“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.”
Labor
I Am Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's coming for all of my daylight
I'll savor the best of my friends
My lady, her kiss in the moonlight
I worked hard to save up my pay
But God did not say He was able
To give me the life I deserve
The comfort of knowing I'm stable
I can't relate to that promise You made
'Cause I'm tired and barely awake
No I can't believe in that dream of relief
'Cause I'm tired and always afraid
To live my life without You
Give me whatever I need
To keep my old head above water
'Cause it's rising up like a flood
The danger of death is resounding
Then You came down from the clouds
Lifted me up like a feather
Told me the worst of your days are sinking away with an anchor
I can't relate to that promise You made
'Cause I'm tired and barely awake
No I can't believe in that dream of relief
'Cause I'm tired and always afraid
To live my life without You
Everyday I sit and wonder why
I waste my time for a nickel and a dime
Everyday I sit and wonder why, everyday
I can't relate to that promise You made
'Cause I'm tired and barely awake
No I can't believe in that dream of relief
'Cause I'm tired and always afraid
I can't relate to that promise You made
'Cause I'm tired and barely awake
No I can't believe in that dream of relief
'Cause I'm tired and always afraid
To live my life without You
The lyrics to I Am Empire's song "Labor" reflect the struggles that many individuals face in their daily lives, as they try to balance their work and personal lives while striving to maintain stability and security. The opening line, "Labor is coming for me," sets the tone for the song, as the singer acknowledges the inevitability of hard work and the toll it can take on one's mental and emotional well-being. Despite working hard and saving up money, the singer still feels a sense of unease and uncertainty about their future.
The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, reveals the singer's struggle to find comfort and relief in their faith. They are tired and afraid, unable to fully trust in God's promises and feeling disconnected from their religious beliefs. The line "To live my life without You" suggests a feeling of isolation and a desire for guidance and support.
However, the song ends on a hopeful note, as the singer acknowledges the positive impact that faith can have on their life. They describe being lifted up by God like a feather and feeling a sense of release from their worries and fears. The final line, "Everyday I sit and wonder why, everyday," leaves the song open-ended, allowing listeners to interpret its meaning in their own way.
Line by Line Meaning
Labor is coming for me
I am anticipating being burdened with work
It's coming for all of my daylight
I will be working every hour of the day
I'll savor the best of my friends
I will cherish the time spent with my closest companions
My lady, her kiss in the moonlight
The affection of my significant other brings me solace in dark times
I worked hard to save up my pay
I put in a lot of effort to earn and accumulate money
But God did not say He was able
I acknowledge that God does not promise a comfortable life
To give me the life I deserve
I do not always get what I feel I am owed
The comfort of knowing I'm stable
I desire the peace of mind that comes with financial security
I can't relate to that promise You made
I struggle to believe in the promises of God
'Cause I'm tired and barely awake
My exhaustion makes it hard to have faith
No I can't believe in that dream of relief
I have trouble imagining a life free from hardship and struggle
'Cause I'm tired and always afraid
My weariness and anxiety make it difficult to trust in God
To live my life without You
I recognize my need for a higher power to help me through life
Give me whatever I need
I ask for divine assistance
To keep my old head above water
I hope to survive amidst difficult circumstances
'Cause it's rising up like a flood
Challenges are overwhelming and never-ending
The danger of death is resounding
I hear the constant threat of failure and danger
Then You came down from the clouds
God provided comfort and reassurance
Lifted me up like a feather
I felt buoyed and encouraged
Told me the worst of your days are sinking away with an anchor
God alleviated my fears and worries
Everyday I sit and wonder why
I question the purpose of my struggles
I waste my time for a nickel and a dime
I feel like my hard work is not fairly compensated
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.
Written by: ANDREW PHILLIP STANTON, AUSTIN JAMES LYONS, ERIC MARTIN, JOSHUA BRIAN CASE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind