“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.”
The Mastermind Is Me
I Am Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rip out the floor
I never thought the dead were right beside me
My friends always said I live in my head
Truth is I trap myself till no one understands
Give me the time to take back what's mine
How could it be the mastermind is me?
How could it be the mastermind is me?
Cold and alone the sun might explode
Oh, is there anything to motivate me?
The best of my days are wasting away
Truth is I like the fight but God I need some light
Give me the time to take back what's mine
How could it be the mastermind is me?
Give me the time to take back what's mine
How could it be the mastermind is me?
Give me the time to take back what's mine
Give me the time to take back what's mine
How could it be the mastermind is me?
Give me the time to take back what's mine
How could it be the mastermind is me?
The lyrics of I Am Empire's song The Mastermind Is Me explore themes of isolation, self-doubt, and the struggle for control over one's own life. The singer is plagued by the feeling that he is living in his own head and unable to connect with those around him. This sense of disconnection is exacerbated by the realization that death is constantly nearby, as if his own mortality is a weight he can't escape. The chorus repeats the plea for time to "take back what's mine," indicating a desire for agency and control in his life, but the final line "how could it be the mastermind is me?" suggests he is coming to terms with the fact that he is the one responsible for his own situation.
The verses continue with a bleak outlook as the singer asks for motivation and light. Even though he enjoys the struggle of life the idea of never being able to accomplish anything meaningful is terrifying. The sense of hopelessness in the line "the best of my days are wasting away" truly highlights the issue at hand of the singer's (or possibly the author's) fear that he is unable to steer his life into the direction he wants it to go. It's as if he's calling for someone to guide him when the reality is that he needs to stand up and do that very thing himself.
Line by Line Meaning
Run to the door
I feel the urge to escape from my current situation
Rip out the floor
I am willing to go to extreme measures to break free from my mental prison
I never thought the dead were right beside me
I am haunted by my own negative thoughts and emotions
My friends always said I live in my head
Others have noticed my tendency to overthink and get lost in my own thoughts
Truth is I trap myself till no one understands
I isolate myself from others and make it difficult for them to relate to me
Give me the time to take back what's mine
I need space and time to regain control of my life
How could it be the mastermind is me?
I am realizing that I am the root of my own problems
Cold and alone the sun might explode
I feel hopeless and alone, like everything is falling apart
Oh, is there anything to motivate me?
I am searching for reasons to keep going and find purpose in my life
The best of my days are wasting away
I am aware that time is passing and I am not making the most of it
Truth is I like the fight but God I need some light
I am used to struggling and fighting, but I am desperate for a sense of clarity and hope
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.
Written by: ANDREW PHILLIP STANTON, AUSTIN JAMES LYONS, ERIC MARTIN, JOSHUA BRIAN CASE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind