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
Oceans
Hawthorne Heights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I bet you never thought your life could turn so tragic.
A never ending summer in the sand is not vacation.
I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes, as the waves came crashing down.
I saw reflections of your face up in the sky, as the shots fired before you heard a sound.
What's it feel like to be alone?
You'll never know if he's coming home.
The firefight dear, it isn't over.
You spend your nights drinking alone, waiting for phone calls.
I bet you never thought your life could seem so long.
I'd walk the ocean floor so I could bring you home.
Sometimes life really isn't fair. And maybe I wished you far, far from here.
But all I ever wanted was for you to care.
All I ever wanted was to meet you there.
Hawthorne Heights's song Oceans describes the pain and suffering of a person who is waiting for their loved one to come back home from overseas. The lyrics suggest that the loved one is in the military and may not come home alive. The person waiting is experiencing a mix of emotions, feeling both loneliness and hopelessness. The line "You live in letters sent with shaky hands and circumstances" describes how the person is surviving on letters from their loved one, which are written under stressful circumstances. The line "I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes, as the waves came crashing down" is a powerful image of the fear and uncertainty of not knowing whether your loved one will make it home.
The chorus of the song reflects the anguish of the waiting person, wondering "What's it feel like to be alone? The one you love is across the ocean. You'll never know if he's coming home. The firefight dear, it isn't over." The waiting and uncertainty are depicted in the lines "You spend your nights drinking alone, waiting for phone calls. I bet you never thought your life could seem so long." The song ends with a strong message of love, "Sometimes life really isn't fair. And maybe I wished you far, far from here. But all I ever wanted was for you to care. All I ever wanted was to meet you there." The final line expressing the desire to be reunited with the loved one is a powerful emotion that resonates with many people who have experienced similar struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
You live in letters sent with shaky hands and circumstances.
You are forced to rely on handwritten letters, a method of communication that often reveals the fragile and desperate situation you are in.
I bet you never thought your life could turn so tragic.
You never expected your life to be filled with such sorrow and disaster.
A never ending summer in the sand is not vacation.
Enduring endless days amid the scorching sun and arid desert does not provide the solace and relaxation that a vacation should.
I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes, as the waves came crashing down.
I experienced a surreal moment of imminent danger, where the possibility of dying in a merciless, violent ocean was a real consideration.
I saw reflections of your face up in the sky, as the shots fired before you heard a sound.
As the deafening sounds of bullets echoed, I visualized you and hoped that somehow, somewhere, you were safe.
What's it feel like to be alone?
Do you know what it feels like to have no one with you, in a foreign and dangerous place?
The one you love is across the ocean.
The person who means everything to you is geographically and emotionally distant from you.
You'll never know if he's coming home.
The possibility of never seeing your loved one again is a harsh reality that you are forced to confront.
The firefight dear, it isn't over.
The conflict you live through is never ending and ongoing, which adds to your harrowing predicament.
You spend your nights drinking alone, waiting for phone calls.
You try to distract yourself from the loneliness and anxiety you feel, by spending long hours at night drinking and waiting for any news from home.
I bet you never thought your life could seem so long.
The feeling of time moving slowly and tediously amplifies your sense of disillusionment and hopelessness.
I'd walk the ocean floor so I could bring you home.
I am willing to make any sacrifice to ensure your safe return, no matter how daunting or improbable it may seem.
Sometimes life really isn't fair. And maybe I wished you far, far from here.
I have come to the realization that life can be cruel and arbitrary, and at times, I have wished that you were far away from this turmoil.
But all I ever wanted was for you to care.
Despite everything, all I ever desired is for you to know how much you mean to me and how much I care for you.
All I ever wanted was to meet you there.
My deepest desire is to reunite with you and to be by your side, through all the hardships and dangers that we may face together.
Contributed by Gabriel G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.