Dustin also has a solo acoustic side project under his own name. He had toured in past years on his own under the moniker "Ursus Veritas," but decided to drop the name in favor of simplicity since "people have enough trouble just pronouncing [his] last name to begin with." The name was a play-on-words of its Latin components: Ursus meaning bear, and Veritas meaning truth. Kensrue has been quoted as saying there is no real special significance to the name, other than he likes bears, and thought it sounded cool.
On January 23, 2007, Kensrue released a solo album titled "Please Come Home" under his name, Dustin Kensrue and on the label Equal Vision Records. It includes the tracks "I Knew You Before," "Pistol," "I Believe," "Please Come Home," "Blood & Wine," "Consider The Ravens," "Weary Saints," and "Blanket Of Ghosts." He wrapped up the recording and mixing of the album at the home of fellow Thrice member Teppei Teranishi. The album opened at 142 on the Billboard 200 with 5,800 copies sold. He supported the album with a solo tour including stops on David Letterman's talk show and The Fuse Network.
http://www.myspace.com/dustinkensrue
Gallows
Dustin Kensrue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every floorboard laid
Is another deed erased
Another debt that's paid
Like every story you've erected's gonna raise you up
So you keep slaving but it never seems to be enough
And now you're scared that it's all gonna crash to the ground
When you find that you've come to the end of your rope
Take a look and see where you were putting all your hope
Cause you built these gallows you've been hanging from
You've been holding to a noose
So just let go, just let go
You built these gallows you've been hanging from
And you got nothing to lose
So just let go, just let go
I love the wood's already rotting
Though you made it clean
You've hated every short cut
Concealed its crooked seam
But every flaw will be revealed
Each imperfection shown
Oh, I can hear the wind howl and the timber groan
The song "Gallows" by Dustin Kensrue is a poignant and insightful exploration of the human experience. The lyrics describe the struggle of a person who has worked tirelessly to build themselves up, only to find themselves feeling trapped and helpless. The images of nails being sunk and floors being laid represent the hard work and effort that this person has put into their life, yet despite their efforts, they feel as though they are still drowning in debt and despair. The lyrics "So you keep slaving but it never seems to be enough" capture the feeling of hopelessness that many people experience when they feel like they are giving everything they have, but still can't seem to get ahead.
As the song progresses, the singer describes the fear and anxiety that this person experiences as they begin to realize that their life may come crashing down around them. The lyrics "When you find that you've come to the end of your rope/Take a look and see where you were putting all your hope" encourage the listener to take a step back and evaluate their priorities, reminding them that their salvation cannot be found in material possessions or worldly success.
Line by Line Meaning
You work like every nail sunk
You put all of your effort and focus into every task you undertake
Every floorboard laid
Every accomplishment you achieve
Is another deed erased
Every accomplishment you achieve helps you forget about the past mistakes or failures
Another debt that's paid
Every accomplishment you achieve helps you repay the debts or obligations you owe
Like every story you've erected's gonna raise you up
You believe that every accomplished task or story of your life is going to elevate your position or status
So you keep slaving but it never seems to be enough
You always keep working hard towards achieving more, but you still feel unsatisfied
And now you're scared that it's all gonna crash to the ground
You are afraid that your hard work and accomplishments will turn into failures
So you tied a knot and started climbing your way down
You are trying to escape or give up on your efforts by taking the easy way out
When you find that you've come to the end of your rope
When you realize that you have exhausted all your options and have reached a dead end
Take a look and see where you were putting all your hope
Reflect on where you put your time and effort and realize if it was worth it and if it's leading you towards your aspirations
Cause you built these gallows you've been hanging from
You are the one responsible for your misery as you created the circumstances that led to it
You've been holding to a noose
You are clinging to the habits or thoughts that have made you unhappy
So just let go, just let go
It's time to let go of the things that are holding you back
And you got nothing to lose
You have no reason to fear as you are not at a worse position than you were when you started
I love the wood's already rotting
Things are deteriorating and getting worse
Though you made it clean
Despite you trying to make things look good or organized, things are still falling apart
You've hated every short cut
You have a disdain for taking the easier or faster path towards achieving your goals
Concealed its crooked seam
You ignored the flaws or shortcomings of the easier or faster method and chose to hide them instead
But every flaw will be revealed
Eventually, the hidden flaws or shortcomings will be unveiled
Each imperfection shown
Every flaw or deficiency will be exposed
Oh, I can hear the wind howl and the timber groan
The negative consequences of short cuts and temporary solutions are beginning to appear and become prominent
Writer(s): Brian Eichelberger, Dustin Michael Kensrue
Contributed by Asher E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@suthunrath1220
So many people just cant appreciate good music anymore.
@bryantran16
So little views, so many people missing out!
@MrAlphanumerick
+Bryan Tran everyone else listening to justin bieber ;)
@timothycarey3883
ā@@MrAlphanumerick sucks for them.
@nexleveldota8947
Awesome video Mr. Kensrue. It sounded even better live in Seattle! Thanks for giving us music to damn near worship, and meaning to live by.
@PrimeReclaimer
Whoever thought of this video is a genius. An amazing video is required to fully fit an amazing song.
@stevenmartinez8274
Love everything about the song! Keep up the awesome work!
@user-co4qu7oc9b
Heard this song on spotify, had to check it out! Keep it up :)
@CalebAstle
Wonderful song Dustin! I've never been affected by lyrics from any other artist like this before...
@TheCrossetts
What a great tune !