Lineup:
Joey Rubenstein - Lead vocals, guitar (2009-present)
Tim Brown - Lead guitar, backing vocals (2015-present)
Zach Mclean - Bass, vocals (2011-present)
Rob Bernknopf - Drums (2011-present)
Previous members:
Tanner Russell - Lead guitar, backing vocals (2009-2011)
AJ Stacher - Lead guitar (2011-2014)
Mike Black - Bass (2009-2010)
Ryan Warrell - Bass, backing vocals (2010-2011)
Mark Haines - Drums (2009-2010, 2011)
Brian Fowler - Drums (2010-2011)
Discography:
*The Spotless Mind (2009)
*Qualia (EP, 2011)
*Love Always, Leviathan (2012)
*Icarus the Owl (2014)
*Pilot Waves (2015)
"If you’re going to try, go all the way. Otherwise don’t even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs. And maybe your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery, isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance. Of how much you really want to do it. And you’ll do it, despite rejection in the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you’re going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods. And the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It’s the only good fight there is."
— Charles Bukowski
Failed Transmissions
Icarus the Owl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me do you want me
'Cause I don't think you do
Do you want what they have
As debris fills up their lungs
We're on a mission of failed transmissions
We cannot wake them up
But their world is perfect
In ways we'll never know
Let them sleep, let them be
Fill their mouths with kerosene
Made of wax, near a flame
Damn it son, we should have stayed
We should have stayed
We should have stayed
We should have stayed
We should have stayed
Echo, can you hear my signal
'Cause I don't think you do
They're living in a coma
As debris fills up their lungs
We're on a mission of failed transmissions
We cannot wake them up
The earth is crumbling
But their world is perfect
In ways we'll never know
Let them sleep, let them be
Fill their mouths with kerosene
Made of wax, near a flame
Damn it son, we should have stayed
We won't be breaking up
We'll just be burning up
We'll slowly deconstruct
But never turn on love
And when the world has turned
Just hold in your last breath
And save it until I have come to rescue you
We're on a mission
We cannot wake them up
We cannot wake them up
Let them sleep, let them be
Fill their mouths with kerosene
Made of wax, near a flame
Damn it son, we should have stayed
We should have stayed
We should have stayed
We should have stayed
We should have stayed
We should have stayed
We should have stayed
We should have stayed
We should have stayed
The song "Failed Transmissions" by Icarus the Owl seems to depict a sense of frustration and disappointment in trying to communicate with a group of people who seem to be oblivious to their surroundings. The opening verses indicate a sense of desperation, as the persona pleads with a distant person to try and connect with them. However, the persona comes to a realization that this connection might not be possible as the people they're trying to communicate with seem content in their own little perfect world. The metaphor of debris filling up their lungs paints a picture of their closed-mindedness and refusal to change.
The chorus repeats the idea that the mission has failed, and nothing can wake them up from the illusion they've created. In fact, in trying to wake them up, we might be causing them harm as the line "fill their mouths with kerosene" suggests, which could lead to an explosive result if they come in contact with fire. The use of the term "damn it son" highlights the frustration and regret that the persona feels as if they were responsible for bringing these people to a new world, but they left.
The bridge section shifts into a hopeful yet somber tone, as the persona acknowledges that even though the world might be burning around them, they won't turn on love. The final verses bring the song full circle as the persona realizes that there might be nothing left to save, and they must come to the rescue before the world ends.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me
Asking for clarification
Tell me do you want me
Asking if the listener desires the singer
'Cause I don't think you do
The singer doesn't believe the listener wants them
Do you want what they have
Asking if the listener desires what others possess
As debris fills up their lungs
Others are suffering due to their desires
We're on a mission of failed transmissions
The singer and others are failing to communicate their message
We cannot wake them up
Those who desire what others have are unwilling to change
The earth is crumbling
The world is in chaos
But their world is perfect
Those unwilling to change ignore the chaos
In ways we'll never know
The artist will never understand their perspective
Let them sleep, let them be
Leave them alone in their ignorance
Fill their mouths with kerosene
The artist would rather destroy them than see them suffer
Made of wax, near a flame
Their destruction is inevitable
Damn it son, we should have stayed
The singer regrets not avoiding this situation
Echo, can you hear my signal
Asking if anyone is listening
They're living in a coma
Those unwilling to change have stopped growing
We won't be breaking up
The artist and listener won't separate
We'll just be burning up
They'll be destroyed together
We'll slowly deconstruct
Their destruction will be gradual
But never turn on love
They'll still care for each other
And when the world has turned
When the situation changes
Just hold in your last breath
Wait for the artist to arrive before giving up
And save it until I have come to rescue you
The singer will save the listener when they're both in trouble
We cannot wake them up
Still unable to change the minds of the unwilling
We cannot wake them up
Reinforcing their inability to change
Let them sleep, let them be
Leave them to their own devices
Fill their mouths with kerosene
Still wanting to destroy them
Made of wax, near a flame
Their destruction is still inevitable
Damn it son, we should have stayed
Repeating their regret for not avoiding this situation
We should have stayed
Continuing their regret for not avoiding this situation
We should have stayed
Repeating their regret for not avoiding this situation
We should have stayed
Continuing their regret for not avoiding this situation
We should have stayed
Repeating their regret for not avoiding this situation
We should have stayed
Continuing their regret for not avoiding this situation
We should have stayed
Repeating their regret for not avoiding this situation
We should have stayed
Continuing their regret for not avoiding this situation
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Joey Rubenstein, Tim Brown, Rob Bernknofp, Jake Thomas-Low
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dillongregory1652
Okay, you guys think you're fucking sneaky but I know what's really going on. You all have reached a level of musicianship in which you are changing time signatures at a rate so goddamn fast, that it is imperceptible to the human ear. Thus, giving the illusion of a song being played exclusively in 4/4! It's fucking fantastic! Can't wait for the new album. Come back to Florida when you do the tour?
@mekimusic
god bless spotify discover weekly for getting me here
@Drew-vn8rx
These guys are so underrated
@mentaltelepathy24
highly
@michaelbroomell3643
These guys need to tour with dance gavin dance or I the mighty it would be sweet!!
@luisplassencia
Michael Broomell well they are now :D
@TheiTzBros
I discovered them when they were touring with I the Mighty and Hail The Sun :D
@tastybaconsensation
This is the kind of music that NEEDS to be on every rock radio station right now. The world of popular music needs bands like you and megosh now more than ever 🤙 keep fucking slaying
@moristory
Not normally my style of music, but the composition of this song hit me just right. Great song
@donniegnar5571
I dont understand how these guys aren't at the top tier with DGD or Hail the Sun