To thrive and ultimately succeed, this process requires shedding ego and letting go of pride. It resembles an active admission of humanity in all of its idiosyncrasies and imperfections. Most importantly, the message only resounds when the audience responds and resonates.
On their aptly titled third full-length album and first for Fearless Records, Signals, Devour The Day didnāt just blur the line between musician and listener; they abolished it entirely. The trioāBlake Allison [lead vocals, guitar], Joey āChicagoā Walser [bass, backing vocals], and Ronnie Farris [drums]āfocused on getting closer than ever before by preserving the purity of these āsignalsā and honoring the crowd above all.
āIf youāre part of the rock community, youāve chosen to be a musical outsider,ā says Joey. āThe choice represents a certain integrity. We respect that so much. Thereās no distinction or hierarchy between us and the people who listen to us. Weāre all the same. A lot of times, thatās not clear in this business. Itās stuck in The Matrix where the artist is on a pedestal and the fan is below. We said, āFuck all of this tired bullshitā,ā he exclaims. āWeāre admitting we donāt have ownership of these songs. Rather, theyāre all gifts weāve organized and put into the soundtrack for a community story. This is an escape from the norm. Weāre just honored to have the opportunity to make another record and put everything into it.ā
āWeāre celebrating this community first,ā adds Blake. āWhether or not we make music, weāre recognizing the fact weāre lucky enough to do this. We canāt take credit for the ability to create. We highlight the fact itās a gift on this record by looking at everything from a different angle.ā
A growing discography and countless gigs positioned the trio to do so. 2014ās Time & Pressure yielded the Active Rock Top 10 hit āGood Man,ā which impressively sold 100,000-plus singles. Meanwhile, the band lit up festivals a la Rock on the Range in addition to touring alongside Sevendust, Three Days Grace, In This Moment, and many more. Most recently, 2016ās S.O.A.R. ignited a flurry of streaming success. āLightning In The Skyā generated over 3 million Spotify streams and āThe Bottomā cracked 2.6 million as the band regularly averaged nearly 200K monthly listeners on the platform.
Following tours alongside Skillet and Alter Bridge, the group returned from the road to commence work on what would become Signals in 2017. They eventually reteamed with S.O.A.R. producer Dan Korneff [Paramore, Lamb of God], but they revised and revamped the entire process prior.
Instead of penning a handful of songs and rushing to the studio, they accumulated nearly 100 pieces of music on their own. Without showing anyone outside of the core three-piece, they allowed the songs to evolve over six months, adding and tweaking along the way.
After laying down the music at Korneffās spot, Blake personally tracked his vocals in his home studio.
āIt was like being 12-years-old again and locking yourself in a room with your guitar amp and total freedom,ā Blake smiles. āWe got back to our roots and set about on our next creative evolution through doing so.ā
The first single āFaithlessā hinges on a hulking stomp brushing up against Blakeās guttural delivery. As a hyper-charged riff kicks in, the chorus rises in tandem to arena-size heights, seesawing between pummeling and passionate.
āThe truth about so many aspects of our world has come to light,ā the frontman goes on. āDark secrets are being exposed in almost every corner of our society. The hidden prejudice of how we treat people is being uncovered. Power and greed have distorted our leadership. We are demanding a change. We must challenge the rules of conduct and refine them in every way to create an authentic world worth believing in.ā
A barking dog trumpets the opener āOne Shotā as muscular guitars and propulsive drums give way to another anthemic chant, āYou only get one shot!ā
Joey says, āLife moves like a passing shadow. We are a mist that appears and then vanishes. We can strive for success, power, glory, victory, fortune and acclaim but they too will fade. We have one shot at a legacy. We have one shot to be humble and gracious with a tireless and sincere conviction for something greater than ourselves. Keep your eye on the target.ā
Elsewhere, āWonderful Creaturesā tempers thick beats and emotionally charged vocals as āCliffhangerā encapsulates an all-encompassing theme, āThere is a choice that begins all positive change.ā
These Signals find Devour The Day stronger than ever, but theyāre sharing their strength in the endā¦
āWe want to level the playing field,ā Joey leaves off. āWeāre being real with our responsibility that weāre lucky to have.ā
Give It Up
Devour The Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Been so long, it feels like no way out
Fill the space, addicted to addiction
Break away, lay your burden down
Give it up, yeah
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
Give it up, yeah
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
As long as you hold on
Late at night I lie awake for answers
Praying for anyone to hear
Somehow, someway, I could change forever
Somehow, help me let go of the fear
Give it up, yeah
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
As long as you hold on
Give it up, yeah
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
As long as you hold on
Don't hold on, don't hold on
Don't hold on, don't hold on
Give it up, yeah
Give it up, yeah
(Break away, lay your burden down)
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
As long as you hold on
Give it up, yeah
(Break away, lay your burden down)
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
As long as you hold on
Give it up, yeah
(Break away, lay your burden down)
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
As long as you hold on
Yeah
Yeah, give it up
Yeah
Give it up
The lyrics of "Give It Up" by Devour The Day are about breaking free from addiction and negativity. The first verse talks about waking up and hating your own reflection because you are trapped in addiction, and it feels like there's no escape. The second verse expresses the feeling of being stuck and praying for help, hoping to change for the better. The chorus urges the listener to give up their addiction and not hold on to it, as it will only continue to hold them back.
The song also references the idea of burden, asking the listener to lay down their burden by breaking away from addiction. The lyrics seem to be coming from a place of Christian spirituality, as there are references to prayer and the idea of being saved, though the message can certainly be interpreted more broadly.
One key feature of "Give It Up" is the driving guitar riff and strong beat, combined with the heartfelt lyrics. The repetitive nature of the song emphasizes the message of breaking away and giving up negativity. Overall, the song is a powerful call to action to find a way to break free from challenges like addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
Waking up to hate your own reflection
Starting the day with self-loathing and negativity toward oneself
Been so long, it feels like no way out
Stuck in a cycle of addiction or negative thoughts, feeling hopeless and trapped
Fill the space, addicted to addiction
Filling a void with a destructive habit or mindset, becoming addicted to the cycle of addiction itself
Break away, lay your burden down
Breaking free from the destructive cycle and letting go of burdens weighing one down
Late at night I lie awake for answers
Searching for solutions or clarity during moments of restlessness
Praying for anyone to hear
Turning to a higher power or seeking support from anyone who will listen
Somehow, someway, I could change forever
Believing that change is possible, no matter how uncertain the path forward may be
Somehow, help me let go of the fear
Asking for help in overcoming the fear or apprehension that keeps one from making a change
Don't hold on, don't hold on
Urging oneself to let go and move forward, releasing the negative patterns holding one back
Give it up, yeah
Encouraging the listener to let go of negative patterns, beliefs, or behaviors that hold them back
(Break away, lay your burden down)
Reinforcing the message to break free from a destructive cycle and release emotional or psychological burdens
It's gonna hold you back
Warning that holding onto negative patterns will continue to limit one's potential
As long as you hold on
Highlighting the importance of letting go in order to move forward and experience growth
Yeah
Emphasizing the urgency and importance of taking action to create positive change
Contributed by Stella I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
bottomofastairwell
i just discovered you guys, but this is phenomenal. I'm definitely sticking around to listen to more of your stuff, cuz i freaking love this!
Seiryu
Devour The Day
"Give It Up"
Waking up to hate your own reflection
Been so long, it feels like no way out
Fill the space, addicted to addiction
Break away, lay your burden down
Give it up, yeah
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
As long as you hold on
Give it up, yeah
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
As long as you hold on
Late at night I lie awake for answers
Praying for anyone to hear
Somehow, someway, I could change forever
Somehow, help me let go of the fear
Give it up, yeah
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
As long as you hold on
Give it up, yeah
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
As long as you hold on
Don't hold on, don't hold on
Don't hold on, don't hold on
Give it up, yeah
Give it up, yeah
(Break away, lay your burden down)
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
As long as you hold on
Give it up, yeah
(Break away, lay your burden down)
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
As long as you hold on
Give it up, yeah
(Break away, lay your burden down)
Give it up
It's gonna hold you back
As long as you hold on
Yeah
Yeah, give it up
Yeah
Give it up
Chaz Stewart
This one sounds more like an album intro.. like it should be the first track on the CD with lyrics
Zeusy Moosey
A late Christmas gift š
Christian - Helsting
"praying for anyone to hear"
Well, I know who hears it. God hears your prayers and nobody else :P