Half Me is a German metalcore band from Hamburg, formed in 2018. The curren… Read Full Bio ↴Half Me is a German metalcore band from Hamburg, formed in 2018. The current lineup features vocalist Chris Zühlke, guitarists Christopher Hesse and Silvan Petersen, bassist Tobias Max Sajons, and drummer Maximilian Eisersdorff. Initially, Julius Jansen was one of their guitarists, but around 2023, Silvan Petersen took his place. The band is signed to Arising Empire.

Half Me's sound blends modern metal and hardcore with elements of 90s nu metal, characterized by pounding riffs, intense breakdowns, and a mixture of aggressive and refined vocals.

The band's breakthrough came in May 2021 with the single Exitwound, which featured Jack Bergin from Void of Vision. The track garnered significant attention, landing the band in KNOTFEST’s “Countdown to Oblivion,” which helped propel them into the spotlight.

In February 2023, they released their debut album Soma via Arising Empire, with standout tracks that explore dark and introspective themes. The track Blacklight delves into the concept of losing control, inspired by true crime stories and characters like Michael Myers and Fritz Honka. Another track, I Am But A Guest In Exile, portrays a protagonist spiraling into paranoia and delusion, questioning their own reality while suffering from sleep deprivation and schizophrenic episodes.

Following the album's release, Half Me embarked on a European tour, playing high-profile festivals like Wacken Open Air. They were also nominated for the Heavy Music Awards.

Around 2023, the band's lineup shifted when guitarist Julius Jansen departed from the band, and Silvan Petersen filled his role. This change influenced their songwriting, as they moved away from a polished sound, opting for a more raw and organic feel in line with the new themes they were exploring.

In September 2024, Half Me released the EP titled Opium. They are also planning to release a second part to the EP in early 2025. Thematically, this follow-up will connect with the original Opium release, and recording sessions are scheduled after their upcoming U.S. tour.

I Am but a Guest in Exile
Half Me Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

you’re wittingly
pushing me
over the edge
to the extreme
point of no return, into vertigo
to those who care I am only a death hoax

it’s a matter of time

until you take your chance and reap my life
mortal reminder; you feast on debris
the only remain is a splinter of me
you fucking scavenger
how does it taste to live this life?
my grudge became aversion
i’ll leave you rotting away
a fucking pipe dream
this is torture

mistake - the fault on your skin
mistake - there’s not a single fucking hint
mistake - no missing file, no case, no way to prove that you are just a disguise

counterfeit eyes catching you twitch away
take out the fake, i’m returning to stay

don’t black out
i’ll leave you rotting away in the blood
rot away

you’re looking for the mistake - the fault on my skin

mistake - there’s not a single fucking hint
mistake - no missing file, no case, no way to prove that i am wearing your face

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in "I Am But A Guest In Exile" by Half Me describe a tense and confrontational situation between the singer and someone who appears to be pushing them to their limits. The singer feels like they are being manipulated and toyed with by this individual, who seems to be reveling in their distress. The lines "to those who care I am only a death hoax" suggest that the singer feels isolated and misunderstood, perhaps even as if their struggles and suffering are not recognized or taken seriously by others.

The sense of impending doom and loss permeates the lyrics, as the singer foresees their own demise at the hands of this relentless pursuer. The imagery of being consumed or devoured by the other person is stark and unsettling, as the singer feels like they are being stripped down to nothing but a mere fragment of their former self. The aggressor is portrayed as a scavenger feeding off the singer's misery, adding to the feeling of powerlessness and degradation.

The singer's emotions shift from resentment to a desire to break free from this toxic dynamic. There is a palpable sense of anger and defiance as they vow to leave the other person to wither and decay, turning their back on the false promises and illusions that have been woven around them. The lines "my grudge became aversion" encapsulate this transformation, as the singer rejects the idea of being a pawn in someone else's game.

The lyrics also touch upon themes of identity and deception, as the singer grapples with the idea of a false facade being presented by the other person. The imagery of counterfeit eyes and wearing someone else's face conveys a sense of duplicity and the struggle to maintain authenticity in the face of manipulation. Ultimately, the singer makes a stand to reclaim their own sense of self and agency, refusing to be caged or controlled by external forces.

Line by Line Meaning

you’re wittingly
you are knowingly and intentionally

pushing me
driving me forward

over the edge
to the brink of my limits

to the extreme
to the furthest possible point

point of no return, into vertigo
crossing a threshold beyond which there is no turning back, into a state of dizzying disorientation

to those who care I am only a death hoax
to any concerned observer, I am merely a fabricated tale of death

it’s a matter of time
it is merely a question of time

until you take your chance and reap my life
before you seize the opportunity to exploit my existence

mortal reminder; you feast on debris
a reminder of mortality; you thrive on the remnants of my pain

the only remain is a splinter of me
all that is left of me is a fragment

you fucking scavenger
you are an utterly despicable opportunist

how does it taste to live this life?
what is your experience of living in this manner?

my grudge became aversion
my feelings of resentment have transformed into deep dislike

i’ll leave you rotting away
I will abandon you to decay in your own misery

a fucking pipe dream
an utterly unrealistic and unattainable fantasy

this is torture
this is a profound form of suffering

mistake - the fault on your skin
error - the blemish from your actions is evident

mistake - there’s not a single fucking hint
error - there are no clues whatsoever

mistake - no missing file, no case, no way to prove that you are just a disguise
error - there is no lost evidence, no files, no chance to demonstrate that you're merely pretending

counterfeit eyes catching you twitch away
false appearances revealing your flinching reactions

take out the fake, i’m returning to stay
strip away the pretense; I am here to reclaim my place

don’t black out
do not lose consciousness

i’ll leave you rotting away in the blood
I will abandon you to decay in your own guilt

rot away
decay without hope of recovery

you’re looking for the mistake - the fault on my skin
you are in search of an error - the blemish caused by my actions

mistake - there’s not a single fucking hint
error - there are absolutely no indications

mistake - no missing file, no case, no way to prove that i am wearing your face
error - there is no evidence, no records, no means by which to show that I am merely donning your identity

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS