House of Lords' eponymous debut was released in 1988, featuring a heavier sound than Giuffria with slightly less emphasis on keyboards, the debut received critical acclaim and the band toured with Cheap Trick and opened for Scorpions in 1989. The album featured one major hit, "I Wanna Be Loved" (Hot 100 #58). The Stan Bush penned "Love Don't Lie" was the second single but aside from some airplay on MTV it failed to ignite. Despite a successful tour, original guitarist Lanny Cordola left in 1990, replaced by Michael Guy.
Their next effort, 1990's Sahara, features Michael Guy and an impressive list of guest musicians. Other notable contributions to the album came from Doug Aldrich, Rick Nielsen, Chris Impellitteri, Mandy Meyer, David Glen Eisley, Robin Zander, Mike Tramp, Steve Plunkett and Ron Keel. The first single & video was the Blind Faith cover "Can't Find My Way Home" which did well on Album Rock radio peaking at #10.. The second single "Remember My Name" was a bigger hit at Top 40 radio hitting #72 on the Hot 100 and a Top 5 regular on DIAL MTV. Soon after the single peaked, Chuck Wright and Ken Mary (drummer) would leave.
1992's release Demons Down, described by Christian as his favorite release, features Dennis Chick (guitars), Sean McNabb (bass) and Tommy Aldridge (drums) as well as, sole original members, James Christian and Gregg Giuffria. The album spawned two singles for the title track and the ballad "What's forever for" which would have been massive in a pre-grunge climate. After recording demos to shop for a new label, the band parted ways.
From a business point of view, House of Lords never reached the same level of popularity that Giuffria did in the mid-eighties until Jeff Kent was called to pull the band out of its black hole at the Frontier Records, ready to drop the House of Lords after the bands disastrous ratings of "The Power And The Myth" CD. The sacking of original Giuffria vocalist David Glen Eisley by Gene Simmons was not the most clever decision, but accepted by Gregg Giuffria.
A new album was rumored to be released in 2002, with original members Lanny Cordola, Chuck Wright and Ken Mary. Two years later The Power And The Myth was released by Frontiers Records with lack luster ratings and songs, however Greg Giuffria had pulled out and keyboard work was done by guests Derek Sherinian, Allan Okuye, Sven Martin and Ricky Phillips.
In 2006 House of Lords released a truly new album with most all the melodies and lyrics written by Jeff Kent (formerly of Pierce Arrow, Dreams, CBS songwriter, MTM Songwriter, and Producer of countless songs and projects, including songs on Robin Beck's "Trouble or Nothin" CD, including the 20th Anniversary newly released version, her "Living on a Dream" CD lyrics written almost exclusively with Jeff Kent) and World Upside Down with a new lineup including Jeff Kent as a βfull band memberβ pictured in his barrette on the CD cover as well as all over the inside jacket of credits. Jeff Kent also played all the Keyboard parts in spite of what their fans were told about Gregg Giuffria, who backed out at the last minute, but was paid for the use of his name and credits to keep the bandβs continuity with their fans.
Soon to follow was a live album HOL released Live in the UK which was released in January 2007. To the bandβs great pleasure, Melodicrock.com also included two of Jeff Kent's co-compositions on the double 20th Anniversary CD, regularly released by MELODICROCK.COM, the greatest authority on Heavy Melodic Rock music in the world today.
2008 was marked with the release of the long awaited next new studio album, where Jeff Kent was again solicited to write βall the lyrics and melodiesβ with the exception of one song on this new amazing CD. Even the title came from Jeff Kent's Lyric on the song βCome to My Kingdomβ, used as the title of the entire CD Come to My Kingdom, which was again followed by a limited European, US tour. However, unfortunately, due to poor business decisions, this barely supported and promoted new album rated at 97% on Melodicrock.com's website. Jeff Kent's work on the World Upside Down CD raised the bar on Melodicrock.com to being rated at 96% after the bands poor effort on "The Power And The Myth." Recently, the band was asked to play for the first time in Brazil, together with White Lion and Tyketto (both for the first time in Brazil as well), in the Hard in Rio II Hard Rock Festival.
In 2009, the band plans to resume limited touring and continue the infamous Come to My Kingdom tour of Europe, starting in September 2009.
First To Cry
House of Lords Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mark Baker - Jeff Silbar
Hey baby don't try so hard
To let me down easy
Do you think I'm gonna fall apart
The second you leave me
So sorry that you had to go
Let me tell you something
You'll be sorrier than you know
Better take a last look baby
At the best love you ever have
Come on and take a good look baby
Go ahead and say goodbye
It won't be me who'll be
The first to cry,
The first to cry
What goes around comes around
Remember this one thing
Where it goes any put you down
You had it comin'
You better think it over
Before your turn and walk away
'Cause you'll regret it baby
Regret it till your dyin' day
Better take a last look baby
At the best love you ever have
Come on and take a good look baby
Go ahead and say goodbye
It won't be me who'll be
The first to cry
This show ain't over
This ain't the final act
Baby, you'll be back
You'll be back
Better take a last look baby
At the best love you ever have
Come on and take a good look baby
Go ahead and say goodbye
Oh, take a good look
You'll be back mama
I'll see you coming back
Get down on our knees
Go ahead and say goodbye
It won't be me who'll be
The first to cry
Oh, take a good look
Cry!
Oh! You gonna cry
Oh, take a good look
Oh! Baby you need it first to cry
Oh, take a good look
Cry, cry
Oh, take a good look
Go ahead and say goodbye
Cry
The song, "First To Cry" by House of Lords, is a classic rock ballad that speaks about a broken relationship. The lyrics highlight the bravado of the singer, as he tells his partner not to try too hard to let him down easily. The lyrics suggest that he is not going to fall apart the second she leaves him. Hethen talks about how his partner will regret leaving him and will be sorrier than she thinks. He also warns her that what goes around comes around, suggesting that she will have to face the consequences of her actions.
The chorus of the song talks about how the singer will not be the first to cry when the relationship ends. Instead, he is confident that his partner will be back, regretting her decision to leave. The song paints a picture of a man who is confident in his abilities and is not afraid to face the challenges of life.
The lyrics are simple yet effective and easy to relate to for anyone who has gone through a break-up. The song's message is one of self-belief and confidence, suggesting that if you have faith in yourself, you can overcome any obstacle.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey baby don't try so hard
Don't make things harder than they already are by pretending not to care.
To let me down easy
Trying to soften the blow of leaving me won't make it hurt any less.
Do you think I'm gonna fall apart
Although it's hard to lose you, I won't break down completely without you.
The second you leave me
The moment you walk out the door, I won't come undone.
You tell me that you're sorry
Although you apologize for leaving, the words don't erase the pain.
So sorry that you had to go
You regret leaving, but it's too late to change what's happened.
Let me tell you something
Listen carefully because I have something important to say.
You'll be sorrier than you know
You think you understand the gravity of your decision, but the true weight of your loss will hit you later.
Better take a last look baby
Take a good look at what you're leaving behind because you won't find another love like this.
At the best love you ever have
This is the best love you will ever know, and you're giving it up by leaving.
Come on and take a good look baby
I'm giving you the chance to see what you're walking away from so you won't have regrets later.
Go ahead and say goodbye
If you're leaving, don't wait because my love won't make you stay.
It won't be me who'll be
I won't be the first one to shed tears over you leaving.
The first to cry,
I'm staying strong even though I'm hurting.
What goes around comes around
You will face consequences for your actions eventually.
Remember this one thing
Keep this in mind for the future.
Where it goes any put you down
The negativity you put out in the world will come back to you.
You had it comin'
The bad things that happen to you are a result of your choices and actions.
You better think it over
Consider the consequences of your decision before you take it.
Before your turn and walk away
Don't leave without thinking it through first.
'Cause you'll regret it baby
You'll feel the weight of your decision and its consequences later.
Regret it till your dyin' day
You'll carry the burden of your mistakes for the rest of your life.
This show ain't over
The drama and pain of this situation aren't finished yet.
This ain't the final act
There's more to come.
Baby, you'll be back
You'll come back because you'll realize what you left behind.
Get down on our knees
I'm pleading with you to reconsider and stay.
You'll be back mama
You'll come back to me like I knew you would.
I'll see you coming back
My intuition tells me you'll return someday.
Cry!
I won't be the one shedding tears over you leaving.
Oh! You gonna cry
You'll be the one crying over your choices and their consequences.
Oh, take a good look
Make sure you understand what you're leaving behind.
Oh! Baby you need it first to cry
You'll realize most acutely how much you've lost when the consequences catch up with you.
Cry, cry
Give in to your emotions and show how much you're hurting.
Go ahead and say goodbye
Leave me if you must, but know this is your loss.
Contributed by Ruby D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.