant role in one's mental health, often leading to feelings of fear, isolation, or deep emotional struggle.
An empty bed and all of the sheets are gone
Descriptions of physical details set the scene for the emotional turmoil present in this individual's life.
They're wrapped around me and you
This overwhelming sense of loneliness and isolation is contrasted with a desire for human connection.
All is quiet but the drop of my gun
In moments of distress, even the slightest sounds can feel overwhelming and unbearable.
'Cause I, I want to belong, to someone
Ultimately, human connection and support is the most important aspect of overcoming mental health struggles.
But maybe life's not for everyone
However, the process of healing and recovery is a non-linear, difficult journey that is not accessible or successful for everyone.
Ha de de ha ha de de ah
The repetition of this phrase reflects the cyclical nature of struggles with mental health.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JUSTIN S FURSTENFELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adam Hanson
This song has the most powerful and haunting lyric that I have ever heard. "I want to belong to someone, but maybe life's not for everyone."
Cher Marie
Adam Hanson...I agree 100% its so deep.
Mama Stenz
YES
Survivor13
Lina Beck
Hey Lina, I absolutely was able to agree with your thoughts....NOT TODAY...Thank God. And wanted 2 reach out & see how ur doing today???
I can share what helped me...
Tony Roe Art
first time i heard it it made me cry. not easy for a 30 something biker. lol. still brings a lump to my throat. shouldn't listen when drunk but there you go
Sean Blanchfield
And he wrote it when he was 15yrs old
Cody Baker
The greatest band to ever exist idk why, but when I feel that "itch" that many of you know. I turn on this song and scream it and I don't do that one thing with a razor. I am forever thankful for this band and their music.
Logan Benjamin
Same here! The most criminally underrated band in history.
Annies Hairstyles
The way he sings 'Cry' at 3:17 pulls at my very heart. Hearing the emotion he pours into his songs and lyrics is incredible. I will forever love everything this man has done.
Numinex Himmelrike
I discovered this song when I was 14 and deeply suicidal and the lyrics spoke to me so much it finally felt like someone understood the pain I was going through. I'm 22 now and listening to it for the first time in years. The lyrics still shake me to my core, and it's still has that coldly comforting feeling to it. No one came into my room, but at least I had this song to help me get through it without having to do it alone.