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".
I Told You So
Halifax Lyrics
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I crept in through your window
I was too quiet for you to hear me
As you finished up your dreams you rose to me beside your throne
The choice was yours to make, this was a night you won't forget
So look at me, tell me what you see
And the distance will be killer on the nights that we're alone
So just know, if you fold
This hand will not be dealt until you see the damage done
I've got a pocket full of reason and a tank full of gas
I'm gonna drive you to a river where the current is fast
With my feet on the shore and my hands in the water
We shout these words back to each other
I'm got a mouth for disaster
And an eye for disease
I'm gonna sing all of the words
I'm gonna make you scream
I'm got a mouth for disaster
And an eye for disease
I'm gonna sing all of the words
I'm gonna make you scream
I'm got a mouth for disaster
And an eye for disease
I've got a pocket full of reasons and a tank full of gas
I'm gonna drive you to a river where the current is fast
With my feet on the shore and my hands in the water
I'll shout to your mom, say goodbye to your daughter
A smile in the sea and a light in the sky
With a big round circle looking me in the eye
Saying it's okay, it's okay,
It's okay, it's okay
Pocket full of reasons and a tank full of gas
I'm gonna drive you to a river where the current is fast
With my feet on the shore and my hands in the water
I'll shout to your mom, say goodbye to your daughter
A smile in the sea and a light in the sky
With a big round circle looking me in the eye
Saying it's okay, it's okay,
It's okay, it's okay
The lyrics of "I Told You So" by Halifax are dark and troubled, depicting the actions of a stalker. The first verse begins with the confession of breaking into the house of the person being addressed. The stalker entered without being detected and stood beside the victim's bed, as they indulged in their dreams. The second verse talks about the dichotomy of the world, how there are beautiful things in it but also things that could bring destruction. The stalker warns that the victim should not fold or else they'll have to face the consequences of the stalker's actions. The chorus is about the stalker's plan to take the victim to a river and make them scream. The repetition of "pocket full of reasons and a tank full of gas" implies that the stalker has set out to do something pre-planned and possibly dangerous. The ending of the song is ambiguous, with a "big round circle" looking the stalker in the eye, saying "it's okay".
The song portrays a dangerous and alarming situation, where someone has access to the most private of spaces and brings the victim to the brink of harm. The lyrics are haunting, and the repetition of the chorus-like phrases only adds to the chilling nature of the song. It is almost as if the stalker is singing a sick love song to their victim, with the allusions of taking them somewhere to make them scream. The final line of the song adds to the sense of foreboding, with the circular object looking at the stalker, implying some kind of epiphany or sense of foreboding.
Line by Line Meaning
I broke into your house last night
I entered your home without permission
I crept in through your window
I snuck in without being detected
I was too quiet for you to hear me
I made no noise and went unnoticed
As you finished up your dreams you rose to me beside your throne
When you woke up, I was there waiting for you
The choice was yours to make, this was a night you won't forget
You had a decision to make and it will have a lasting impact
So look at me, tell me what you see
Give me your undivided attention and share your thoughts
I know that the world is beautiful
I am aware of the beauty in the world
And the distance will be killer on the nights that we're alone
Being apart will be extremely difficult
So just know, if you fold
Understand that if you give up or fail, there will be consequences
This hand will not be dealt until you see the damage done
You will not receive another chance until you experience the consequences of your actions
I've got a pocket full of reason and a tank full of gas
I have logical explanations and the means to execute my plan
I'm gonna drive you to a river where the current is fast
I will take you to a dangerous location
With my feet on the shore and my hands in the water
I will be in a position to influence the situation
We shout these words back to each other
We communicate our thoughts and opinions
I'm got a mouth for disaster
I am skilled in creating chaos
And an eye for disease
I have a keen ability to detect and create problems
I'm gonna make you scream
I will cause you to feel intense fear or pain
I'll shout to your mom, say goodbye to your daughter
I will inform your family of your departure
A smile in the sea and a light in the sky
There is beauty in nature
With a big round circle looking me in the eye
There is a sense of judgment or accountability
Saying it's okay, it's okay, It's okay, it's okay
Everything will turn out alright
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chris Smither
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind