In 2018 they headlined several tours in mainland Europe and the UK and released two standalone singles "Crown" and "Fugitive". Early in 2019 they toured in the UK supporting The Faim and Chapel and appeared at Rock for People. In early 2020, they toured Europe with Icon for Hire and released their next EP "Resilience" including hit singles like "Rockstar Everyday" and "Time Bomb" featuring Kellin Quinn from Sleeping With Sirens.
Halflives self-assigned the mission to create a space where everyone is invited to take a break from how messed up the world is and embrace who they are without any compromise. In vocalist Linda Battilaniβs words, "some days it will still feel like everything sucks, but some other days Iβll stand on top of the mountain, and itβs those days I want to live for."
Villain
Halflives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You and I could rule inside a place of gold
Reliving all our deja-vus
I just can't look back inside your heart right now
β²Cause you'd watch me drown in a sea of knives
And pretend you'd be alright
I just canβ²t look back inside my heart right now
Oh! I canβ²t look back at you
After what you put me through
But I did the same to you
Oh, I did the same to you
Maybe I'm the villain too
Iβ²m the villain too
Maybe I'm the villain too
You and I are mutually assured destruction
But Iβ²m not afraid at all
I just can't look back inside your heart right now
Just tell me that weβ²re both so crazy
For wanting all of this, oh sorry baby
I can't look back inside my heart right now
Oh! I can't look back at you
After what you put me through
But I did thΠ΅ same to you
Oh, I did the same to you
MaybΠ΅ Iβ²m the villain too (you would think I was the bad guy)
Iβ²m the villain too
Maybe I'm the villain too
Maybe Iβ²m the villain
You're the thorn on a rose and you make me bleed
And your scent is a poison I like to breathe
But I canβ²t look back
I just can't look back at you
Youβ²re the thorn on a rose and you watch me bleed
And your voice is a void that echoes too deep
But I can't look back
I just can't look back at you
Maybe Iβ²m the villain too
Maybe Iβ²m the villain too
Oh! I can't look back at you
After what you put me through
But I did the same to you
Oh, I did the same to you
Maybe Iβ²m the villain too
The song "Villain" by Halflives is a reflection on a toxic relationship where both parties are struggling to let go. The lyrics suggest that both individuals in the relationship have hurt each other and may even see themselves as villains. The song opens with the idea that the singer and their partner could have ruled a place of gold but now are stuck repeating their mistakes. The chorus repeats the line "Maybe I'm the villain too" suggesting that the singer may not know their role in the relationship or may be struggling with guilt. The second verse continues to explore the idea of mutual destruction but the singer insists they are not afraid. The bridge suggests that the relationship is similar to a rose with a thorn; it is beautiful but damaging. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the theme that both individuals in the relationship may be at fault.
Overall, "Villain" is a poignant and insightful exploration of toxic relationships where both parties are struggling to let go. It highlights the difficulty in recognizing our role in damaging relationships, and the complexity of the emotions that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I'm the villain too
The singer accepts that they too may be a bad person
You and I could rule inside a place of gold
Reliving all our deja-vus
The singer and the person they're addressing could have a perfect life together
I just can't look back inside your heart right now
β²Cause you'd watch me drown in a sea of knives
And pretend you'd be alright
I just canβ²t look back inside my heart right now
The singer is afraid of what they might find if they try to understand the other person's emotions
Oh! I canβ²t look back at you
After what you put me through
But I did the same to you
Oh, I did the same to you
Maybe I'm the villain too
The artist acknowledges that they have hurt the other person just as much as the other person has hurt them
You and I are mutually assured destruction
But Iβ²m not afraid at all
I just can't look back inside your heart right now
Just tell me that weβ²re both so crazy
For wanting all of this, oh sorry baby
I can't look back inside my heart right now
Despite recognizing that their relationship is toxic, the artist is willing to keep going and not regret anything
You're the thorn on a rose and you make me bleed
And your scent is a poison I like to breathe
But I canβ²t look back
I just can't look back at you
Youβ²re the thorn on a rose and you watch me bleed
And your voice is a void that echoes too deep
But I can't look back
I just can't look back at you
The other person is both harmful and appealing to the singer, but the singer cannot face them
Writer(s): Nicholas Antonio Goncalves, Linda Battilani, Joshua Caleb Perna
Contributed by Savannah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daniel C Dan . 27
This version is absolutely amazing and beautiful and I personally prefer it to the original.
A Nation Rising
This is head and shoulders above the original version in my opinion. This is a stellar song!
Halflives
@A Nation Rising aww thanks a lot!
Halflives
thanks Daniel, glad it gave you a new perspective on the song π€
A Nation Rising
@Halflives This stripped down, heartbroken version absolutely makes this song. It stops it being a good song and makes it into a classic! Beautiful work indeed!
Daniel C Dan . 27
@Halflives You are most welcome. This truly is an incredible version. π€
Stefan Hommel
I love the dramatic version so much. π€
Halflives
thanks Stefan π€
A Nation Rising
A good handful of months later and I still adore this song!
A Nation Rising
Haunting. Honestly, this version absolutely deserves to be heralded as a classic... it's a stunning piece of music and I wish I'd written it myself!
Well done, Halflives. This is sensational.