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
Cassie
Flyleaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To save her life or take it
The answer no to avoid death
The answer yes would make it, make it
Do you believe in God?
Written on the bullet
Say yes to pull the trigger
Written on the bullet
And Cassie pulled the trigger
All heads are bowed in silence
To remember her last sentence
She answered him knowing what would happen
Her last words still hanging in the air
(In the air)
Do you believe in God?
Written on the bullet
Say yes to pull the trigger
Do you believe in God?
Written on the bullet
And Cassie pulled the trigger
How many will die?
I will die
I, I will say yes
Do you believe in God?
Written on the bullet
Say yes or pull the trigger
Do you believe in God?
Written on the bullet
And Cassie pulled the trigger
Do you believe in God?
Do you believe in God?
Do you believe in God?
And I will pull the trigger
The lyrics of Flyleaf's song "Cassie" are about the tragic story of Cassie Bernall, a teenage victim of the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. The lyrics describe the moment when one of the gunmen asked Cassie whether she believed in God, and the devastating choice that was forced upon her - deny her faith and live or affirm her faith and die. The lyrics pose the question asked of Cassie: "Do you believe in God?" and the two possible answers: "Say yes to pull the trigger" or "The answer no to avoid death." The tragic irony of the situation is that Cassie chose to affirm her faith, answering "yes" to the question, and was then shot and killed.
The lyrics describe the aftermath of Cassie's death, with "all heads bowed in silence" in remembrance of her "last sentence." The final line of the song repeats the question: "Do you believe in God?" and adds the haunting words, "And I will pull the trigger." This line seems to suggest that the question is not just being asked of Cassie, but of anyone who listens to the song - that we are all potentially faced with the same choice and the same consequences.
Overall, the lyrics of "Cassie" are a poignant and powerful tribute to a young woman who was forced to make an impossible choice, and to the enduring impact of her faith and her courage on those who knew her and those who have since learned her story.
Line by Line Meaning
The question asked in order
The inquiry was made directly
To save her life or take it
Whether to protect or end her life
The answer no to avoid death
Answering negatively to avoid death
The answer yes would make it, make it
Responding affirmatively would lead to her demise
Do you believe in God?
Inquiring about belief in a higher power
Written on the bullet
The message is inscribed on the deadly weapon
Say yes to pull the trigger
Responding positively leads to shooting
And Cassie pulled the trigger
Cassie chose to answer positively and use the gun on herself
All heads are bowed in silence
Everyone is respectfully quiet
To remember her last sentence
To commemorate her final words
She answered him knowing what would happen
She was aware of the consequences when giving her answer
Her last words still hanging in the air
The impact of her final statement lingers
How many will die?
Asking how many fatalities will occur
I will die
Referring to herself as the potential casualty
I, I will say yes
She will bravely answer positively despite the outcome
Do you believe in God?
Posing the faith-based query again
And I will pull the trigger
She will willingly use the firearm on herself
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Howard Benson, Sameer Bhattacharya, James Culpepper, Jared Hartmann, Lacey Nicole Mosley, Pat Seals
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind