The band's first release was in 2007 with an EP titled When The Sea Became A Giant. The band released a full-length album, What It Takes To Move Forward, in 2009. The band is signed to Count Your Lucky Stars Records and has released albums on a number of other labels, such as strictly no capital letters (UK), Topshelf Records, Stiff Slack (Japan), and Hobbledehoy Record Co (Australia). The band released their second album You Will Eventually Be Forgotten on August 19, 2014. On February 16, 2016, the band announced their final tour before their breakup on their official Facebook page.[2]
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Labels: count your lucky stars / strictly no capital letters / stiff slack / keep it together / topshelf
How to Stay Afloat in a Sea of Change
Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And braced yourself for disappointment
Michigan winters have such a way of isolating breath from your body
But they were such strong traits that your father passed down to you
And when they wore you out, they won out
you are what you feared you'd turn in to
But if you change your mind, I will forgive you
(And all will be undone)
The lyrics of this Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) song capture the feeling of anticipation followed by disappointment, which is common during the winter months in Michigan. The first line sets the scene and the second line acknowledges the disappointment to come. The mention of the traits that the father passed down to the singer emphasizes the struggle they face in dealing with the isolation and harshness of the winter.
The next few lines delve into the mental state of the singer, as they try to cope with the situation. The words "they wore you out" refers to the mental as well as the physical exhaustion the singer experiences. The line "So how could I look at you?" is a rhetorical question that highlights the feeling of shame and disappointment for not being able to cope. The last part of the song expresses forgiveness and the hope of undoing the damage caused by this disappointment.
Overall, this song captures the experience of dealing with isolation and disappointment and the mental battle that accompanies it. The use of metaphors and imagery along with simple yet effective lyrics helps to convey the emotions that the singer feels.
Line by Line Meaning
You had made plans for the colder months ahead
You had prepared for the harsh winter season beforehand
And braced yourself for disappointment
You mentally prepared yourself for sadness or letdown
Michigan winters have such a way of isolating breath from your body
Michigan winters can make it difficult to breathe and feel isolated
But they were such strong traits that your father passed down to you
Despite the challenges, you inherited resilience from your father
And when they wore you out, they won out
When the harsh winter became too much, it overpowered you
So how could I look at you?
I'm not sure how to view you now
you are what you feared you'd turn in to
You became what you were afraid of becoming
But if you change your mind, I will forgive you
If you decide to make a change, I am willing to forgive you
(And all will be undone)
(Everything can be fixed)
Contributed by Jack D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.