“The whole record is about abandonment, particularly the fact that my father is the one who abandoned me,” says the scorching singer/songwriter for I Am Empire (whose moniker is basically a battle cry to be yourself and never feel pressured towards conformity). “We decided to name the record Kings because it signifies the head of a household, and if you’ve been abandoned, you want to look past that person and try to be better when you grow up. The goal is to take up the crown that person left behind and be better than the person who left, which can really apply to any type of relationship.”
Yet the plot thickens in the case of Lyons, whose biological dad may have left when he was ten, though a stepfather entered the picture a little later down the line. In time, this new father figure of sorts became incredibly close to the family, so much so that Austin adapted his last name and considered him to fill the original role his birth dad missed, though that relationship also took an unexpected turn.
“Basically he decided to leave and said he wanted kids of his own, which absolutely destroyed me, my mom and my sister,” he reveals. “From that point on, I decided to write this record reflecting on what happened when both my biological dad and a person I called my dad left me. I try to be as honest as I can be because that really helps dive deep into myself. It’s been a big therapy session for me, and even though I opened myself up to a lot of painful things I didn’t want to put out there, it’s been good for my writing. Everything works out for the better, and even though these situations were awful, I want there to be a positive outcome.”
The results find the guitar-charged record split between tracks of justified venting to seasons of spiritual renewal, both of which find the band unfurling its emotions as if their lives depended on such gripping delivery. Cuts like the lead single “Brain Damage,” “Saints & Sinners,” “Heart Attack,” “To the Moon” and “Foxhole” are aggressive examples of anger relief that encourage listeners to never bottle up their emotions, while “Hammers & Anvils,” “Love & Despair” and “Take Me Away” speak of healing, reconciliation and forgiveness.
“Even if you’ve been abandoned, you need to dig past the depression and ask God to help you find the joy in your circumstances,” suggests Lyons. “God’s continually worked through my situation and I have a positive outlook, to the point where we can close up the record with ‘It’s Not Fair’ with lines like ‘you wished me away/ but I wish you well.’”
The music is just as varied as the lyrical longing, ranging from muses like Jimmy Eat World to Muse, My Chemical Romance and Anberlin (who the group co-writes with on a track). In fact, the dozen track disc also benefits from the multi-faceted approach of producer Rob Hawkins, who’s also known for his work with Disciple and Fireflight (to name a few).
“We tried to have a dirtier sound in general,” admits Lyons. “A lot of the songs are really heavy, a couple fall in the pop/rock vein and we even have a kind of folksy acoustic song. We have a wide range of sounds and made sure not to stick with the same type of song over and over again. We also made a point for there not to be any throwaway tracks on the album or to waste any time recording a song that wasn’t worthwhile.”
Between those artistic ambitions, members’ unceasing work ethic, tireless time on tour and thematic reliability, I Am Empire is a perfect match with Tooth & Nail, which is a literally a label dream come true for the guys who grew up listening to its influential roster. “We talked to them for about a year, and in the end, it just felt like family,” sums up Lyons. “They’re the kind of label we always dreamed to be on, especially in high school when we used to say ‘man, it would be so cool to be on Tooth & Nail someday.’ We’ve literally grown up with them and our sound works within its line-up. Everything’s going great and it’s going to be an awesome relationship.”
All Around Me Now
I Am Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The page is wrong
A dead man's song
I'll be fine, I'll be fine
My world is a lampshade and I couldn't see you
All around me now
Time is running
All around me now
Time is running
This life is burning me out
You remain complete
Love with no defeat
I will be a light for you
Some might say I am all but okay
The truth is I don't like the things I keep
Oh and the ghost never sleeps
Takes the good right out of me
All around me now
Time is running
This life is burning me out
All around me now
Time is running
This life is burning me out
You remain complete
Love with no defeat
I will be a light for you
All around me now
Time is running
This life is burning me out
All around me now
Time is running
This life is burning me out
You remain complete
Love with no defeat
I will be a light for you
The opening lines of "Gone but not for long" establish a tone of melancholy and a sense of loss. The subsequent line, "The page is wrong," suggests an element of error or mistake, perhaps in interpreting events or circumstances. The phrase "a dead man's song" then underscores the theme of loss and mortality. However, the singer maintains that "I'll be fine," implying a resilience and optimism.
The image of "My world is a lampshade and I couldn't see you" is a striking use of metaphor; it suggests that the singer's worldview is limited, obscured, and unable to perceive or appreciate the positive elements of life. This is a bleak perspective, but it is countered by the later assertion of remaining "a light for you," suggesting a potential source of inspiration or comfort. The chorus ("Time is running / This life is burning me out") reinforces the idea of transience and urgency, and the sense that the singer is struggling to cope with the pressures of existence. However, the final lines assert that "You remain complete / Love with no defeat," framing love as a powerful force that endures despite the singer's personal struggles.
Overall, "All Around Me Now" is a song that wrestles with themes of mortality, loss, and the limits of perception. The singer is struggling to find a way forward in the face of challenging circumstances, but ultimately hopes to find solace and strength through love and connection with others. It is a poignant and introspective track that offers a glimpse into the songwriter's inner struggles and aspirations.
Line by Line Meaning
Gone but not for long
Although I may be gone, it won't be for long.
The page is wrong
Things in my life haven't been working out as planned.
A dead man's song
I feel like I'm living a life with no purpose, like a song sung by someone who is no longer alive.
I'll be fine, I'll be fine
I'm trying to convince myself that everything is okay when it really isn't.
My world is a lampshade and I couldn't see you
I've been so preoccupied with my own problems that I failed to see the people around me who care for me.
All around me now
I'm surrounded by things that are affecting me.
Time is running
There's a sense of urgency and I feel like I'm running out of time.
This life is burning me out
The stress and anxiety of life is taking a toll on me.
You remain complete
Despite everything else falling apart, the love and support of the people around me remains constant.
Love with no defeat
The love that surrounds me is an unbreakable force.
I will be a light for you
I want to be a beacon of hope and positivity for those around me.
Some might say I am all but okay
Even though I may appear fine on the surface, there are deeper problems that need addressing.
The truth is I don't like the things I keep
I'm not proud of the things I've done or the person I've become.
Oh and the ghost never sleeps
My past mistakes and regrets haunt me constantly.
Takes the good right out of me
The negativity and guilt from my past consumes me and takes away my ability to be happy.
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.
Written by: ANDREW PHILLIP STANTON, AUSTIN JAMES LYONS, ERIC MARTIN, JOSHUA BRIAN CASE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind