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.
Vices
Dead Poetic Lyrics
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And this crowd right before me doesn't care that I'm dying.
And the audience stands with their eyes fixed on the preconceived version of me.
I'm so betrayed by your hopes, but I will not hide myself for your peace of mind.
Oh, but Child. I've got Vices like any other man.
Raise a boy to a cynic. Take his love, and then let it turn into something passionate.
And I vent to keep myself from caving. I don't hate you, I just hate where I'm heading.
I'm left here asking, when did I trade in my bleeding heart for a selfish win?
Oh, but Mother. I've got Vices like any other man.
Vices that you're not used to. Vices that'll make you think less of me.
Leave me numb. Leave me jaded. She's a dream, I just play dead.
I've been blessed, I've been hated. She's the constant, and I'm her addict.
She's the only peace in this world, uneasy.
While I bite my tongue to keep from breaking the heart that I've spent my whole life seeking.
The only heart I've ever needed.
Oh, but Lover. I've got Vices like any other man.
Vices that you're not used to. Vices that'll make you think...
Oh, but Lover. I've got Vices like any other man.
Vices that you're not used to. Vices that'll make you think less of me. Less of me.
Feeling cold, feeling empty. I am low, unworthy.
Bleed the God. Bleed the blessing. Like a vulture feasting.
I'll exist as if I don't feel conviction of my ignorance to my perfect prison.
But I feel the stabs on my wrists and ankles every time I try...
To forget you. To forget you.
Oh, but Jesus. I've got Vices like any other man.
Vices that you're so used to. Vices that won't make you think less of me.
The lyrics of Dead Poetic's song Vices explore the feeling of emptiness and betrayal, as the singer is faced with an audience that doesn't care for his inner turmoil. The lyrics express the existential crisis of the singer as he tries to grapple with his cynicism, passions, and addictions. The song describes how these vices have become a prison to him, as he tries to forget the people he seeks be it his mother or lover. The song takes a turn in the last verse when the singer talks about Jesus and how these vices won't make him think less of him. It can be interpreted either as the singer finding a way to seek redemption or acknowledging the fact that everyone has vices, even Jesus. In essence, the song tells the tale of a man trying to find his place in the world while navigating his vices, his dreams and desires, relationships, and addictions.
Line by Line Meaning
Feeling cold, feeling empty. Set the stage, where you want me.
I feel alone and lost, and I'm going along with the expectations you have set for me.
And this crowd right before me doesn't care that I'm dying.
The people around me are indifferent to my struggles and pain.
And the audience stands with their eyes fixed on the preconceived version of me.
The people watching me have a predetermined image of who I should be, and they judge me based on that.
I'm so betrayed by your hopes, but I will not hide myself for your peace of mind.
I feel let down by the expectations you have for me, but I won't pretend to be someone I'm not just to make you feel better.
Oh, but Child. I've got Vices like any other man.
Despite being your child, I have flaws and things I struggle with just like any other person.
Raise a boy to a cynic. Take his love, and then let it turn into something passionate.
I was brought up to be cynical and skeptical, and the love I experience has become intense and overwhelming.
Something sick, something rabid.
My emotions have become twisted and uncontrolled.
And I vent to keep myself from caving. I don't hate you, I just hate where I'm heading.
I express my feelings to avoid breaking down, but I don't actually hate you. I just hate the path I'm on.
I'm left here asking, when did I trade in my bleeding heart for a selfish win?
I wonder when I became so focused on my own desires and ambitions that I lost touch with my empathy and humanity.
Oh, but Mother. I've got Vices like any other man.
Even though you're my mother, I have faults and weaknesses just like anyone else.
Vices that you're not used to. Vices that'll make you think less of me.
My flaws are not what you're accustomed to, and they might cause you to have a negative opinion of me.
Leave me numb. Leave me jaded. She's a dream, I just play dead.
I feel detached and uninspired. The person I love is just a fantasy, and I'm not really living a fulfilling life.
I've been blessed, I've been hated. She's the constant, and I'm her addict.
I've experienced both good and bad in my life, but the person I love is always there for me. I rely on her like an addiction.
She's the only peace in this world, uneasy.
The person I love is the only thing that brings me any sense of peace, even though it's not a stable or easy situation.
While I bite my tongue to keep from breaking the heart that I've spent my whole life seeking. The only heart I've ever needed.
I hold back my true feelings to avoid hurting the person I love, who I've always wanted to be with.
Oh, but Lover. I've got Vices like any other man.
Even though I love you, I have flaws and struggles just like anyone else.
Feeling cold, feeling empty. I am low, unworthy.
I feel worthless and alone.
Bleed the God. Bleed the blessing. Like a vulture feasting.
I feel like I'm hurting something sacred or holy, and it makes me feel like a scavenger.
I'll exist as if I don't feel conviction of my ignorance to my perfect prison.
I act like I don't realize how ignorant and oblivious I am to my own self-destructive habits and faults.
But I feel the stabs on my wrists and ankles every time I try...
To forget you. To forget you.
I feel the pain of cutting myself off from the person I love when I try to forget about her.
Oh, but Jesus. I've got Vices like any other man.
Even though I believe in you, I have flaws and struggles like anyone else.
Vices that you're so used to. Vices that won't make you think less of me.
My flaws are something you're familiar with, and they won't make you think less of me or my faith.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
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