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
Wake Up Call
Hawthorne Heights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My lungs collapse as I'm gasping for air
I'll breathe you in (and I'll breathe you in)
You are my oxygen alone
Through arteries untold, your skin is pale, my body's cold
Way down, deep down in my lungs
I can hear our sweet decay
So spill my blood (so spill my blood)
Midnight skies turn scarlet red
Say "so long," say "goodnight," and just hold out your hand
To catch me if I fall into the night
Say "so long," say "goodnight," and just hold out your hand
To catch me if I fall
Everyone and everything feels like it slips away
Way down, deep down in my lungs, I can hear you as you fade
So spill my blood (so spill my blood)
Midnight skies turn scarlet red
Say "so long," say "goodnight," and just hold out your hand
To catch me if I fall into the night
Say "so long," say "goodnight," and just hold out your hand
To catch me if I fall
Wake me up from this nightmare
Wake me up, I know that I am drowning in the blood
Wake me up from this nightmare
Wake me up, I know I am drowning in the blood from a pitch black heart
Cut my throat
Spill my blood
Cut my throat
Spill my blood
Pitch black heart
Say "so long," say "goodnight," and just hold out your hand
To catch me if I fall into the night
Say "so long," say "goodnight," and just hold out your hand
To catch me if I fall
The lyrics of Hawthorne Heights' song "Wake Up Call" explore themes of love, loss, and desperation. The opening lines "Swim through these waters, my lungs collapse as I'm gasping for air" sets up the metaphor of being in deep water, struggling to breathe, and needing someone to act as a lifeline. The repetition of "I'll breathe you in, you are my oxygen alone" emphasizes the idea that this person is essential to the singer's survival.
The lines “Through arteries untold, your skin is pale, my body's cold. Way down, deep down in my lungs. I can hear our sweet decay" paints a morbid picture of two people's love falling apart like decaying flesh. The chorus repeats the phrase "Say 'so long' , say 'goodnight,' and just hold out your hand to catch me if I fall" as the singer pleads for this person to provide comfort and support.
The bridge "Wake me up from this nightmare. Wake me up, I know that I am drowning in the blood. Wake me up from this nightmare. Wake me up, I know I am drowning in the blood from a pitch-black heart" uses gruesome language to describe the singer's inner turmoil, feeling helpless and trapped. The song ends with the repeated lines "Say 'so long,' say 'goodnight,' and just hold out your hand to catch me if I fall into the night."
Overall, the song deals with intense feelings of helplessness and the desperate need for someone to save the singer from drowning in their own despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Swim through these waters
Navigating through difficult times
My lungs collapse as I'm gasping for air
Struggling for survival
I'll breathe you in (and I'll breathe you in)
Finding solace in a person
You are my oxygen alone
Dependency on one person for emotional support
Through arteries untold, your skin is pale, my body's cold
Describing the physical effects of emotional pain
Way down, deep down in my lungs
Describing the depth of emotional pain
I can hear our sweet decay
Realizing the end of a relationship
So spill my blood (so spill my blood)
Offering to sacrifice everything for the other person
Midnight skies turn scarlet red
Describing the intensity of pain
Say "so long," say "goodnight," and just hold out your hand
To catch me if I fall into the night
Asking for support in difficult times
Everyone and everything feels like it slips away
Feeling the loss of control
I can hear you as you fade
Accepting the end of a relationship
Wake me up from this nightmare
Wake me up, I know that I am drowning in the blood
Asking for assistance in overcoming a difficult situation
Wake me up from this nightmare
Wake me up, I know I am drowning in the blood from a pitch black heart
Cut my throat
Spill my blood
Cut my throat
Spill my blood
Pitch black heart
Metaphorically wanting to die rather than endure emotional pain
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Eron Bucciarelli-Tieger, Casey Calvert, Micah Carli, Matthew Ridenour, James II Woodruff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind