In 1996, the band played the very first Ozzfest. In 1997, their first album Coal Chamber was released; it produced one single and a video, "Loco" (the video was also added after the end credits of Dee Snider's horror film Strangeland, the soundtrack for which the band also recorded an exclusive song).
Their second album Chamber Music followed in 1999. Between the releases, Foss married Sevendust drummer Morgan Rose and became pregnant, necessitating another bass player on tour, a role filled by Nadja Peulen. Foss came back for the recording of Coal Chamber's third album, Dark Days (2002), but left after the studio sessions to raise her daughter. The band's only single and video was the song "Fiend."
Their 4th album Rivals released on May 19th, 2015. The singles on it were I.O.U Nothing and Rivals. It stepped away from the gothic elements from the last 2 albums and was described as groove/nu metal. They disbanded a year after the album was released.
They reunited in 2022, and so far no hints of new music will be released.
Headstones And The Walking Dead
Coal Chamber Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hope you all feel the same
I gave you the good
You gave me the bad
I'll give you the hurt today
(Chorus)
You're all headstones, headstones now
Remember the house that rock and roll built
Where four people lived?
That house, it took it's toll
For some of you this heartfelt
May be heartfelt, for me
I sold my soul
Have fun now back in the real world
all curled no one to hear your cries
and unheard prayers
I'm the one, you made me
Pirate, poet, kind of despair
All of the pain
and all of the games
I hope you all feel the same
I gave you the good
You gave me the bad
I'll give you the hurt today
Chorus(x2)
And they shall know no good or peace
Nor shall their suffereing ever cease
Until they humbly come to me and beg for mercy on their knees
Which I may grant, if I should please
This is the worst, yet the best
For my vengeance, for the rest
Vendetta
Chorus(x2)
You're all headstones(x4)
Giving the devil his due(x4)
Headstones, headstones, giving the devil his due
His due, is you
The song Headstones and Walking Dead by Coal Chamber is a deeply emotional, raw and introspective reflection on a past relationship gone wrong. The song starts with a feeling of hurt, betrayal, and anger. The singer opens the song by saying, "All of the pain, and all of the games, I hope you all feel the same." The singer is reflecting on the hurt and the damaging behavior that took place in the relationship, and how it affected them. The next line is particularly powerful, "I gave you the good, you gave me the bad, I'll give you the hurt today." The singer is seeking revenge, to inflict hurt and suffering on the other person, just like what was inflicted on them.
The chorus of the song "You're all headstones, headstones now, I'm the one left, the walking dead" confirms that the relationship is over, and everyone who was a part of it is now like a headstone, a reminder of the past, while the singer feels like the walking dead, living, but not feeling alive. The song goes on to reflect on the house where the relationship occurred and the emotional toll it took on the singer. The line "Remember the house that rock and roll built, where four people lived, that house, it took its toll" suggests that the relationship was passionate, but also destructive.
Throughout the song, the singer is seeking revenge towards the end of the song, with the lines "And they shall know no good or peace, Nor shall their suffering ever cease, until they humbly come to me and beg for mercy on their knees, which I may grant if I should please." The singer is calling for justice and for those who have hurt them to beg for mercy. The song ends with the chilling line, "His due, is you," emphasizing that the person who caused the pain in the relationship has a price to pay.
Line by Line Meaning
All of the pain, and all of the games
The singer has undergone immense suffering and has been a victim of deceit and manipulation.
I hope you all feel the same
The singer wishes for those who have wronged them to empathize with their pain and feel guilt for their actions.
I gave you the good
The singer was generous and kind to the people who hurt them.
You gave me the bad
The people who the artist helped were ungrateful and treated them poorly in return.
I'll give you the hurt today
The artist intends to cause pain to those who have caused them suffering.
You're all headstones, headstones now
The people who wronged the singer are dead to them and hold no significance in their life anymore.
I'm the one left, the walking dead
The singer feels empty and lifeless after being betrayed by people they trusted.
Remember the house that rock and roll built
The artist recalls a time of happiness and freedom before they were hurt.
Where four people lived?
The artist is referring to a period of their life where they were surrounded by people they loved.
That house, it took it's toll
The artist's former happiness took a toll on them and is now something they mourn.
For some of you this heartfelt
Some who listen to this song may be touched by its sincerity.
May be heartfelt, for me
For the artist, the pain and hurt they have gone through is too raw for any positive emotions to come through.
I sold my soul
The singer feels they gave up everything to try and make others happy and it ended up being for nothing.
Have fun now back in the real world
The singer is bitter that those who hurt them can now live in happiness, while they are left with pain and suffering.
All curled no one to hear your cries
The people who hurt the singer will not have anyone to turn to when they are experiencing their own struggles.
and unheard prayers
The artist believes that those who wronged them will receive no help or blessings from a higher power.
I'm the one, you made me
The artist blames those who hurt them for shaping them into the shattered person they are today.
Pirate, poet, kind of despair
The singer identifies as someone who has been destroyed by others and is now lost and aimless.
And they shall know no good or peace
The singer asserts that those who have wronged them will not receive any positive emotions or experiences in their lives as a result.
Nor shall their suffering ever cease
The people who hurt the artist will continue to be plagued by guilt even if they try to forget or make amends.
Until they humbly come to me and beg for mercy on their knees
The artist believes that the only way those who hurt them can make amends is to ask for forgiveness in a sincere and humble manner.
Which I may grant, if I should please
The artist holds the power to forgive and may or may not choose to do so, depending on the sincerity of the request.
This is the worst, yet the best
The singer acknowledges that the pain and betrayals they have experienced are both the worst and the best thing to ever happen to them; the worst because of how devastating it was, but the best because it taught them resilience.
For my vengeance, for the rest
The artist is seeking justice for themselves and aims to prevent others from being hurt as they were.
Vendetta
The singer is seeking revenge for the wrongs they have suffered.
Giving the devil his due
The singer believes that those who have hurt them will receive punishment for their actions.
His due, is you
The people who wronged the singer will receive punishment for their actions.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRADLEY JAMES FAFARA, MIGUEL RASCON, MIKE COX, RAYNA FOSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind