Hawthorne Heights developed a huge MySpace following that became a catalyst that would launch them from underground to international awareness. The band became regulars on MTV, their signature hit Ohio Is For Lovers the anthem for the new wave of “emo”. Their debut album The Silence In Black And White soon went Gold, and with their second album If Only You Were Lonely, the band scored Victory Records’ biggest ever debut, landing at #3 on the Billboard 200 in 2006. The band appeared on Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Kimmel, and became magazine cover stars, sending sales of The Silence… to Platinum status.
In November 2007, whilst in the midst of legal disputes, tragedy struck within the Hawthorne Heights family. Casey Calvert, the much loved guitarist and resident “screamer” of the band, lost his life while on tour, due to an accidental overdose of medications prescribed by his doctor and dentist, which proved to be lethal combination. The effects on the band were evident, both personally and musically.
On August 5 2008, Hawthorne Heights return with Fragile Future, a brand new album. Although the sound is still distinctly Hawthorne Heights, the music, as with the band, has understandably evolved.
“After spending the last 2 years in a deep dark place, we decided to try to find the bright lights again with Fragile Future,” noted singer J.T. Woodruff. “We, as a band, noticed that everyone has tremendous ups and downs, so we wanted this record to communicate that. We chose the title Fragile Future, because it sums up the current state of our band, as well as what is going on in the outside world. We must all make good choices to create a better situation in our lives.”
"With the loss of Casey, and no plans to replace him, we've had to make some obvious changes to our sound on this record,” added drummer Eron Bucciarelli. “Originally there were less screams planned for this record than the second one, but sadly we never got the chance to do even that. This forced us to take a creative approach to certain songs. We've beefed up the guitars in parts, added gang vocals, choirs and all sorts of effects to still capture some of the energy that Casey brought.”
Current Members
JT Woodruff: Vocals/Guitar
Mark McMillon: Guitar
Chris Popadak: Drums
Matt Ridenour: Bass
Previous Members:
Casey Calvert(deceased): Guitar/Backup Vocals
Eron Buciarelli: Drums
Micah Carli: Guitar
For more information, visit: http://www.hawthorneheights.com
Life On Standby
Hawthorne Heights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flowing through the hour glass
Time to let go of all we know
And break our hearts in stride.
I need you now more like yesterday
The last day I could see you smile.
For the last time turn out the lights
So standby and watch
This fall away and fall apart.
Just say that it's over,
It's over and she's gone.
(now...she's...gone)
Don't worry he said,
And she's not coming home.
(she's...not...coming...home)
It's over and she's gone.
The distance and my hearts to sand
Flowing through the hour glass.
I've thought of pieces, I can't let go
Of all the times I never said goodbye.
Just say that it's over,
It's over and she's gone.
(now...she's...gone)
Don't worry he said,
And she's not coming home.
(she's...not...coming...home)
It's over and she's gone.
Wake up! wake up! wake up! wake up!
Wake up now it's over...just tell me it's ok to die
Wake up! wake up! wake up! wake up!
Wake up now it's over...just tell me it's ok to die
Wake up now it's over...just tell me it's ok to die
Wake up now it's over...just tell me it's ok to die
The lyrics to Hawthorne Heights' song "Life on Standby" express the pain of a breakup that is difficult to let go of. The opening line, "the distance and my heart's to sand, flowing through the hourglass," suggests that time has taken its toll on the relationship and the singer's emotions. They are struggling to move on, but are aware that it is time to "let go of all we know and break our hearts in stride." The reference to "yesterday" and the last time the singer saw their partner smile, adds to the sense that there is a loss that they are mourning.
There is a strong sense of resignation in the chorus. The repeated line "just say that it's over, it's over, and she's gone" is crushing in its finality. The singer is asking for closure, for someone to acknowledge that their relationship has ended. The line "don't worry he said, and she's not coming home," adds another layer of despair. The singer is being told to give up hope and accept that their partner is not coming back.
In the final verse, the singer talks about "thoughts of pieces I can't let go of." These are the things left unsaid, the goodbyes that were never said. The song ends with a desperate plea to "wake up now it's over...just tell me it's ok to die." It is a heartbreaking song about coming to terms with the end of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
The distance and my hearts to sand
Being apart from someone you love is like having your heart slowly crumble away.
Flowing through the hour glass
Time moves on, regardless of how we feel or what we do.
Time to let go of all we know
Sometimes, it's necessary to leave behind what's comfortable in order to grow as a person.
And break our hearts in stride.
It's painful to move on, but it's possible to do so without completely falling apart.
I need you now more like yesterday
The longer you're without someone you love, the harder it gets to carry on.
The last day I could see you smile.
Happy memories can make it even harder to accept that someone is gone.
For the last time turn out the lights
Closing the door on the past and accepting that it's over can be a difficult process.
My life on standby.
Stuck in a state of waiting for things to change, but not knowing how to make them happen.
So standby and watch
Feeling powerless to change the course of events, just waiting for the inevitable to occur.
This fall away and fall apart.
The inevitable loss of something cherished and the emotional pain that accompanies it.
Just say that it's over,
The desire for a clear, definitive end to something that's been causing emotional turmoil.
It's over and she's gone.
Accepting that something has truly ended, and the one you love is no longer a part of your life.
Don't worry he said,
The well-intentioned but ultimately unhelpful advice of others who haven't experienced such loss.
And she's not coming home.
The painful reality that you will never see or speak to your loved one again.
I've thought of pieces, I can't let go
The lingering memories and emotions that can make it hard to move on, even when one knows it's for the best.
Of all the times I never said goodbye.
The deep regret that comes from wishing you had the chance to say goodbye to someone who's gone.
Wake up! wake up! wake up! wake up!
The desperation to escape the pain and grief that feels overwhelming.
Wake up now it's over...just tell me it's ok to die
The cry for relief and release from the emotional pain of loss.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Casey Calvert, Eron Bucciarelli-Tieger, James II Woodruff, Matthew Ridenour, Micah Carli
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind