Dead Letter Circus is a five-piece music group from Brisbane, Queensland, A… Read Full Bio ↴Dead Letter Circus is a five-piece music group from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Their music style is a combination of melodic alternative rock and indie rock, with alternative metal and progressive rock influences. Major influences of the band include Faith No More, Muse, The Mars Volta, Radiohead, U2, Cog, Deftones, Tomahawk, Massive Attack, Shihad, The Butterfly Effect, Portishead, Karnivool and At The Drive-In.

Formed in 2005, Dead Letter Circus released one self-titled EP in 2007. They have performed at festivals such as The Big Day Out, The Come Together Music Festival in Sydney and The Over-Cranked Music Festival in Brisbane. They have performed with a number of bands, some of these include Tool, Cog, Karnivool, The Butterfly Effect, Chevelle and Helmet. They also tour Australia extensively on their own headline tours. On the 1st of November, 2008, they released a second EP/single, entitled Next In Line. Next In Line featured three tracks, two of which were included on the band's debut studio album This Is the Warning in 2010. The band have released four singles from the album; "The Space on the Wall", "Big", "One Step" and "Cage". This Is the Warning has gained the band national and international acclaim.
During 2012 Rob Maric announced that he was leaving the band for personal reasons.

August 9, 2013 saw the release of the band's second album The Catalyst Fire.

Members:
Kim Benzie – Vocals
Clint Vincent – Guitar
Stewart Hill - Bass
Luke Williams - Drums
Tom Skerlj - Guitar, keyboard and percussion

Dead Letter Circus at MySpace
Sonic Bids Artist Profile - Dead Letter Circus

Ladders for Leaders
Dead Letter Circus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sunrise was in doubt for tomorrow for the faithful
And the hopeless who were told their world had died
Outside where the battle should be raging
There was no one even thinking
I looked over, there was no you

It's time
You're awake

I'm not sinning for the world today
I know this fire
You will shine
We all want something to believe again that's right
It's time
You're awake
I'm not sinning for the world today
I know this fire
You will shine
We all want something to believe again now

Somehow they defeated us with no one even bleeding
No resistance or debate
They just covered our eyes
Villains created, become ladders for leaders
To keep us from asking who's
Holding the strings coming from their backs

It's time
You're awake
I'm not sinning for the world today
I know this fire
You will shine
We all want something to believe again that's right
It's time
You're awake
I'm not sinning for the world today
I know this fire
You will shine
We all want something to believe again that's right

It's like something I know
Feels like something I own
It's like I'm breathing for the first time
Villains created, become ladders for leaders
To keep us from asking who's
Holding the strings coming from their backs

It's time
You're awake
I'm not sinning for the world today
I know this fire
You will shine
We all want something to believe again now

There's hope
I see the thread that we are hanging from
One voice and we can save it all
I choose to reinvent

You know the way
You are the way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dead Letter Circus’ “Ladders for Leaders” describe a chaotic world where hope is hard to find. The verse talks about how the devout and the hopeless alike are unsure if they will see another sunrise. The outside world should be engaged in combat, but nobody is fighting. The singer looks around and sees that someone (possibly a loved one) is not around. The chorus talks about how it is time to wake up and start believing again. The singer knows that the listener has the ability to shine a guiding light in a darkened world.

The second verse describes how the enemy appeared to have won without shedding a drop of blood. They simply silenced their opposition, creating “villains” who would serve as distractions from the real powers. The “villains” then become “ladders for leaders,” allowing those in power to maintain their control without fearing opposition. The chorus repeats, with the singer bringing hope by saying that there is a way out of chaos/corruption, and that it only requires one voice to bring about change. The outro repeats the theme of hope, that the listener knows the way forward and that they can be the “way” themselves.

Line by Line Meaning

Sunrise was in doubt for tomorrow for the faithful
The people who believed in a better future were uncertain about what tomorrow would bring

And the hopeless who were told their world had died
The people who had lost hope were made to believe that their world was over

Outside where the battle should be raging
There was a lack of activity where there should have been a conflict happening

There was no one even thinking
Nobody was considering the consequences of their actions or inactions

I looked over, there was no you
The absence of someone who could have helped make a difference was noticed

It's time
It is time to take action

You're awake
You are aware of the situation

I'm not sinning for the world today
I am not contributing to the problems of society today

I know this fire
I am aware of my passion and drive

You will shine
You have the potential to make a positive impact

We all want something to believe again that's right
We all desire a sense of purpose or something to have faith in

Somehow they defeated us with no one even bleeding
The opposing side won without suffering any casualties

No resistance or debate
There was little or no pushback or discussion regarding the outcome

They just covered our eyes
The victors blinded us to the truth or reality of the situation

Villains created, become ladders for leaders
Individuals who are seen as enemies or adversaries can end up in positions of power

To keep us from asking who's holding the strings coming from their backs
These people are used as distractions or scapegoats to divert attention from those who are truly in control

It's like something I know
There is a recognition of something familiar

Feels like something I own
It is a part of one's identity or sense of self

It's like I'm breathing for the first time
It is a exhilarating experience that makes one feel alive

There's hope
There is a sense that a positive outcome is still possible

I see the thread that we are hanging from
There is a sense of vulnerability or danger that is imminent

One voice and we can save it all
Working together as a group can make a significant difference

I choose to reinvent
I am committed to changing or improving myself

You know the way
You have the knowledge or skills to lead the way

You are the way
You are the solution or answer to the problem

Writer(s): Stewart Alexander Hill

Contributed by Mason L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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