1) Empires were a … Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name:
1) Empires were a 4 piece indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois active during the years 2008-2015, in 2017 the lead singer announced via Instagram the band was not continuing with creating music
Band members: Tom Conrad (rhythm guitar); Max Steger (lead guitar); Sean Van Vleet (vocals/piano) ; Mike Robinson (drums)
2) Empires hails from Minneapolis MN, and consists of 4 members. The band is purely instrumental and has doom metal tendencies. They have 2 demos and an album called Through Trial and Tribulation Comes Triumph, released on Saw Her Ghost Records during the summer of 2007. Brian (bass) is also a member of the black metal band Manetheren, aka Grudlevitikh.
Andy, Jim and Kevin, are also session members and live performers for Manetheren.
3) Empires a newly formed hardcore/metalcore band from Sydney that is rapidly making a name for themselves. They infuse extremely heavy breakdowns with swift melodic bits and throw in some nu-metal riffs in the creation of their sound. www.myspace.com/empiresau
4) Empires was a Virginia Beach experimental post-hardcore band in the vein of Thursday and The Receiving End of Sirens. The band formed from the ashes of popular Virginia Beach metal band The Ending Vision. They broke up in early 2008. Members of Empires, along with members of Rodinia and Laid To Rest have gone on to form popular Virginia Beach melodic rock band Andover
5) Empires is a one piece hardcore/metal project from Massachusetts, now in the process of becoming a full band. The one piece act released two ep's, The City Within, and the Summer Sampler. Expect new tracks fall of 07.
6) Empires is a Melbourne-based band. Influences include The Killers, Snow Patrol, and Oasis.
7) a post-hardcore band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. www.myspace.com/empirespa
8) Empires is a melodic hardcore/punk band from Rapid City, South Dakota. Having released a split with Valor (PDX), a 5 song ep titled "Uncharted", and a newly released "It's Not What I Love, It's What I Don't..." 5 song EP. Influences include Carpathian, Posion the Well, Killing the Dream and Shai Hulud. Check them out here: http://www.facebook.com/empireshc
9) Epires are UK based melodic/Post-Hardcore band, with strong influences from bands like Emarosa, Circa Survive, Underoath, Taking Back Sunday and more. They are causing a stir in the West-Midlands, and are soon to explode. http://www.myspace.com/weareempiresuk
Hard Times
Empires Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wishing for another time
Something tugging at my soul
I'm learning what the junkies know
Does anybody else know?
Does anybody else know?
Does anybody else know you like I do?
Does anybody else know?
Does anybody else know?
Does anybody else know you like I do?
Well, I found heaven in hard times
Well, I found the crazy place where it all hides
I lost sight of Gloria
She never lost sight of me
I'm gonna reach Gloria
She's holding her hand to me
You've got a little of the hard times, baby
Hard times, b-b-b-b-b-b-b-baby
I took a road off Main Street
Then something got a hold of me
I've challenged all the ones I love
And it gave my heart a heavy rub
Does anybody else know?
Does anybody else know?
Does anybody else know you like I do?
Does anybody else know?
Does anybody else know?
Does anybody else know you like I do?
Oh, I found heaven in hard times
Oh, I found the crazy place where it all hides
I lost sight of Gloria
She never lost sight of me
I'm gonna reach Gloria
She's holding her hand to me
You've got a little of the hard times, baby
Hard times, b-b-b-b-b-b-b-baby
Oh, hard times, baby
Hard times, b-b-b-b-b-b-b-baby
I wanna see you
I wanna see you
I say I'll never leave you alone
I'll never leave you alone
Does anybody else know?
Does anybody else know?
Does anybody else know you like I?
Oh, I found heaven in hard times
Oh, I found the crazy place where it all hides
I lost sight of Gloria
She never lost sight of me
I'm gonna reach Gloria
She's holding her hand to me
(Gloria)
You've got a little of the hard times, baby
(I wanna see you)
Hard times, baby
You've got a little of the hard times, baby
Hard times, b-b-b-b-b-b-b-baby
The lyrics of Empires' song, "Hard Times," revolve around the theme of struggle and finding solace in difficult situations. The song begins with the singer feeling stranded in the dead of night, wishing for another time, and feeling something tugging at their soul. They then reveal that they are learning what the "junkies know," which could mean that they are experiencing addictive tendencies themselves or learning about the ways in which people cope with difficult situations.
The chorus questions whether anyone else knows the person being addressed in the song as well as the singer does. Following this, the singer sings about finding heaven in hard times and losing sight of someone named Gloria, though she never lost sight of them. They vow to reach out to Gloria, who is holding her hand out to them.
The song's lyrics are poignant and emotional, with the repetition of the question, "Does anybody else know?" highlighting the sense of isolation and disconnection that can come with difficult times. Additionally, the contrast between finding heaven in hard times and losing sight of someone who was always there can be seen as an exploration of the complexity of life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Stranded in the dead of night
Feeling isolated and alone during a dark and lonely moment
Wishing for another time
Longing for the past when things seemed simpler and easier
Something tugging at my soul
Feeling a deep emotional pull towards something or someone
I'm learning what the junkies know
Discovering how addiction can consume and control one's life
Does anybody else know?
Questioning if anyone else can truly relate or understand
Well, I found heaven in hard times
Discovering moments of joy and beauty amidst difficult circumstances
Well, I found the crazy place where it all hides
Finding the unusual and unexpected places where happiness and contentment can be found
I lost sight of Gloria
Losing touch with something or someone important
She never lost sight of me
Realizing that there is someone who has always been there and has never given up
I'm gonna reach Gloria
Striving to reconnect with what has been lost
You've got a little of the hard times, baby
Acknowledging that others may be going through similar struggles
I took a road off Main Street
Choosing a different path than the conventional or expected
Then something got a hold of me
Experiencing a sudden and intense influence or impact
I've challenged all the ones I love
Putting relationships to the test and questioning loyalty and commitment
And it gave my heart a heavy rub
Causing emotional pain and discomfort
I wanna see you
Expressing a strong desire to be reunited with someone
I say I'll never leave you alone
Promising to always be there for someone
(Gloria)
Referring to the person or thing that has been lost
Writer(s): Sean T. van Vleet, Maxwell Michael Steger, Thomas Alfred Conrad Copyright: Spit The Music, Songs Mp
Contributed by Aria C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.