Their music cried out from the darkest of depths for someone anyone to listen to their hardcore anthems of sorrow, heartbreak and violence. Unlike many of their hardcore contemporaries, Horror Show truly lived the pain of their songs every day. Deeply rooted in late night quarrels and their city's urban decay, Horror Show were a sign of hope in an otherwise bleak and barren world.
After the release of their debut CD/7"EP, "Our Design", Horror Show toured the east coast U.S. in support of the release. They also played a number of memorable hometown shows and made an appearance at the memorable Deathwish/Bridge 9 Festival in 2003.
In late 2004, Horror Show released their "The Holiday" 7"EP on Deathwish, which came to be their final recordings.
Members of the band remain active in music today.
Dead Star Shine
Horror Show Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My only guide through the cover of darkness
Lying on my back, staring up through a cloud of smoke
Was when I found a brief moment of catharsis
A path to follow, in a ride that I borrowed
I hit the road, looking for a brighter tomorrow
Live by the sword, but the pen's mightier
I wonder if I'll die tryna live by that motto
A thing's greatest strength is also it's greatest weakness
In the very realisation of our achievements
Self-destruction on the path to completeness
I be the son of two teachers who each told me
When I got old enough not to follow in their footsteps
Said I should dream bigger cos they wished they coulda
And that teachers never seem to get the thanks they should get
Well I'm sorry Mum and Dad but I think I messed the plan up
Cos I'm starting to think maybe I am one
I stand up in front of these people, class is in session
Pay attention, requesting they put their hands up
I ask the questions but you have the answers
Yours is the voice that makes the anthem
I know it seems like nothing's going to plan, but
Do you really think that this is random?
There I am looking up at the night
Getting lost in the stars
See how they burn so bright
But they seem so far
So many light years away they could die
And you wouldn't know, still putting on a show
I don't know if it's a beautiful sight
Maybe my eye caught that dead star shine
Dead star shine, shine, shine dead star shine
Shine, shine, dead star shine
Shine, shine, dead star shine
In a minute you can get passed by
You can get passed by, shine, shine dead star shine
Shine, shine, dead star shine
Shine, shine, dead star shine
In a minute you can get passed by
So now I'm getting by with a little bit of kindness from strangers
Under skyscraper lights I wander aimless
Making arrangements, to wake your neighbours
Tryna keep a straight face when they tell me I'm famous
Nah, my head in a mess of mixed messages
In the same breath I'm your hero or your nemesis
Soothsayer or conveyer of your sentiments
The object of your affections, even your therapist
Cos therapy is what this music is, a best friend to a moody kid
Got me sitting on a black couch in a padded room
Singing the blues in these tunes
No wonder I'm starting to think I'm fucking losing it
Sunday night revelations, misguided attempts at a medical meditation
Dunno if it's hell, nothing or heaven waiting
In the meantime I'mma have me a celebration
I walked the city streets til my feet hurt from calluses
Returned home to find my hands frozen with paralysis
At the end of the search was the catalyst
Took it back to the lab for further analysis
Heard the siren, saw the ambulance fly by
Maybe my eye caught a flicker in the nights sky
Price of admission to the greatest heights
And everybody got their own way to shine bright right?
In "Dead Star Shine," Horror Show describe the struggles of trying to find one's place in the world and the pursuit of success. The song starts with the singer in the midst of darkness, both figuratively and literally, as they search for meaning and purpose. When they look up at the stars, they are reminded of their own insignificance and the vast distance between their dreams and reality. The singer then reflects on the lessons they were taught by their parents and the struggle to live up to their expectations. In the end, they come to accept that everyone has their own path to follow and their own way to shine bright.
The lyrics in "Dead Star Shine" are filled with contradictions and complex emotions. The singer seems to be grappling with their own sense of self-worth, as they question whether they are truly living up to their potential. The themes of isolation and disconnectedness are also present, as the singer is constantly searching for connection and meaning in a world that often feels empty and meaningless. Overall, the song paints a picture of someone who is trying to make sense of the world and their place in it, constantly searching for something more.
