Beginnings
Justifide began at home, with the brokenness of distressed family relations, a circumstance that eventually led to experimentation with alcohol and other drugs. While they were only in their teens, the Moncivaiz brothers lived in a house that was stressed to the breaking point, with the parents separated. The problems started to spiral downward, and the situation might have ended up much worse. But one event changed the family's direction: convinced of the family's need for God, the Moncivaizes' father became born again. That spiritual transformation turned the family's life around. Music was a natural outlet for the family, since both brothers had started learning instruments as a young age.
Second Stage
As a formal group, Justifide started with Ian Metzger as the vocalist, Jason Moncivaiz on drums, Sambo Moncivaiz on the bass, and Joey Avalos playing the guitar. They try to keep it real, not playing depressing songs all the time but not playing all "happy" songs either. In the words of singer Jason Moncivaiz:
"We try to touch on all of the human experience. Life and death,
love and loss. We don't just experience the emotion of joy. There's
a lot of other stuff going on in us, too. So not all of our songs are
'coming from a happy place.' And not all of our songs are going to
be depressing and sad. We're trying to write about all of life, all
of the things we're feeling."
After about a year of touring and recording the band's first indie EP, Life Outside the Toybox, Ian Metzger departed. Jason started singing as well as playing the drums. The remaining members toured a bit as a three-man band, but eventually they began hiring drummers to free up Jason to concentrate on vocals. Some of the drummers the band worked with were Jaren Johnston of Bang Bang Bang and Jeff Irizarry of Dear Ephesus. Guitarist Joey Avalos left Justifide in 2003. He has since gone on to work with Pillar and an independent project called Stars Go Dim.
Reform the Resistance
After years of recording, touring, and switching drummers and guitarists, the band finally acquired a permanent drummer, Ryan Dugger of Nashville, Tennessee, and renamed itself Reform the Resistance. The new three-person group has released an EP titled "And It Begins" and its first single "Tonight" to Christian rock radio.
Hold Us Down
Justifide Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It shines the truth the light of the Son
So be ready for it has just begun
We will show this light to everyone
And won't stop until our job is done
One day all will kneel to the Son
And all will see the invisible King
No they won't put us out
They can't hold us down
Hold us down
We won't be shut down
Please don't tell us
Don't tell us that we don't belong
We will fight until the end of days
For what we believe in the right way
People doubt Him let them say
Whatever they want to say
La da da la da da la da da
La da da yeah yeah yeah
In the song "Hold Us Down" by Justifide, the lyrics talk about the power of light over darkness, with the light of the Son representing the truth. This light is an unstoppable force that will be shown to everyone, with the ultimate goal being for everyone to kneel to the Son and see the invisible King. The lyrics take a defiant stance against those who try to hold the light down, promising that they won't be stopped until their job is done. The song encourages listeners to stand up for their beliefs and not let anyone tell them they don't belong.
Line by Line Meaning
To the darkness comes a light that won't stop for anything or anyone
A powerful force of truth and illumination is entering the world, and it will persist regardless of external resistance.
It shines the truth the light of the Son
This force is the embodiment of the truth, the revelation of a divine nature that beams like sunlight.
So be ready for it has just begun
Buckle up, because this power has only just begun its work in the world and will continue for an indeterminate amount of time.
We will show this light to everyone
It is our duty to communicate the nature of this force to all of those who are unaware or resistant.
And won't stop until our job is done
We are resolved to continue this mission until we have achieved our objective of conveying this power to all who need it.
One day all will kneel to the Son
The eventual effect of this force will be to inspire reverence and adoration from all people, who will understand the power of the divine nature that has come into their lives.
And all will see the invisible King
The awareness of the divine force will become universal, and all people will have a sense of the presence of this unseen power.
They can't hold us down
The force we serve is so resilient and potent that it cannot be restrained or suppressed by any external power.
No they won't put us out
We will not allow ourselves to be dismissed or silenced despite any attempts to do so by others.
We won't be shut down
We refuse to allow our mission to be obstructed by anyone who would try to impede our progress.
Please don't tell us
We will not tolerate anyone who tries to tell us that we are not allowed to pursue or believe in our cause.
Don't tell us that we don't belong
Despite attempts to marginalize or exclude us, we are determined to exercise our rights and dignity as human beings to fight for our beliefs.
We will fight until the end of days
We are so committed to our mission that we will struggle tirelessly for the rest of our lives to achieve our purpose.
For what we believe in the right way
We are passionately convinced that what we are fighting for is just, morally right, and of vital importance to the human race.
People doubt Him let them say
There will always be those who doubt or deny the power of the divine force we believe in, but we will continue to persist in our mission nonetheless.
Whatever they want to say
We will not be swayed or influenced by others' opinions or objections to our cause.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind