Dead by Sunrise (formerly known as Snow White Tan) was an American rock ban… Read Full Bio ↴Dead by Sunrise (formerly known as Snow White Tan) was an American rock band. The band features Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, Amir Derakh, Ryan Shuck, Brandon Belsky, Frank Zummo (Street Drum Corps), and Anthony "Fu" Valcic from Julien-K and Orgy. Dead by Sunrise's debut album, Out of Ashes, was released worldwide on October 13, 2009. Dead by Sunrise started to form in 2005 while Chester Bennington was writing songs for Linkin Park's album Minutes to Midnight.

According to Bennington, "I came up with a few songs that felt and sounded really good, but I knew they weren’t right stylistically for Linkin Park. They were darker and moodier than anything I’d come up with for the band. So I decided to work on them on my own rather than turn them over and have them transformed into Linkin Park tracks." However, the foundation for Dead by Sunrise was laid much earlier, when future bandmate Shuck met Bennington during the recording of Linkin Park's first album Hybrid Theory. In an interview, Shuck states that "I always used to go to his house and hear him play acoustic guitar. And I always thought to myself, 'Oh my God, these are such good songs.'"

Recording of the band's debut album began in July 2008 after touring for Linkin Park had finished. Working simultaneously on his solo album and Linkin Park's next record, Bennington recorded Out of Ashes with producer Howard Benson (who has also worked with Three Days Grace, My Chemical Romance, Daughtry, and simultaneously Full Circle by Creed) and bandmates from Julien-K. Bennington wrote most of the songs on an acoustic guitar before working with his band to reshape the track into hard rock, a ballad, or even removing all rock influence and creating a synth-driven track. Linkin Park bandmate Mike Shinoda confirmed that Out of Ashes is "much more of a rock album [than Linkin Park's albums]." Also of note, Bennington participated in all aspects of creating the record, including programming and production.

In a 2009 interview with Billboard, Bennington said that "This isn't a one-time thing for us. Every five years or so I could imagine there'd be a Dead By Sunrise record." Despite this, in 2010, he has stated there was a small chance a new album may be created. The frontman also noted that because of Linkin Park's new direction "it becomes very difficult to choose where the songs that he writes will go."

On November 4, 2011, Bennington's wife, Talinda, revealed that Dead by Sunrise will perform at the 2011 Stars of the Season Gala event, which will focus on raising donations for pediatric rehabilitation.

Videos have been filmed for "Crawl Back In" (September 8, 2009) and "Let Down" with the songs serving as the album's first two singles. "Crawl Back In" has reached the 11th spot on the Mainstream Rock chart.

On the 20th of April 2012, during a Love and Death concert played at an event by The Whosoevers, Elias Andra announced that he had converted to Christianity in November 2011 and that he had left his band. In 2012, Andra was replaced with Frank Zummo from Street Drum Corps.

Chester Bennington was found dead at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California; his housekeeper discovered his body around 9:00 A.M. PDT on July 20, 2017. His death was ruled a suicide by hanging. His fellow bandmate of Linkin Park, Mike Shinoda, confirmed his death on Twitter, writing, "Shocked and heartbroken, but it's true."

Let Down
Dead By Sunrise Lyrics

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And the tears fall like rain
Down my face again
All the words you wouldn't say
And the games you played with my unfoolish heart
Oh, I should've known this from the start

Oh, the winter and spring
Going in hand in hand just like my love and pain

How the thought of you cuts deep within the vein
Brand new skin stretched across scarred terrain

Said, I don't wanna be let down
I don't wanna live that life again
Don't wanna be led down the same old road
(I don't wanna be let down)
Said, I don't wanna be let down
I don't wanna live my lies again
Don't wanna be led down the same old road

Oh

All those years down the drain
Love was not enough when you want everything
But what I gave to you and now the end must start
Oh, I should've listened to my heart

'Cause I don't wanna be let down
I don't wanna live that life again
Don't wanna be led down the same old road
(I don't wanna be let down)
Said, I don't wanna be let down
I don't wanna live my lies again
Don't wanna be led down the same old road

'Cause I don't wanna be let down
I don't wanna live that life again
Don't wanna be led down the same old road
(I don't wanna be let down)
Said, I don't wanna be let down
I don't wanna live my lies again
Don't wanna be led down the same old road
(I don't wanna be let down)
Don't wanna be led down the same old road
(I don't wanna be let down)
Don't wanna be led down the same old road
(I don't wanna be let down)
Don't wanna be led down the same old road
(I don't wanna be let down)
Don't wanna be led down the same old road
(I don't wanna be let down)
Don't wanna be led down the same old road

(I don't wanna be let down)
Don't wanna be led down the same old road

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dead By Sunrise's song Let Down capture the pain of a failed relationship and the fear of being hurt again. The opening lines of "And the tears fall like rain, down my face again" express the singer's inner emotional turmoil over the situation. The second verse brings into focus the contrast between the hope and happiness of a new relationship (represented by the imagery of winter and spring) with the pain and suffering that can come from it (the parallel image of love and pain). The singer also speaks to the pain of betrayal in "All the words you wouldn't say, and the games you played with my unfoolish heart," demonstrating how their trust was betrayed.

The chorus, "Said, I don't wanna be let down, I don't wanna live my lies again, don't wanna be led down the same old road" underscores the sense of loss as they try not to repeat their mistakes. The repetition of the phrase "the same old road" suggests that this isn't the first time they've been hurt and are determined to avoid it happening again. The closing lines of the song are almost cathartic, with the singer repeating "Don't wanna be led down the same old road" over and over, driving home their message.

Overall, the song Let Down speaks to the almost inescapable pain that can come from love and relationships, especially when they fail. But the singer is determined to avoid being hurt again and to break the cycle of pain and betrayal that seems to be following them.

Line by Line Meaning

And the tears fall like rain
Tears fall uncontrollably down my face

Down my face again
This is not the first time I've cried like this

All the words you wouldn't say
You refused to express your feelings and thoughts

And the games you played with my unfoolish heart
You manipulated and took advantage of my naive heart

Oh, I should've known this from the start
I regret not recognizing the deceit sooner

Oh, the winter and spring
Changing seasons symbolize the ups and downs of my relationship

Going in hand in hand just like my love and pain
Love and pain are intertwined, just like winter and spring

How the thought of you cuts deep within the vein
Thinking of you causes me deep emotional pain

Brand new skin stretched across scarred terrain
I'm trying to move on, but my past wounds still linger

Said, I don't wanna be let down
I don't want to experience disappointment again

I don't wanna live that life again
I don't want to go through the pain and heartbreak again

Don't wanna be led down the same old road
I don't want to repeat the same patterns and mistakes

(I don't wanna be let down)
Repeated refrain emphasizing my fear of being hurt

All those years down the drain
All the time and effort I invested was for nothing

Love was not enough when you want everything
My love and affection wasn't enough for you

But what I gave to you and now the end must start
I gave you everything, but it's time for our relationship to end

Oh, I should've listened to my heart
I regret not following my instincts and ending things sooner