During my junior year of high school, my zealously-religious parents gave me an ultimatum: abandon my budding love for music, the few friends I had, and the mundane pursuits of an average teenager, or embrace the misled plannings of their confused, militant design. Despite being overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation, I made the best decision I have ever made: I packed my proverbial bags with my meager belongings, and struck on out on my own path. I legally emancipated myself to gain full control of my life, and dedicated my energies to survival, advancement, and the pursuit of a better existence. Writing and consuming music became a cornerstone of stability in those times of transience and uncertainty. It remains as such to this day. The songs I had been tinkering with in the van eventually became real recordings of real instruments played by real friends of mine. When an opportunity arose to move to the West Coast, I took those recordings to California in search of other like-minded individuals with whom I could propel our musical ambitions to the highest levels.
Bass player John Hoge was the first to come aboard, as he moved from Arizona to California seeking greener pastures. In the Halos project, he found them. Shortly after, Josh Huber swept us away with his twinkling piano fingers. After a disheartening record label experience, guitarist Zak Freedman had all but given up on the business of music when he met us. Together, we helped rebuild his faith and passion. At a mere 18 years of age, drummer Sotiris Eliopoulos was singled out from a slew of talented drummers because he shone brighter than the rest, and after years of searching, the team was assembled.
Now, there are five of us. We don't play those old songs too much anymore, because together, we create better songs that reflect our collective musical vision. That vision has remained rooted in the idea that the music, and its associated aesthetics, could portray a harmonious marriage between whimsical, fairytale-esque themes and notions, and more grandiose, ethereal soundscapes, while forcefully prodding the envelope that confines so much of contemporary rock music.
The music has been described as:
"...an epic, a musical mountain few others could conquer. The variety, emotional dedication and musical ability ensure this stands out from a lot of artists on the radio..."
- Alex Brady / Clink Magazine (UK)
http://www.facebook.com/thisishalos
Equilibrium
Halos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A screw in your head is stripped and loose,
But I'm sure I have a bit that could fix you up right quick
I will suck the poison out
Then I'll hold that demon down
I will take my saw and draw it on the base of his black tongue
The skin on your arm is torn
I can't say I wasn't warned
"It's my release.
I can ease away from time and freefall."
So I'll pray
I will lay hands on the pain
I will stay
And I'll love away the hate that makes you rage
"You're the stand-by
You're my little blessing
I'm a wound and you're the dressing
You're the braces on my crippled legs
You're the rudder, the mast, and the heading:
'Onward to smiling suns'
Pull the anchor
Set the ballast
Now then, teach me how to run."
"Our communication lacks.
I get so sick of staring at your back."
I heard you, now relax
Its how I deal, you'll learn with time
When you walk away, I've lost,
and we talk the way we talk in the bitter throes of jagged prose
and cons
of seeing this thing through
"I'm trapped here,
No salts, no tears,
Just an empty hollow in my head,
And a cold, wide space on the bed that I can't fill."
In Halos's song Equilibrium, the singer is addressing their partner who is struggling with mental health issues. The opening lines speak to physical imperfections, but the singer is quick to reassure and offer their assistance. They make it clear that they are willing to go to great lengths to help their partner, including "sucking the poison out" and "holding that demon down." The lines "I will take my saw and draw it on the base of his black tongue" conjure a vivid image of the singer attempting to rid their loved one of dark thoughts or tendencies.
The singer also acknowledges self-harm, recognizing that it's a difficult habit to break. The line "Old habits die hard, I can't say I wasn't warned" may suggest that others have tried to intervene, but the partner has still struggled. The lyrics "I will lay hands on the pain. I will stay/ And I'll love away the hate that makes you rage" demonstrate the singer's commitment to their partner, offering comfort and love even in the face of anger or frustration.
The final lines of the song reveal a vulnerability that the singer has been hiding. They admit to feeling trapped and empty, yet still hold out hope. The use of the word "teach" in "teach me how to run" suggests that the singer is willing to learn from their partner and work together towards a brighter future.
Overall, the lyrics of Equilibrium speak to the complexity of mental health issues and the importance of standing by those who are struggling. It portrays a relationship where one partner is willing to go to great lengths to support the other, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
The paint on your nails is chipped
Your appearance is not perfect, showing signs of wear and tear.
A screw in your head is stripped and loose,
Your mind is not functioning properly, having lost its grip on reality.
But I'm sure I have a bit that could fix you up right quick
I am confident that I can help you overcome your problems quickly.
I will suck the poison out
I will do everything in my power to cleanse you of your negative influences.
Then I'll hold that demon down
I will fight off all the negative forces that are threatening you.
I will take my saw and draw it on the base of his black tongue
I will strike down any evil that comes my way.
The skin on your arm is torn
You are physically hurt, showing signs of pain and suffering.
Old habits die hard
It is difficult to change ingrained behaviors.
I can't say I wasn't warned
I have been told about the challenges ahead.
"It's my release.
This is how I escape from my problems.
I can ease away from time and freefall."
I can remove myself from the constraints of reality and experience a sense of freedom.
So I'll pray
I will ask for divine intervention to help you.
I will lay hands on the pain
I will try to heal your suffering with my touch.
I will stay
I will be there for you no matter what.
And I'll love away the hate that makes you rage
My love for you will help you overcome the negative emotions that are causing you to act out.
"You're the stand-by
You are always there for me, supporting me through thick and thin.
You're my little blessing
You are a gift to me, bringing me joy and comfort.
I'm a wound and you're the dressing
I am hurt, and you are the one who is helping me heal.
You're the braces on my crippled legs
You are my support system, helping me stand when I can't do it on my own.
You're the rudder, the mast, and the heading:
You are the guiding force in my life, helping me chart a course forward.
'Onward to smiling suns'
Together, we will move forward and find happiness.
Pull the anchor
Let go of anything that's holding us back.
Set the ballast
We must stabilize ourselves in order to move forward.
Now then, teach me how to run."
I am ready for your guidance as we move forward together.
"Our communication lacks.
We are not communicating as effectively as we could be.
I get so sick of staring at your back."
I am frustrated that you seem to be moving away from me.
I heard you, now relax
I understand your concerns, so take a deep breath and calm down.
Its how I deal, you'll learn with time
This is just my way of handling things, and you will come to understand it.
When you walk away, I've lost,
When you leave me, I feel like I have lost a part of myself.
and we talk the way we talk in the bitter throes of jagged prose
When we're both upset, we tend to argue and communicate poorly.
and cons
We face challenges together.
of seeing this thing through
We are committed to seeing our relationship through to the end.
"I'm trapped here,
I feel stuck and can't move forward.
No salts, no tears,
I'm not crying out for help.
Just an empty hollow in my head,
I feel numb and empty inside.
And a cold, wide space on the bed that I can't fill."
I feel alone and unable to connect with you emotionally.
Contributed by Sebastian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kirsty A
this band need more recognition. they deserve more recognition.