Line by Line Meaning
Underneath a pitch black sky, with the bright stars
In the darkest of times, finding guidance in the glimmer of hope
My only guide through the cover of darkness
The stars are the only source of direction through the darkness
Lying on my back, staring up through a cloud of smoke
Taking a break from the chaos of life to reflect on things
Was when I found a brief moment of catharsis
Briefly finding peace in the midst of turmoil
A path to follow, in a ride that I borrowed
Finding direction in someone else's journey
I hit the road, looking for a brighter tomorrow
Starting a journey to find a better future
Live by the sword, but the pen's mightier
Words have the power to do more than violence
I wonder if I'll die tryna live by that motto
Questioning the worth of one's actions and choices
My dad let me in on one of life's little secrets
Father sharing wisdom with son
A thing's greatest strength is also it's greatest weakness
Things that make us strong can also lead to our downfall
In the very realisation of our achievements
Realizing our success can lead to self-destruction
Self-destruction on the path to completeness
The journey towards fulfillment can also bring destruction
I be the son of two teachers who each told me
Growing up with parents who were educators
When I got old enough not to follow in their footsteps
Straying from the career path of one's parents
Said I should dream bigger cos they wished they coulda
Parents encouraging their child to aim higher than they did
And that teachers never seem to get the thanks they should get
Acknowledging the undervalued role of teachers in society
Well I'm sorry Mum and Dad but I think I messed the plan up
Feeling like a disappointment to one's parents
Cos I'm starting to think maybe I am one
Questioning one's own worth and potential as a person
I stand up in front of these people, class is in session
Taking on a leadership role and teaching others
Pay attention, requesting they put their hands up
Encouraging audience engagement and participation
I ask the questions but you have the answers
Encouraging self-reflection and introspection
Yours is the voice that makes the anthem
Everyone has something valuable to contribute
I know it seems like nothing's going to plan, but
Acknowledging that things may not be going as expected
Do you really think that this is random?
Questioning the role of fate and chance in life
There I am looking up at the night
Reflecting on life while gazing at the stars
Getting lost in the stars
Becoming absorbed in the beauty and mystery of the universe
See how they burn so bright
Appreciating the brilliance and power of the stars
But they seem so far
Feeling distant and disconnected from the stars
So many light years away they could die
Recognizing the immense distance and time involved with space
And you wouldn't know, still putting on a show
Stars can die without us ever knowing, continuing to shine
I don't know if it's a beautiful sight
Questioning whether the universe is truly beautiful
Maybe my eye caught that dead star shine
Noticing something that doesn't quite fit in the universe
Dead star shine, shine, shine dead star shine
Reflecting on the light of a dead star
In a minute you can get passed by
Things can change quickly in life
You can get passed by, shine, shine dead star shine
Embracing the fleeting nature of life, like a dead star's light
So now I'm getting by with a little bit of kindness from strangers
Finding support in unexpected people and places
Under skyscraper lights I wander aimless
Feeling lost amidst the hustle and bustle of the city
Making arrangements, to wake your neighbours
Planning something disruptive to make a statement
Tryna keep a straight face when they tell me I'm famous
Trying to stay grounded amidst newfound success
Nah, my head in a mess of mixed messages
Feeling overwhelmed by conflicting emotions and opinions
In the same breath I'm your hero or your nemesis
The public's opinion of you can change quickly and drastically
Soothsayer or conveyer of your sentiments
Music as a means of connecting with and understanding others
The object of your affections, even your therapist
Music can fill many roles in a person's life
Cos therapy is what this music is, a best friend to a moody kid
Music as a source of comfort and healing for troubled youths
Got me sitting on a black couch in a padded room
Feeling trapped and isolated due to mental health issues
Singing the blues in these tunes
Music as a means of expressing sadness and despair
No wonder I'm starting to think I'm fucking losing it
Mental health struggles causing self-doubt and confusion
Sunday night revelations, misguided attempts at a medical meditation
Trying to find spiritual enlightenment but unsure of how to do so
Dunno if it's hell, nothing or heaven waiting
Uncertainty about what comes after death
In the meantime I'mma have me a celebration
Enjoying life and being grateful for the present moment
I walked the city streets til my feet hurt from calluses
Enduring hardship and struggle in pursuit of one's dreams
Returned home to find my hands frozen with paralysis
Being unable to take action despite one's efforts
At the end of the search was the catalyst
Finding something that spurs one's growth and development
Took it back to the lab for further analysis
Reflecting on and processing new experiences
Heard the siren, saw the ambulance fly by
Witnessing the urgency and drama of emergency situations
Maybe my eye caught a flicker in the nights sky
Noticing something in the darkness that others missed
Price of admission to the greatest heights
Facing challenges and obstacles in order to achieve greatness
And everybody got their own way to shine bright right?
Acknowledging that everyone has unique talents and ways of standing out
Contributed by Benjamin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.