Together since high school, and still only in their early twenties, Dont Look Down have earned their stripes as relentless road-dogs, sharing stages nationwide with the likes of Yellowcard, Simple Plan, RUFIO, New Found Glory and endless others since releasing their debut full-length Start The Show in early 2002.
With their honest and evolving style (a compelling and unique blend of pop/punk energy and dark, driving rock....played with precision and intensity) and impressive appetite for touring, Dont Look Down's hard work was paying off: the band sold over 5,000 copies of their Five EP, produced by Will Salazar (Fenix TX), on their own in a matter of months, Nitro Records snapped them up in 2003 and recently matched the band up with Brian McTernan for their sophomore album. The Fear In Love is Dont Look Down's next step in their sonic evolution.
“We wanted there to be more of an emphasis on instrumentation on this record to show off our playing ability a bit more,” explains Ogren “We always want to keep challenging ourselves musically.”
Producer Brian McTernan (Thrice, Cave In, Hot Water Music) played an integral roll in Dont Look Down’s maturing sonic signature, bringing The Fear In Love a welcome sense of scale and depth-of-field without sacrificing the band’s emotive rough-edges or performance panache.
Though all four members of Dont Look Down contribute to the writing process, Ogren remains their creative leader. Music entered his life early. He grew up listening to the classic rock of Led Zeppelin and Guns ‘n Roses, before being impacted by the ‘new school’ punk of NOFX, MXPX and later the Ataris and New Found Glory.
More recently, musically ambitious influences like Thrice, Recover and Story of the Year have also influenced the songwriting which became The Fear In Love: the restless riffage and twin-guitar harmonizing of “Stages Of Dying,” juxtaposed against Ogren’s optimistic, cinematic vocal refrains; the ominous bass, interjected guitars and intricate counter-melody of opener “Right Where It Hurts;” and the shape-shifting guitar and drum assault of “Last Breath,” which sets up plaintive plateaus of hope and harmony.
Lyrically, The Fear In Love is at once a personal and universal document, relating what Dont Look Down have been through as a band to what we all experience in life and relationships: “The title, The Fear In Love refers to the fact that with anything involving love there’s always an aspect of fear,” says Ogren. “We love what we do but there’s no guarantee that it’s going to work out - just like with any relationship: you put in all you have, but in the back of your head you really don’t know what’s going to happen. You just have to hope for the best ...”
Having grown up together, Dont Look Down have a best friends’ chemistry on stage which can’t be manufactured, and, though they’re as energetic a band as you’ll see, they have too much respect for their music to let adrenaline overwhelm artistry:“We try to find some sort of medium between going off on stage and playing really well, being a really tight band ...we just try to go out there and play every show as if it is our last.”
A rare coming-together of youthful intensity, unique songwriting skill, fierce playing ability, and endless back-breaking roadwork: Dont Look Down have nothing to fear with The Fear In Love.
Follow
Don't Look Down Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And here I see more in my dreams, while sleeping,
Wait a minute I'm not quite through yet,
Just a second, I could be your best bet.
Love me, leave me,
Just don't question my direction,
Trust me, need me,
Just know it's you I follow.
Now I see through all the stars in your eyes,
How we made it through with just the hearts we have inside.
Wait a minute I'm not quite through yet,
Just a second, I could be your best bet.
In "Follow," Don't Look Down explores the paradox of being both dead and alive, awake and asleep, and the tension between following and leading. The singer laments being more dead than awake and only finding life in their dreams. However, they also express confidence in their ability to lead as they tell their love interest to trust and need them without questioning their direction. The chorus reinforces this by urging the love interest to simply know that the singer follows them.
The line "Now I see through all the stars in your eyes, how we made it through with just the hearts we have inside" may suggest a deep emotional connection between the two lovers. They have overcome obstacles through their raw emotions and love for each other that shines through the stars in their eyes. The overall tone of the song is one of vulnerability, but there is also a hint of determination and conviction in the singer's voice as they try to convince their love interest to trust them.
Overall, "Follow" is a poignant and introspective love song that explores themes of vulnerability, trust, and leadership within a romantic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I'm dead more than awake, not living,
In this present state, I feel like I'm not fully alive and only existing, not truly living.
And here I see more in my dreams, while sleeping,
My subconscious mind and inner thoughts show me more than what I experience when I'm awake.
Wait a minute I'm not quite through yet,
Hold on, there's more I want to say and share.
Just a second, I could be your best bet.
Give me a chance because I have the potential to be an excellent option or choice for you.
Love me, leave me, just don't question my direction,
You can have feelings for me or not, but don't doubt or criticize the path I'm taking in my life.
Trust me, need me, just don't question my direction,
Have faith in me and rely on me, but don't challenge or dispute the decisions I make and the route I follow.
Just know it's you I follow.
Understand that you are the person I look up to and respect, and I'm influenced by your words and actions.
Now I see through all the stars in your eyes,
I comprehend your true motives and intentions, even if they are masked or hidden behind your emotions.
How we made it through with just the hearts we have inside.
We have overcome challenges and difficulties by relying on our inner strength and emotional fortitude.
Contributed by Amelia A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.