Their debut full-length, Background Music, was recorded for Equal Vision Records in 2001 and was released to much acclaim. In 2003, the band faced a legal battle with a similarly named band from Philadelphia. The band then changed their name briefly to the initials "A.N." then to American Nothing for a brief period. After the other American Nightmare threatened to press charges again, they changed their name to Give Up the Ghost (which was intended to be the name of their second album). Their second full length, We're Down Til We're Underground released on Equal Vision Records, displayed the band experimenting with their sound, with longer songs that didn't follow the typical hardcore songwriting formula they had adhered to in their previous releases.
The band broke up suddenly in June 2004, a day after announcing the cancellation of a European tour. The band issued a statement which cited "health and personal reasons" for the split. Give Up the Ghost's success, combined with the success of contemporary Boston bands like The Suicide File, cemented the position of the Boston scene as the bellwether for new trends during the early 2000s. Members went on to join / form other bands such as Cold Cave, Some Girls, XO Skeletons, Ye Olde Maids, Head Automatica, Bars, and The Hope Conspiracy. Wes also went on to start a publishing company called Heartworm Press and co-owns Philadelphia based bookstore/performance space Juanita And Juan's. Give Up the Ghost came back into the headlines in 2007 under accusations that Fall Out Boy had taken lyrics from Wes Eisold, the band's lyricist, resulting in an out-of-court settlement and a credit in the liner notes of both the multi-platinum selling From Under the Cork Tree and Infinity on High.
After seven years of disbandment, Give Up the Ghost played two reunion shows in December 2011. The band performed in Revere, Massachusetts (just outside of Boston) on December 29, and in Los Angeles on December 31. Deathwish Inc. reissued Give Up the Ghost's albums Background Music (2001) and We're Down Til We're Underground (2003) to coincide with the reunion dates. Tickets for the two reunion shows went on sale on October 29, 2011 and both shows sold out in under a minute. As a result, a special ticket package was announced to go on sale November 7, with all proceeds going to Shirts For A Cure Project, which benefits the Syrentha Savio Endowment. The package included two tickets and two t-shirts for $100, which in turn also sold out in under a minute.
Give Up the Ghost played additional reunion shows on July 20 and July 22, 2012 at Webster Hall in New York City. In addition, Give Up the Ghost performed at the FYF Fest in Los Angeles, California in September 2012 under their original name American Nightmare. They scheduled two more shows under the American Nightmare name in June 2013 in Chicago and Toronto. Shows in Anaheim CA and Seattle WA are also scheduled for December of 2013.
Wes Eisold - vocals
Tim Cossar - guitar
Brian Masek - guitar
Josh Holden - bass
Alex Garcia Rivera - drums
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Crimescene
Give Up The Ghost Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
of the ones that are holding you up
And maybe it doesn't matter
but it just seems so clear to me
that they don't care that it hurts to breathe
They don't know and they can't see
that the songs you own make your heart beat
The breakdown, the stitches, broken lives
There is a difference between
what you've earned and what you deserve
And as long as you are living well
Our sweat can drip straight to Hell
Prove me wrong
Prove you give a fuck
About the sound, about the words
Prove that we've crossed your mind
on some term besides numbers
There's no loyalty
There's no fucking ethics here
It's not the message that keeps you here
, it's the image you keep up
The label that you wear
Is worth more than the words you speak
The lyrics to Give Up The Ghost's song "Crimescene" touch upon themes of betrayal, hypocrisy, and the value of artistic expression. The first stanza paints a vivid picture of someone who is actively harming those who support them, while simultaneously feeling neglected and unseen by them. The lines "they don't care that it hurts to breathe / they don't know and they can't see" highlight feelings of isolation and disconnection, while the reference to "songs you own" suggests that music is a powerful source of solace and identity.
The second stanza takes on a more confrontational tone, with the singer challenging the listener to "prove [them] wrong" about their lack of empathy or investment in the music scene. The line "there's no loyalty / there's no fucking ethics here" underscores the idea that the music industry can be cutthroat and heartless, with profit and image taking priority over genuine connection or community.
Overall, "Crimescene" is a powerful statement on the importance of artistic integrity and human connection in a world that often values shallow surface-level appeal over meaningful expression.
Line by Line Meaning
You're stabbing the backs
You're betraying the trust of those who support you
of the ones that are holding you up
Those who are helping you succeed
And maybe it doesn't matter
Your actions may not seem important to you
but it just seems so clear to me
But it's obvious to me
that they don't care that it hurts to breathe
They don't realize how much harm they're causing
They don't know and they can't see
They're unaware of the situation
that the songs you own make your heart beat
The music you create is your lifeblood
The breakdown, the stitches, broken lives
The struggles and hardships we face
and no one knows what we're going through
No one understands our pain
There is a difference between
There's a distinction to be made
what you've earned and what you deserve
What you've worked for versus what you're entitled to
And as long as you are living well
As long as you're doing alright
Our sweat can drip straight to Hell
The hard work we put in can go to waste
Prove me wrong
Show me that I'm mistaken
Prove you give a fuck
Show that you care
About the sound, about the words
About the quality of the music and lyrics
Prove that we've crossed your mind
Show that you've thought about us
on some term besides numbers
For reasons other than financial gain
There's no loyalty
There's a lack of commitment
There's no fucking ethics here
There's a lack of principles and morals
It's not the message that keeps you here
It's not the music's meaning that motivates you
Contributed by Adalyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.