Casey Stratton (born in Lansing, Michigan, in 1976) is an American pop-rock… Read Full Bio ↴Casey Stratton (born in Lansing, Michigan, in 1976) is an American pop-rock singer-songwriter and musician.

Beginning violin lessons at the age of 8, Stratton followed quickly with cello lessons at 10, the piano at 11, and guitar at 16. It was through the piano that Stratton discovered a passion for writing and performing songs. After moving to Los Angeles in 1995, Casey signed with Magic Records. Work then began on the recordings that would eventually become his first full-length release, The Giver and the Grave Digger, which was released in 1996.

In 1997, after deciding not to renew his contract with Magic Records, Stratton began his first self-produced album, Lily Sleeps.

In the summer of 2000 Stratton moved to Chicago where he began a nearly two year hiatus from the record industry. He immersed himself in writing and recorded an independent album called The Winter Children. Many of these tracks would be re-recorded later and included on his Sony release Standing at the Edge.

Stratton's 6th studio album, "DIVIDE", was released in October 2005 on Stratton's independent label, Sleeping Pill Music. His next album, The Crossing, was released in April 2007. This was followed by Orbit, digitally released on February 5, 2008.

Memories and Photographs was released in September 2009, followed by A Winter Moon, an album of holiday music, in December 2009. Casey's next project, Myth & Stars, largely based on Greek Mythology, was released on September 21, 2010.

Contagious
Casey Stratton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Your heart beats in rhythm with mine
Breaking as you go tonight
Melting inside
As you departed
With Jupiter we walked
Through the forest
The ground holds the key
You told me that maybe

You never loved me

I was so afraid of us
And now I know why
You are dangerous
Tried not to keep with you
But you pulled me closer as I
Learned how to make us
You are contagious

I tried not to notice the signs
Your words so unkind
You stayed far too long
In my life

This is the sound that is made
When my heart hits the ground
I react to the loss of you
Time turning faster

But I turn much slower
Embracing my empty life

Overall Meaning

The song "Contagious" by Casey Stratton is a reflective and melancholic track that centers around the concept of heartbreak and the experience of losing someone. The opening lyrics "Your heart beats in rhythm with mine, breaking as you go tonight, melting inside as you departed" sets the tone for the rest of the song, conveying the singer's sense of pain and emptiness as they confront the departure of their loved one. The following lines describe a shared memory of exploring a forest with the departed lover, highlighting the bittersweet nature of the experience. The chorus "I was so afraid of us and now I know why, you are dangerous, tried not to keep with you, but you pulled me closer as I learned how to make us, you are contagious" further emphasizes the singer's realization of the harmful nature of the relationship but also acknowledges the intense pull they felt towards the lover.

The second verse builds upon these ideas, referencing the lover's unkind words and their prolonged presence in the singer's life. The lines "This is the sound that is made when my heart hits the ground, I react to the loss of you, time turning faster but I turn much slower, embracing my empty life" conclude the song with a sense of acceptance and resignation towards the aftermath of the break-up. The song overall presents a nuanced exploration of the complexities of romantic relationships and the process of healing after a heartbreak.

Line by Line Meaning

Your heart beats in rhythm with mine
Our love was so strong that our hearts beat in sync

Breaking as you go tonight
My heart is shattering as you leave tonight

Melting inside
I am feeling emotional and overwhelmed

As you departed
As you leave me behind

With Jupiter we walked
We walked through the forest under the stars

Through the forest
We took a walk among nature

The ground holds the key
The Earth carries both our memories and emotions

You told me that maybe
You expressed doubt about our love

You never loved me
You realized that your feelings for me were not love

I was so afraid of us
I was scared of the intensity of our relationship

And now I know why
I finally understand why I was so scared