In 2003, Halifax was just another in a myriad of unsigned indie outfits rol… Read Full Bio ↴In 2003, Halifax was just another in a myriad of unsigned indie outfits rolling the highways of North America. Sharing van space, shitty hotel rooms, bodily aromas, Old Milwaukee and a collective dream in between crappy jobs in chain restaurants and landscaping, the group recorded and supported its initial EP, A Writer’s Reference.

Within a year’s time, Halifax found itself among the rookie bands on the 2004 Warped Tour. By early 2005, after bowling them over Drive-Thru founders Richard Reines and Stefanie Reines during a New Jersey gig with The Early November, the label tweaked and reissued Reference. Halifax continued touring and building its fanbase while concocting what would become The Inevitability of a Strange World, a collection of riff-heavy arena rock anthems that blend post-punk hardcore with hard rock influences, a la Mötley Crüe.

The band took a three year break which was everything but a holiday: it was “a trial in life that gave us one ultimatum: stand up and fight for what we believe in or break up. 90% of bands fail, we like to think we're in the other 10%" explains Tommy. “Not to mention how much we have matured in the last 3 years as musicians and songwriters, let alone adults. We planted our feet firmly on the ground when we made this commitment to music and it’s going to take a lot more than faulty indie labels, lawsuits, and debt to sniper us out. We're not a band that backs down when faced with barriers. We have more respect for our fans and ourselves than to let anything get in the way or stop us from being artists.”

Wielding a melodic guitar driven sound, the quartet is back with their new EP Align. Halifax shows off their newly polished song-craftsmanship while still staying true to their musical influences, as they combine pop sensibility with their unmistakable riff rock and pounding rhythms. The band even shows off their penchant for reggae music in "Snake Slide", and "No Saturation".

Better Than Sex
Halifax Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In this bottle, I'm all dressed up for you
In red, my intentions aren't so good
It may take me one miracle
But if you have more I'm sure we could use them

So why do we (why do we), breathe sex like lovers but live like enemies?

Fix me, fix me a new cure for us

One that's stronger
One that will ease the pain
I wanna be loved by you
I wanna be there right next to you

As I spread throughout your veins
The tension's getting stronger now with pain
You can have your miracle
But I won't give in to your throne
Royalty means nothing to me

Still why do we (why do we), breathe sex like lovers but live like enemies?

Fix me, fix me a new cure for us
One that's stronger
One that will ease the pain
I wanna be loved by you
I wanna be there right next to you

Let's sleep tonight on a bed of nails
So that every other night doesn't seem so painful after all (after all)
Let's sleep tonight on a bed of nails
So that every other night doesn't seem so painful after all (after all) after all

Fix me, fix me a new cure for us
One that's stronger
One that will ease the pain
I wanna be loved by you
I wanna be there right next to you

Fix me, fix me a new cure for us
One that's stronger
One that will ease the pain
I wanna be loved by you
I wanna be there right next to you

Fix me, fix me a new cure for us
One that's stronger
One that will ease the pain

I wanna be loved by you
I wanna be there right next to you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Halifax’s song “Better Than Sex” convey a sense of conflict in a relationship, where the physical passion between the two individuals is strong, but there is also a lot of pain and tension in their interactions. The song opens with the singer “dressed up” in a metaphorical bottle, implying that they are putting on a front for their partner, possibly trying to appear more attractive or desirable. They acknowledge their own intentions may not be good, but express a willingness to work through their problems together, even if it takes a “miracle.”

The line “why do we breathe sex like lovers but live like enemies?” captures the central struggle in the relationship, where the passion and attraction is present, but there is a sense of animosity or resentment on a deeper level. The singer asks for a “new cure” to ease the pain they are experiencing, expressing a desire to be loved and be closer to their partner. The repetition of this line reinforces the idea that they want real change in the relationship, not just momentary relief.

The final lines of the song call for the two individuals to “sleep tonight on a bed of nails,” suggesting that even though the relationship is hard and sometimes painful, they are willing to endure it and work through their issues together. It’s a bittersweet ending, with the hope of a better future tempered by the reality of the present difficulties.

Line by Line Meaning

In this bottle, I'm all dressed up for you
I'm drinking to impress you

In red, my intentions aren't so good
I have ulterior motives

It may take me one miracle
I need something very unlikely to happen

But if you have more I'm sure we could use them
I need all the help I can get

So why do we (why do we), breathe sex like lovers but live like enemies?
We're passionate, but we fight a lot

Fix me, fix me a new cure for us
We need to fix our relationship

One that's stronger
One that can handle the strain

One that will ease the pain
One that will make things better

I wanna be loved by you
I want your affection

I wanna be there right next to you
I want to be with you

As I spread throughout your veins
As I become more important to you