After breaking up with his girlfriend, moving out of his house, and joining a 12-step program for addiction, Ebert began work on a story about a messianic figure named Edward Sharpe. According to Ebert, Sharpe "was sent down to Earth to kinda heal and save mankind ... but he kept getting distracted by girls and falling in love." Ebert later met singer Jade Castrinos in Los Angeles, California, United States. In the summer of 2009, as Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Ebert and Castrinos toured the country with a group of fellow musicians in a big white school bus.
Its song "Home" was voted number 15 on the Australian Triple J Hottest 100's 2009 countdown, the largest music poll in the world.
Members:
Alex Ebert – vocals, guitar, percussion, piano
Jade Castrinos – vocals, guitar (Past member 2009-2013)
Nico Aglietti – guitar, synthesizer, keyboards, vocals
Stewart Cole – trumpet, percussion, keyboards, tenor ukulele, vocals
Tay Strathairn – piano, vocals
Aaron Older – bass, vocals, banjo, percussion
Josh Collazo – drums, percussion, vocals
Orpheo McCord – percussion, vocals
Nora Kirkpatrick – accordion, vocals
Christian Letts – guitar, vocals
Additional personnel:
Chris Richard – vocals, percussion
Anna Bulbrook – violin, vocals
Aaron Embry – keyboards, piano, vocals
Tyler James – piano, vocals
Ryan Richter – guitar, lap steel, vocals
Michael Farfel – announcer, management
Up From Below
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I cried as he said son, was nothing could be done
Now all the fists I've thrown, just tryin' to prove him wrong
After all the blood I spilled, just tryin' to get killed
'Cause I've already suffered I want you to know God
I'm ridin' on hell's hot flames comin' up from below
Drugs drugs drug me down, killin' light killin' sound
But now I've already suffered I want you to know God
I'm ridin' on hell's hot flames comin' up from below
Yes I've already suffered I want you to know God
I'm riding on Heaven's flames coming up from below
Far from below, how high can we go
To all the love I lost, hey just tryin' to play boss
To all those friends I hurt, I treated 'em like dirt
And all those words I spewed, nothin' sacred nothing true!
To all these ghosts I turn, I'm ready now to burn!
'Cause I've already suffered I want you to know God
I'm ridin' on hell's hot flames coming up from below
Yes I've already suffered I want you to know God
I'm ridin' on heaven's flames coming up from below
Far
From below
How high can we go.
The song Up From Below by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros portrays a life filled with struggles and pain. The first verse starts with the singer remembering what his father told him when he was just five years old - that he was going to die. As a child, he cried knowing there was nothing that could be done to change his fate. That moment has affected him deeply into adulthood. He throws punches to prove his dad wrong and spills blood, as if trying to get himself killed. He wants to show that he has already suffered, and he wants God to know this. He tells God he is riding on Hell's flames, coming up from below.
The second and third verses talk about drug addiction, loss of love, and hurting friends. He knows that he has treated people poorly and has spouted words that are neither true nor sacred. And yet, he is ready to burn and suffer once again, this time on Heaven's flames. The singer has come to terms with the choices he has made in his life, consequences be damned. The ending of the song asks the question: how high can we go, indicating that even with all the suffering, there may still be hope for redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
I was only five when my dad told me I'd die
As a five-year-old child, my father informed me that I had a fatal illness ahead; this broke me emotionally and left me feeling helpless.
I cried as he said son, was nothing could be done
When my father said there was no cure for the disease that threatened to end me, I couldn't help but let tears flow.
Now all the fists I've thrown, just tryin' to prove him wrong
Since then, I have lashed out with violence to show him that I am stronger than he thinks and that I will survive.
After all the blood I spilled, just tryin' to get killed
Through my reckless behavior, I was seeking ways to end my life and bring to an end my suffering, but I couldn't find a way out.
'Cause I've already suffered I want you to know God
I've been through so much pain and anguish that I crave for some divine intervention, hoping that God would lend me a helping hand.
I'm ridin' on hell's hot flames comin' up from below
Emotionally and psychologically, I feel like I'm engulfed in flames of hell, trying to ascend from the abyss below me.
Heroin and rain blowing out my window pane
I have hit rock-bottom and I find solace in drugs as I watch everything in my life get drowned out by the rain that's pouring outside my window.
Drugs drugs drug me down, killin' light killin' sound
My addiction has brought me down to the point where it’s affecting every aspect of my being and everything around me is dying out.
Yes I've already suffered I want you to know God
I want God to know that given all that I've been through already, I need something positive to show for it.
I'm riding on Heaven's flames coming up from below
Now I've changed my course, looked for goodness and positivity, and find myself ascending towards heaven from the fiery depth of rock-bottom I was stuck in.
To all the love I lost, hey just tryin' to play boss
I took my relationships for granted and refused to let anyone love me, in my attempt to have full command over everything and everyone.
To all those friends I hurt, I treated 'em like dirt
I behaved poorly around the people who loved me and paid little regard to their feelings, treating them as if they were insignificant in my life.
And all those words I spewed, nothin' sacred nothing true!
I said whatever I felt like, caring little whether it was worth it or not; sometimes, what I said even hurt people's feelings or devoid of any value.
To all these ghosts I turn, I'm ready now to burn!
My past haunts me, and I'm prepared to take on the consequences and face whatever is ahead of me so that moving forward is easier.
Far From below How high can we go
It's time for me to move on from my low point, and aim for the highest possible; this is my chance for redemption and salvation.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALEX M T EBERT, JOSHUA MICHAEL COLLAZO, NICOLO JOSEPH AGLIETTI, TAY STRATHAIRN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@raffyob1
I was only five when my dad told me I’d die
I cried as he said son, was nothing could be done
No all the fists I thrown just tryin to prove him wrong
After all the blood I spilled just tryin to get killed
Cuz I’ve already suffered I want you to know God
I’m ridin on hell’s hot flames comin up from below
Herowind and rain blowing out my window pain
Drugs drugs drug me down killin light killin sound
But now I’ve already suffered I want you to know God
Im ridin on Hell’s hot flames comin up from below
Yes I’ve already suffered I want you to know God
I’m riding on Heaven’s flames coming up from below
Far from below – how high can we go
To all the love I lost – hey just tryin to play boss
To all those friends I hurt – I treated em like dirt
And all those words I spewed – Nothin sacred nothing true!
To all these Ghosts I turn – I’m ready now to Burn!
Cuz I’ve already suffered I want you to know God
I’m ridin on hell’s hot flames coming up from below
Yes I’ve already suffered I want you to know God
I’m ridin of heaven’s flames coming up from below
Far - From below - how high can we go.
@salome3347
It's incredible how uplifting this band is. It makes me so hopeful and grateful to be alive
@bodenthatcher6738
I guess Im kind of off topic but do anybody know of a good place to stream newly released series online ?
@alonsojaden6527
@Boden Thatcher Meh try Flixportal. you can find it on google =) -alonso
@bodenthatcher6738
@Alonso Jaden Thank you, I went there and it seems to work :D Appreciate it !!
@alonsojaden6527
@Boden Thatcher You are welcome :D
@peacelov3r23man
I have been going through a hard time with my parents and everything. and this song helps me get my spirits back up. my parents sit there and dwell on things; while me on the other hand is thankful for what i have. and what i have are some good friends. the littles things DO matter in life. <3
@SmashBox73
Life-changing.....These are thoughts from our raw moments. They matter most. This band is fucking fantastic.
@chadyou812
Have fallen in love with this bad today. Heard one song on a internet U.K. station and started there and kept going. The production of the songs reminds me of listening to the AM radio as a child in the 70's its got that big chorus effect and it just sucks you in. It has wonderful melodies and breaks from the crap formula pop we have today. This is what music is about, inspiration!
@neocant1
These guys are f'ing amazing. True that on not getting too famous- but wish them that level that gives them their just deserves w/o sacrificing self. Unreal, rare, rare talent. This is one of the most amazingly poignant songs on addiction I have ever heard. Should almost be the opening of every AA / NA meeting it rings so true. Not sure if that was the intent- but man it is the message. Peace all.
@madelinecarlson9024
As I recover from an addiction that almost took me out this song makes me cry