Part of the resurgent Boston hardcore scene, Have Heart formed in 2002 around the core lineup of singer Patrick Flynn, guitarist Ryan Hudon, and bassist Ryan Briggs. Hailing from the coastal town of New Bedford, the trio moved to Boston after graduating high school. Initially working with a revolving lineup of local musicians, the band played their first show in July 2003, and in November, their debut demo was released. The demo came to the attention of Think Fast! Records, who signed them for the release of the What Counts EP in 2004. The EP showcased long-time guitarist Ben Kelley and drummer Justin Paling.
In 2005, Have Heart moved to the estimable hardcore indie Bridge Nine Records and underwent a lineup change, with Kelley and Paling replaced by Kei Yasui and Shawn Costa, respectively. The following year they released The Things We Carry, their first full length. In 2007, the band toured through the U.S., Canada and Europe.
In 2008, the band released their second full-length album on Bridge Nine, Songs to Scream at the Sun, which debuted and peaked at No. 193 on the Billboard top 200 and No. 16 on the Top Heatseekers chart.
Have Heart's final show was played on National Edge Day 2009 in Revere, Massachusetts, along with other straight edge bands. Many members of bands presented testimonies of how members from Have Heart had a huge influence on their lives and careers, along with presenting stories of good times shared with members of Have Heart. Have Heart's last performance consisted of songs from all three of their releases and went for roughly one hour. Afterwards, Flynn laid out on the stage and a good majority of the crowd surrounded him onstage cheering and chanting, "Have Heart," along with fans shouting their personal testimonies to the significance Have Heart had on their lives. This lasted for around 20 minutes straight. Patrick Flynn estimated approximately 1500 people attended, whilst Bridge Nine estimated around 2000.
In February 2019, Have Heart announced they would play 4 reunion shows in July 2019, including one at Sound & Fury festival in Los Angeles.
Patrick Flynn - Vocals
Ryan Hudon - Guitar
Kei Yasui - Guitar
Ryan Briggs - Bass
Shawn Costa - Drums
Lionheart
Have Heart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ill never smother this fire, forever burning inside
i'm at the point where i'm sucked in
by the message, I get this passion
this fury is mine and it keeps me alive
I cant fucking breath until i release what's inside
an unloaded gun, that will never go off
a rollercoaster ride, that can't wait to stop
tell me what the fuck have you put your heart into?
fuck the tame animal restricted to the cage
and predictable actions, that define your "rage"
i'm the motherfucking lion roaring in your face
tearing down those limits that keep you placed
say I care too much and i got it all wrong?
i'm in this for the message, it's more than just song
blood, sweat, intensity
every broken knuckle or busted knee
i'm doing my best, and i'm doing my part
don't criticize me man when theres no fire in your heart
The lyrics to Have Heart’s song Lionheart are rife with passion and fury, a reflection of the band’s hardcore punk sound. The song speaks to the idea that living for something you believe in, and putting everything you have into it, is what makes life worth living. The singer of the song is wholly committed to this idea, willing to live with a burning intensity that can sometimes be overwhelming.
The lyrics convey a sense of desperation, as if the passion that the singer feels is so strong that it is almost suffocating. They are consumed by the message of the music and the intensity of their feelings, and they cannot stop until they have released everything that is inside of them. This need to let their emotions out is likened to an unloaded gun that will never fire, something that is always there but never quite reaching its full potential.
The song takes on a defiant tone as the singer challenges the listener, daring them to try to bring them down. They mock the idea of playing it safe, of living within the confines of socially acceptable behavior, and instead embrace the image of a lion, roaring in the face of authority and tearing down barriers. It is a song that is both angry and empowering, urging listeners to find their own inner fire and to let it guide them.
Line by Line Meaning
this so called "shit" is what I live for, it's why i'm alive
I'm passionate about this thing that others might call "shit" and it gives me a reason to live.
ill never smother this fire, forever burning inside
I won't let anything extinguish the passion that burns inside of me.
i'm at the point where i'm sucked in
I'm fully committed and invested in this.
by the message, I get this passion
The message behind this thing is what fuels my passion for it.
this fury is mine and it keeps me alive
The intense emotion I feel about this thing gives me a reason to keep going.
I cant fucking breath until i release what's inside
I need to express myself and let out what I'm feeling in order to feel alive.
an unloaded gun, that will never go off
I'm not a danger to anyone, but I still have a lot of intensity and emotion inside of me.
a rollercoaster ride, that can't wait to stop
I'm experiencing a lot of ups and downs, and it's exhausting but I can't imagine living any other way.
so tell me who the fuck are you trying to fool?
Don't try to pretend like you understand or are passionate about something when you're not.
tell me what the fuck have you put your heart into?
If you're not passionate about anything, what's the point of living?
fuck the tame animal restricted to the cage
Reject the idea that you have to conform or be restrained in order to fit in with society.
and predictable actions, that define your "rage"
Don't be content with a shallow or superficial expression of emotion.
i'm the motherfucking lion roaring in your face
I refuse to be silenced or subdued and I will always fight for what I believe in.
tearing down those limits that keep you placed
I want to break free from any restrictions or expectations that are holding me back.
say I care too much and i got it all wrong?
Don't try to make me feel bad for being passionate or tell me that I'm doing things the wrong way.
i'm in this for the message, it's more than just song
There's a deeper meaning and purpose behind my passion, it's not just about making music.
blood, sweat, intensity
This is a physically and emotionally demanding pursuit.
every broken knuckle or busted knee
I'm willing to endure physical pain and injury for the sake of my passion.
i'm doing my best, and i'm doing my part
I'm putting in my best effort and doing what I can to contribute to this cause.
don't criticize me man when theres no fire in your heart
Don't judge me or try to bring me down if you don't have the same level of passion and intensity that I do.
Contributed by Aria O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.