In the fall of 2004 personal disagreements within the band caused bassist Chad Shellabarger, drummer Josh Shellabarger, and guitarist Todd Osborn to all depart the band, and Dead Poetic appeared to be a thing of the past. But remaining members Brandon Rike (vocals) and Zach Miles (guitar) began playing with accomplished drummer Jesse Sprinkle (formerly of Poor Old Lu and Demon Hunter; also the brother of Aaron Sprinkle) and their passion for music reignited. Beloved alums Dusty Redmon (guitar) and John Brehm (bass) came on board to round out the new, revamped version of Dead Poetic..
Shortly before the release of third album, Vices, lead singer Brandon Rike left the band. This was the trigger to the break up of Dead Poetic. Guitarist Dusty Redmon confirmed the band's disbanding on absolutepunk.net in September 2007:
"When Brandon left the band back in October (before "Vices" came out), a lot of big stuff was going on. We had great tour plans, a batch of new songs we were in to, and just kind of a new sense of freshness about the band. Brandon had been sort of "over it" for a long time, and just sort of picked a bad time to bail. He loves doing design, and being hang-out-at-home-type of husband, which is cool. I kind of called "NOT IT" when it came to making an announcement, but I guess so did everyone else. T&N put a lot of initial money into the record, only to see the band fall apart before the release, causing them to basically drop the entire promotion campaign. Sorry to those who were led on by thinking we were still active. Jesse is recording, Brandon is designing, John is tattooing, Zach just had a new baby, and I'm playing in the Almost."
On October 30, 2007, Jesse Sprinkle posted a MySpace bulletin reiterating that the band was still indeed together. "Contrary to popular opinion and the mighty Wikipedia, Dead Poetic has not broken up. We are still a band indeed....we figured we'd post it to the public....we assure you that Dead Poetic is alive." He went on to say that the band's label, Tooth and Nail, would be releasing a "Best Of" album for Dead Poetic in the near future, and that the band hopes to start writing songs for a new record very soon.
Vanus Empty
Dead Poetic Lyrics
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It's a beautiful rose and everyone's aware
You squeeze it tight enough to bleed.
But suicide is something we'd rather not mention here.
In our beautiful world of saving face.
So Vanity's got this new gun that she wants to try on you.
And as we stand here waiting for the sound..
Get me out of this hell before I'm sucked in.
But you're the beautiful one.
And everyone is painted on, singing scripted songs.
And your seizure-like finger is dead on the trigger.
And then, it's all blown away. With you or us all.
And they had you in their targets.
They're smiling with you in their targets.
So Vanity's got this new gun that she wants to try on you.
And as we stand here waiting for the sound.
So Vanity's got this new gun that she wants to try on you.
And no one says a word from there on out.
But I knew she was beautiful, you're the ones with the flaws.
Oh I knew she was beautiful she should of had this all.
You're killing your heroes, you're killing them one by one.
But I knew she was beautiful, something here's got to die.
So Vanity's got this new gun that she wants to try on you.
And as we stand here waiting for the sound.
So Vanity's got this new gun that she wants to try on you.
And no one says a word from there on out.
The lyrics of "Vanus Empty" by Dead Poetic are a commentary on the toxic culture of society, where appearances are given more importance than actual emotions and feelings. The song starts with an image of a deep red wound that is beautiful like a rose, indicating that things that cause pain and harm are often glorified and praised instead of being acknowledged for their negative impact. The next few lines point out that the topic of suicide is often swept under the rug, and everyone pretends that everything is alright, as if saving face mattered more than someone's well-being.
The chorus contains the phrase, "So Vanity's got this new gun that she wants to try on you." This could be interpreted as a reference to the way societal pressure and unrealistic beauty standards can make people feel inferior and unworthy. The idea of Vanity having a gun suggests that this pressure can be deadly and that it often leads to self-destructive behavior. The line, "And your seizure-like finger is dead on the trigger," implies that people are often powerless to resist the pressures they face and may find themselves acting irrationally or impulsively as a result.
The song ends with the acknowledgement that some people, like Vanity, are seen as beautiful and powerful, even though they are flawed, while others who are struggling and hurting are seen as disposable. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the lack of action or concern as Vanity points her gun. In summary, "Vanus Empty" is a commentary on how society can create a climate where appearances are prioritized at the expense of mental and emotional health, leaving many feeling isolated and helpless.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a deep, red wound. Enough to stare.
There is a painful and noticeable injury that commands attention and contemplation.
It's a beautiful rose and everyone's aware
Despite its beauty, there is something inherently dangerous and potentially harmful about the rose.
You squeeze it tight enough to bleed.
There is a temptation to harm oneself by indulging in something that is alluring but ultimately detrimental.
But suicide is something we'd rather not mention here.
Despite the inherent danger in pursuing something that may cause harm, there is a taboo against openly discussing the possibility of suicide.
In our beautiful world of saving face.
We value appearances and putting on a front rather than dealing with the difficult realities of our situations.
So Vanity's got this new gun that she wants to try on you.
There is a destructive force that is tempting and seeking to harm the subject.
And as we stand here waiting for the sound..
There is a sense of anticipation and dread as the destructive force looms.
Get me out of this hell before I'm sucked in.
There is a desire to escape a negative situation before becoming trapped or entrenched in it.
But you're the beautiful one.
There is a sense of jealousy or resentment towards an individual who is admired or desired.
And everyone is painted on, singing scripted songs.
The people around the subject are not genuine or authentic, but rather superficial and insincere.
And your seizure-like finger is dead on the trigger.
There is a lack of control or stability as the subjects' impulsive actions may have dangerous consequences.
And then, it's all blown away. With you or us all.
There is an impending sense of destruction that will affect everyone involved.
And they had you in their targets.
There is a sense of victimization or being targeted by a larger, malicious force.
They're smiling with you in their targets.
The perpetrators of harm derive pleasure or satisfaction from causing pain or destruction.
But I knew she was beautiful, you're the ones with the flaws.
The source of tension and resentment is misplaced, as the subject is projecting their own insecurities onto the object of their jealousy.
Oh I knew she was beautiful she should of had this all.
The subject feels that the admired individual deserves the success or positive outcomes that the subject desires for themselves.
You're killing your heroes, you're killing them one by one.
The subject is engaging in harmful behavior towards individuals they admire or look up to, ultimately leading to their downfall.
But I knew she was beautiful, something here's got to die.
The subject recognizes the inherent danger and destructive nature of their desires, and that a change or sacrifice must be made in order to move forward.
And no one says a word from there on out.
Despite the harm and destruction that has occurred, there is a sense of silence and avoidance surrounding the situation.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind