Their music is a mix of hard rock styles. The band cites influences such as Rage Against The Machine, Foo Fighters, Incubus, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Nirvana.
Early on, vocalist Lacey Mosley began playing music with drummer James Culpepper. Later on guitarists Jared Hartmann and Sameer Bhattacharya were recruited. "Sameer and Jared are really experimental with melodies and pedals, and we all had different influences that were all blending together with the same passionate and hopeful heart, and that brought out this beautiful feeling. It was magical," said Mosley. When they were still playing as Listen, they played with bassists Josh C. and Jonathan B.. The bassist was replaced by Kirkpatrick Seals in 2002 after he left his previous band The Grove.
All five members of the band are of the Christian faith. This faith in Jesus influences their music, but lead singer Lacey Mosley doesn't necessarily believe that makes Flyleaf a strictly Christian band. "We all share the same faith. And so when we deal with the whole 'Christian band thing,' we kind of think about something P.O.D. says, like, 'If you're a Christian, it affects everything in your life. So if you're a plumber, does that make you a Christian plumber?'" Mosley said. "I don't know the answer. We're a band, it's part of who we are, so it comes out in our music, and it's the fuel for what we do. And finding Christ saved my life. So I'm not ashamed of it at all. And most of our album reflects that".
Flyleaf released a song "Cassie" that was about the shooting of Cassie Bernall and Rachel Scott. They were shot in the head after admiting they were Christian. This is just one example of how Flyleaf are touched by events and touch others through their music.
Flyleaf released their first full-length studio album, "Flyleaf", in October 2005. The album was re-released in United States in October 2007 along with their latest digital EP, "Much Like Falling", that was released onto the iTunes store. The re-released version of "Flyleaf" contains additional acoustic tracks.
On the 10th of November 2009, Flyleaf released their second album, called "Memento Mori". The album is a little less heavy than their debut album. Two songs that were released before the official release are "Beautiful Bride" and "Again".
Songfacts reports that their third album will be called "New Horizons". The title track premiered on 89X Radio on August 1, 2012, and will be released on iTunes on August 21, 2012.
On October the 22nd 2012, Lacey Sturm/Mosley declared that she was leaving Flyleaf and that the band was splitting up. This was only a week before their new album was due to be released (New Horizons - 30th October 2012).
On November 7, 2022, it was announced by Flyleaf that Sturm had returned to the band, with the band now calling themselves "Flyleaf with Lacey Sturm".
Official site: www.flyleafmusic.com
Arise
Flyleaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We will make it out alive
There's a note in the pages of the book
So sleep tonight,
We'll sleep dreamlessly this time
When we awake we'll know that everything's alright
And sing to me about the end of the world
Hold on to the world we all remember fighting for,
There's still strength left in us yet
Hold on to the world we all remember dying for,
There's still hope left in it yet
The snow on your face, and your razor blades
The twilight is bruised and there you lie
And sing to me, about the end of the world
End of these hammers and needles for you
We'll cry tonight, but in the morning we are new
Stand in the sun, we'll dry your eyes
Hold on to the world we all remember fighting for,
There's still strength left in us yet
Hold on to the world we all remember dying for,
There's still hope left in it yet
And sing
Sing
Arise
Arise and be,
All that you dreamed, all that you dreamed
Arise and be,
All the you dreamed, all that you dreamed
Arise and be,
All the you dreamed, all that you dreamed
Arise and be,
All the you dreamed, all that you dreamed
The lyrics of "Arise" by Flyleaf express the struggle to overcome difficult times, but also the hope and strength that is essential to make it through. The opening line, "Tell the swine we will make it out alive," suggests that there are those who don't believe in the possibility of overcoming obstacles, but the singer is determined to succeed.
The next line, "There's a note in the pages of the book," may refer to a message that has been left for the singer to find, perhaps offering guidance or encouragement. The following lines, "So sleep tonight, we'll sleep dreamlessly this time, when we awake we'll know everything's alright," are optimistic and suggest that a peaceful night's rest will bring a better perspective and renewed energy to face whatever challenges lie ahead.
The chorus of the song urges listeners to "hold on to the world we all remember fighting for" and to "hold on to the world we all remember dying for." These lines acknowledge the struggles and losses that have brought us to the present moment, but also offer hope that our efforts will not be in vain.
The rest of the song calls for the listener to "arise and be all that you dreamed," implying that the challenges we face can be overcome if we have the courage to pursue our dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell the swine
We're not afraid of those who would criticize us.
We will make it out alive
We will survive despite the challenges.
There's a note in the pages of the book
There is a message waiting for us to discover.
So sleep tonight,
Rest easy knowing that things will be okay.
We'll sleep dreamlessly this time
No need to worry or have nightmares.
When we awake we'll know that everything's alright
We'll have clarity and peace of mind after sleeping.
And sing to me about the end of the world
Share your thoughts on the possible end of humankind.
End of these hammers and needles for you
The difficult times and pain will come to an end.
Hold on to the world we all remember fighting for,
Don't lose sight of the values we once stood for.
There's still strength left in us yet
We are capable of overcoming challenges.
Hold on to the world we all remember dying for,
Remember the sacrifices and reasons we fought for.
There's still hope left in it yet
Things can still get better, don't give up hope.
The snow on your face, and your razor blades
Perhaps a reference to self-harm, a difficult situation.
The twilight is bruised and there you lie
The evening is dark and painful for you.
We'll cry tonight, but in the morning we are new
Tears are okay, we can be renewed and refreshed by morning.
Stand in the sun, we'll dry your eyes
Take comfort in the warmth and light of a new day.
And sing
Let's sing a song of hope and resilience.
Sing
Reinforce the importance of expressing oneself through song.
Arise
Stand tall and be confident in your abilities.
Arise and be,
Step up and become who you want to be.
All that you dreamed, all that you dreamed
Embrace your dreams and make them a reality.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JAMES CULPEPPER, JARED HARTMANN, KIRKPATRICK SEALS, LACEY NICOLE STURM, SAMEER BHATTACHARYA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind