Formed in the winter 2001, Life Long Tragedy have taken a life altering course. This was their first band, formed when founding members vocalist Scott Phillips, guitarist RJ Phillips, and drummer Jason Woolery were only 14 to 16 years old. Less than six months later guitarist Jery Gallegos and bassist Cody Sullivan rounded out the lineup which has since been unchanged In 2005, Life Long Tragedy released their debut, "Destined for Anything" on This Blessing This Curse. Soon after, the band toured the U.S. and Europe before finding a home on Deathwish.
In late 2006, Life Long Tragedy teamed up with Los Angeles based Final Fight for a split 7"EP release on Deathwish. The effort was well received, quickly selling out in physical copies, then later becoming one of the top downloaded releases on downloadpunk.com.
Over a year in the making, "Runaways" captured the raw beauty that weeps from the core of Life Long Tragedy. Songs like "The Bottomless Hole" and "Hey Death" showcased their bold growth, finding confidence at slower tempos and in more open song writing than their contemporaries. While "Youth" and "Ignoring Lessons" raced forth with the rabid rebellious energy that Life Long Tragedy have been previously been known for. All of this was complimented by some of the most heart wrenching lyrics and crude melodies in recent memory. All together, these qualities made "Runaways" an infectious effort that will be championed my many for years to come.
Life Long Tragedy called it a day in 2008.
Scott Phillips - vocals
RJ Phillips - guitar
Jery Gallegos - guiar
Cody Sullivan - bass
Jason Woolery - drums
http://myspace.com/lifelongtragedy
Liars
Life Long Tragedy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're famous.
You've got us on our knees
Worshipping
Your wages.
Laugh on in Hollywood,
It's understood.
I'm not jealous
Suicide.
Overwhelm us
With hate for how you treat
The incomplete.
Rebellion.
Redemption.
Money speaks to me redundantly,
Says, "Life aint no fucked fantasy."
And we're not friends so let's not pretend
That there's any substance in this.
Stay up staring at the ceiling,
Subconcious fight.
We're against the glamorous,
The gods - their laws, our fleeting rights.
Blindly followed phony leaders
Right off the cliffs.
Landing on the rocks below
And the sentenced to the worst dungeons
Sink my teeth into temptation.
The victims of so-called "circumstance" can hardly stand.
Motivation is what you've lacked.
Liars claim they broke the mold.
They sold their souls
Impending wreckage,
Unprotected
Deceptive idols.
Wealth and stature,
Flex your power
Stop on those who dare oppose.
I'm not flawless,
I must confess.
Beauty contests make me vomit.
The song "Liars" by Life Long Tragedy is a powerful critique of the toxic nature of celebrity culture and the ways in which those in power exploit the vulnerable. The lyrics begin by addressing those who are famous and powerful, describing them as being on a pedestal and worshipped by those around them. However, the song quickly moves to critique this power dynamic, arguing that those with fame and influence are not immune to criticism and are often responsible for perpetuating harmful narratives and behaviors.
The song touches on the concept of commercialized suicide, suggesting that those who are glorified in the media are not necessarily happy or fulfilled. Instead, they contribute to a larger societal problem by perpetuating harmful stereotypes and spreading hate. The lyrics also discuss the relationship between money and power, portraying wealth as a force that reinforces harmful ways of living and perpetuates oppression.
In the second verse, the song becomes even more confrontational, calling out the hypocrisy of those in power and the ways in which they lead others astray. The lyrics suggest that people blindly follow so-called "phony leaders" who lead them off cliffs and into harm's way. The song argues that it is up to each individual to resist this harmful narrative and fight back against those who seek to exploit and oppress them.
Overall, "Liars" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that grapples with complex themes of power, oppression, and the nature of truth.
Line by Line Meaning
Up on that pedestal, baby.
Admiring that you are on everyone's lips
You're famous.
You have achieved recognition
You've got us on our knees
We give you the highest form of respect
Worshipping
Showing devotion to you
Your wages.
Your wealth and lifestyle
Laugh on in Hollywood,
Smiling amidst fame, fortune and luxury
It's understood.
It is widely known
I'm not jealous
I don't want to have what you have
Of your commercialized
Of your money-making
Suicide.
Self-destructive behaviors
Overwhelm us
Make us feel oppressed
With hate for how you treat
Because of your poor treatment
The incomplete.
The underprivileged and unfortunate people
Rebellion.
Rising up against authority and inequality
Redemption.
Seeking forgiveness and making amends
Money speaks to me redundantly,
The excessive talk about wealth and riches
Says, 'Life aint no fucked fantasy.'
Life is a delicate balance and it's not what it seems
And we're not friends so let's not pretend
We are not close so we shouldn't pretend
That there's any substance in this.
That there's no authentic importance to this situation
Stay up staring at the ceiling,
Lost in thought at night
Subconcious fight.
A battle with inner thoughts and emotions
We're against the glamorous,
Fighting against superficial beauty and fame
The gods - their laws, our fleeting rights.
The powerful who make the rules, and our temporary freedoms
Blindly followed phony leaders
Leaders who are not authentic and are followed blindly
Right off the cliffs.
Straight into self-destruction
Landing on the rocks below
Falling into hardship and misery
And the sentenced to the worst dungeons
Those that are punished to suffer greatly
Sink my teeth into temptation.
Giving in to temptation
The victims of so-called 'circumstance' can hardly stand.
People who are affected by unfortunate events can hardly handle it
Motivation is what you've lacked.
What you are missing is motivation and drive
Liars claim they broke the mold.
Dishonest people claim to be unique
They sold their souls
They betrayed their values and beliefs for profit
Impending wreckage,
Imminent destruction and disaster
Unprotected
Vulnerable to harm
Deceptive idols.
Fake role models
Wealth and stature,
Money and reputation
Flex your power
Exert your dominance
Stop on those who dare oppose.
Shutting down those who dare to rebel
I'm not flawless,
I am not perfect
I must confess.
I feel the need to admit
Beauty contests make me vomit.
Competition based on appearance disgusts me
Contributed by Harper P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.