The band toured nationally across the United States from January to March 2006 on the Winterfresh Sno-Core Tour with Seether, Shinedown, and Flyleaf. There were about 23 shows in that tour, and the band has performed about 200 times per year since 1997.
Siblings Arejay and Elizabeth "Lzzy" Hale have been actively writing and performing original music since 1997 when they were 10 and 13 years old, respectively. Both brother and sister started learning piano at the age of 5; Lzzy later progressed to a keytar and Arejay to the drums. Lzzy took guitar lessons at 16. The teen siblings released an EP titled Don't Mess With the Time Man in 2000. In Halestorm's earliest incarnation, Lzzy and Arejay's father played bass before Josh Smith joined the group in 2004. Guitarist Joe Hottinger joined in 2003.
The group signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records on June 28, 2005 and released a live EP titled One and Done. The EP, now out of print, featured an early live version of "It's Not You." Their self-titled debut album was released on April 28, 2009. The song "I Get Off" served as the album's lead single and has gained heavy radio play. Both the song and video for their second single, "It's Not You", were released in late November 2009. In early 2010, the band released a promotional music video for their song "Love/Hate Heartbreak". "Familiar Taste of Poison", was released in 2010.The official music video was released on August 10, 2010.
Lzzy Hale's use of Gibson guitars is well known; models she plays includes the Tribal Flying V, Gibson Explorer, Les Paul Custom, Firebird and the Joan Jett Signature Melody Maker.[5] Arejay Hale was featured in the June 2010 issue of Modern Drummer magazine, and is endorsed by Ludwig Drums, Zildjian Cymbals and Pro-Mark Drumsticks.
Halestorm is well known for their near non-stop touring, often performing as many as 250 shows a year.Since 2006 they have toured with many hard rock and heavy metal acts including Chevelle, Seether, Staind, Papa Roach, Trapt, Three Days Grace, Theory of a Deadman, Buckcherry, Disturbed, Shinedown, Megadeth, and Heaven & Hell.
Halestorm appeared on the first annual Rockstar Energy drink Uproar Festival with headliners Disturbed and Avenged Sevenfold; plus Stone Sour, Hellyeah, Hail the Villain, Airbourne and New Medicine.[8] In October 2010 Halestorm will be making their first trip to Japan to participate in the 2010 Loud Park Festival. Halestorm will embark on the 2010 Taste of Chaos tour alongside headliners, Disturbed, as well as support acts, Papa Roach, and Buckcherry.
On November 16, 2010 Halestorm released a live CD/DVD entitled Live in Philly 2010, which was recorded at The TLA in Philadelphia in early 2010. On March 22, 2011, Halestorm released an EP called ReAnimate containing covers of songs of different genres, including "Out Ta Get Me" by Guns N' Roses, "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga, and the first single "Slave to the Grind" by Skid Row.
On January 24, 2012, Halestorm released the EP Hello, It's Mz. Hyde, a sneak preview of four songs from their upcoming studio album. Their second full length album, The Strange Case Of... was released on April 10, 2012 in the US, April 9 in the UK, and April 17 in Italy.
On February 10, 2013, Halestorm won Grammy for best rock/metal performance for their song Love Bites (so do I).
The Reckoning
Halestorm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why did you
Watch me suffer, make me feel like I deserved to
Everybody takes, everybody breaks somebody's heart leaving some on their own
But this felt more like you ripping flesh from bone
You made a mess out of me
Where do I begin?
You paid for your sins
Like a reckoning
You never saw coming
I'm the reaper outside your door
You took everything made me feel less than nothing
I'm getting what I came for
Like the sound of all the stars crashing in the dark
I said a prayer and buried your name
And up through the ashes I rose like wildfire
The reckoning
I gave you more than my heart could hope for
You misused it
Scraped up every piece that fell to the floor
When you tore through it
Laying me to ruin
You knew what you were doing
Leaving me to skin and bone
But trusting you was no one's fault but my own
You get what you give
So take your last breath
Before I lay you to rest
Like a reckoning
You never saw coming
I'm the reaper outside your door
You took everything made me feel less than nothing
I'm getting what I came for
Like the sound of all the stars crashing in the dark
I said a prayer and buried your name
And up through the ashes I rose like wildfire
I should have known better than that
I should have known all along
I should have known better than that
I should have known
But now I'm moving on
Like a reckoning
You never saw coming
I'm the reaper outside your door
You took everything made me feel less than nothing
I'm getting what I came for
Like the sound of all the stars crashing in the dark
I said a prayer and buried your name
And up through the ashes I rose like wildfire
The reckoning
You never saw coming
You never saw me coming
The reckoning
I'm the reaper outside your door
I am the reckoning
For every wrong you ever did to me
I am the reckoning
The lyrics of "The Reckoning" by Halestorm express the feelings of a person who has been deceived and hurt by someone they trusted. The emotions are raw and intense, as the singer details how the once-trusted person broke their promises, lied to them, and made them feel like they deserved to suffer. The singer acknowledges that everyone experiences heartbreak, but the level of pain inflicted by the person they trusted is akin to flesh being torn from bone.
Despite the emotional turmoil, the singer refuses to be defeated by the actions of the person who betrayed them. They make the decision to rise from the ashes like a wildfire, determined to seek revenge and serve as a warning to those who deceive and hurt others. The final lines are particularly impactful, as the singer announces their role as "the reaper outside your door" and declares themselves to be "the reckoning for every wrong you ever did to me."
Overall, "The Reckoning" is a defiant anthem that empowers those who have been hurt by others to rise up and seek justice. It speaks to the strength of the human spirit and the power of resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Cross my heart, broke your promise, told me lies
You made a solemn commitment, broke it, and then lied to me.
Watch me suffer, make me feel like I deserved to
You made me suffer and created the impression that I deserved it.
Everybody takes, everybody breaks somebody's heart leaving some on their own
Everyone causes some heartbreak and leaves someone behind.
But this felt more like you ripping flesh from bone
This hurt me on a deeper level and caused me extreme pain.
You made a mess out of me
You caused chaos in my life.
Where do I begin?
I don't know where to start with all the hurt you've caused.
You paid for your sins
You are experiencing the consequences of your actions.
Like a reckoning
Your judgement day has come.
You never saw coming
You were not prepared for the consequences of your actions.
I'm the reaper outside your door
I represent death and destruction and I'm here to collect what's owed.
You took everything made me feel less than nothing
You took everything from me and left me feeling worthless.
I'm getting what I came for
I'm here to get my revenge and make you pay for what you've done.
Like the sound of all the stars crashing in the dark
The sound of our relationship ending was like a cosmic event, powerful and devastating.
I said a prayer and buried your name
I am letting go of my attachment to you and moving on.
And up through the ashes I rose like wildfire
I am rising from the ashes of my destroyed former self and becoming stronger and more empowered.
I gave you more than my heart could hope for
I trusted you completely and gave you everything I had to offer.
You misused it
You didn't appreciate or value what I gave you and instead, took advantage of me.
Scraped up every piece that fell to the floor
You took everything I had to offer, even the parts that were broken and flawed.
When you tore through it
You destroyed everything I gave you.
Laying me to ruin
Your actions caused me to be broken and destroyed.
You knew what you were doing
You were fully aware of the pain and destruction you were causing.
Leaving me to skin and bone
You left me with nothing, completely broken and empty.
But trusting you was no one's fault but my own
I take responsibility for trusting you and the consequences that came with it.
You get what you give
The consequences of your actions will come back to you.
So take your last breath
You have reached the end of the line and there's no going back now.
Before I lay you to rest
Before I end it all and lay you to rest.
I should have known better than that
I should have seen through your lies and deception from the beginning.
I should have known all along
I knew deep down that this would end in heartbreak and destruction.
But now I'm moving on
But now I am letting go of the past and moving on to a better future.
You never saw me coming
You never expected me to fight back and rise from the ashes.
I am the reckoning
I am the force of justice and revenge, here to make you pay.
For every wrong you ever did to me
For every pain and heartbreak you ever caused me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ELIZABETH HALE, SCOTT CHRISTOPHER STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ctxo
Crossed my heart, broke your promise, told me lies
Why did you watch me suffer?
Make me feel like I deserved to
Everybody takes everybody breaks
Somebody's heart leaving someone alone
But this felt more like you ripping flesh from bone.
You made a mess outta me
Where do I begin?
You pay for your sins.
Like a reckoning
You never saw coming
I’m the reaper outside your door
You took everything
Made me feel less than nothing
I’m getting what I came for
Like the sound of falling stars
Crashing in the dark
I said a prayer and buried your name
And up through the ashes
I rose like wildfire
The Reckoning
I gave you more than my heart could hope for
You misused it
Scraped up every piece that fell to the floor
When you tore through it
Laying me to ruin, you knew what you were doing
Leavin me just skin and bone
But trusting you was no ones fault but my own
You get what you give, so take your last breath 'fore I lay you to rest
Like a reckoning
You never saw coming
I’m the reaper outside your door
You took everything
Made me feel less than nothing
I’m getting what I came for
Like the sound of falling stars
Crashing in the dark
I said a prayer and buried your name
And up through the ashes
I rose like wildfire
The Reckoning
I shoulda known better than that
I shoulda known all along
I shoulda known better than that
I shoulda known but now im moving on...
Like a reckoning
You never saw coming
I’m the reaper outside your door
You took everything
Made me feel less than nothing
I’m getting what I came for
Like the sound of falling stars
Crashing in the dark
I said a prayer and buried your name
And up through the ashes
I rose like wildfire
The Reckoning
You never saw coming, you never saw me coming
The Reckoning
I'm the reaper outside your door
I am The Reckoning
For every wrong you did to me
I am The Reckoning
@valeriearndt9788
Without a doubt one of my favorite Halestorm songs. You can feel her justified anger in every breath.
@NikolaMiykov
Halestorm is one of the best metal bands of the 21st century. Period!
@louise4529
Bad folks never get away with it this song is about karma served on a plate cold
@Monkeyball480
Easily the best song of the album.
@megbby1
As someone who survived an abusive relationship, this song has so much meaning for me. Love it so much it gives me goosebumps. Thanks Halestorm for giving a voice to everything I've felt but couldn't really say.
@Robynelli
How did you heal? I've been through the same.
@megbby1
+Robynelli Honestly, it's been 4 years and I still have hard days every now and then. I ended up in counseling for about a year and it really helped. Mostly just because it was a safe place to vent and because my counselor could offer different perspective. It's just really important to know that you didn't cause it and that you deserve so much better. I'm so sorry you had to go through it and I genuinely hope you find happiness.
@royhellberg3568
Megan coulter my sis had a marriage of abuse,healing comes darlin,dont lose hope,its the strength of love.
@ladyonyx3811
I'm still in an abusive relationship but its not romantic. But this new year, i'm breaking free. I dyed my hair for the first time (dark copper brown) and made plans. This new year I'm gonna be the reckoning and the the fire. Good luck to all those in similar situations.
@cherigem
Understand 😢