The band holds its roots in California, where Lifehouse's founding members first came together under the name Blyss in 1999. Blyss released a demo album entitled Diff's Lucky Day. Shortly after in 2000, the boys were signed onto a record deal with DreamWorks Records. Five of the twelve tracks from Diff's Lucky Day were re-recorded for No Name Face. This debut album went multi-platinum, standing behind the hit single Hanging by a Moment, which became the most played radio track of 2001. The song became the theme of the 2000 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, UT.
In 2002, the members of Lifehouse consisted of foreman Jason Wade, bassist Sergio Andrade, drummer Rick Woolstenhulme and Woolstenhulme's younger brother, Sean Woolstenhulme, on guitar. At this time, Lifehouse released their second album Stanley Climbfall. After a few years of touring, Sergio Andrade left the band on good terms in 2004. Sean Woolstenhulme soon followed, leaving the band to pursue personal projects.
With only Wade and Woolstenhulme remaining, Lifehouse picked up a third member, ex-AM Radio bassist/vocalist Bryce Soderberg in late 2004. The band also signed off with Geffen Records, releasing their third self-titled album in 2005. With their style of melodic rock maturing over the years, the album's feature single You and Me remained on the Billboard hot 100 chart for over 60 weeks.
Further developing their image as a band that has overcome stereotypes and endured change, the Lifehouse trio came back quickly, releasing their latest album Who We Are in June 2007. The new single First Time has since been released on radio and television.
It was announced on October 15, 2010 that the new album is called Smoke & Mirrors and would be released on December 8, 2009. However, on November 13 the band stated on its web page that Smoke & Mirrors would be released on February 2, 2010. The first single was "Halfway Gone", which was released on October 27. The Halfway Gone music video premiered on the VH1 Top 20 on VH1.com at the end of November. On December 22, Tommy2.net reported that the album had been pushed back once again, this time to February 23, 2010. The album was then delayed again, but was released on March 2, 2010. The album came in a standard, deluxe, and two-disc deluxe edition.
The album Smoke and Mirrors debuted at # 6 on the Billboard Top 200 chart with 54,203 sold. This marks the highest chart debut of their ten year career beating out first week chart position for their 2002 sophomore set “Stanley Climbfall” which debuted at # 7. On iTunes, Smoke and Mirrors was #1 on the Rock Album chart for one week. After Halfway gone, two more songs from this album were released: All In (June, 2010) and Falling In (January, 2011).
In the spring of 2010 Lifehouse toured with Daughtry and Cavo. They also did a short European tour in September, 2010. After the European tour, the US the Smoke and Mirrors tour took place (October, 2010 and November, 2010). June 11, 2011 Lifehouse stated that they are working on a new album and that they will get back in the studio in the fall. June 12 and June 13, 2011 the band played two shows in the UK. During these shows, they played a new song called 'Angeline.'
Discography:
No Name Face (2000)
Stanley Climbfall (2002)
Lifehouse (2005)
Who We Are (2007)
Smoke & Mirrors (2010)
Almería (2012)
Out of the Wasteland (2015)
How Long
Lifehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a better view from the lies
Two steps behind before I've begun
Time stops to tell me all I could have done
And I'll say
How long till the word will be completed
How many times will history repeat it
How long
How long
I want to go
Will you show me the way
I'd rather be wrong than be deceived
To thinking that I believe
That I can stand to be here on my own
There's too many questions that we won't ask
In hopes that this too will pass
But how far down do we have to go before we know it
How long till the word will be completed
How many times will history repeat it
How long will it take
How long
How long
I want to go
Will you show me the way
How long
How long
How long will it take
How long
How long
How long
I want to go
Will you show me the way
How long
How long
How long will it take
How long till the word will be completed
How many times will history repeat it
How long till the words fall to the pages
How many times till all we can say is save us
The lyrics to Lifehouse's song "How Long" appear to be a contemplation on the passage of time, and the challenges that arise when attempting to make sense of it all. The opening lines, "Climb on top of all you despise / It's a better view from the lies," suggest that sometimes we might find it easier to overlook uncomfortable truths rather than confront them directly. The subsequent lines, "Two steps behind before I've begun / Time stops to tell me all I could have done," seem to express a sense of regret at missed opportunities and a lack of forward momentum.
The chorus, which repeats the question "How long," appears to be an open-ended inquiry about the nature of time itself. The singer's frustration is palpable as he asks, "How long till the word will be completed? / How many times will history repeat it? / How long will it take?" There is a feeling of disillusionment with the current state of affairs, and a deep sense of desire for things to be different. This longing is expressed in the final lines of the song, which plead, "How long till the words fall to the pages / How many times till all we can say is save us."
Overall, the lyrics to "How Long" seem to be grappling with the complex and often overwhelming experience of being alive in the world. There is a sense of confusion, frustration, and longing for something better. The song is an invitation to reflect on the passing of time, and to consider what it might mean to live a meaningful life in the face of so much uncertainty and change.
Line by Line Meaning
Climb on top of all you despise
Get above your hatred and see things from a better perspective
It's a better view from the lies
Sometimes dishonesty can provide a more desirable, less painful reality
Two steps behind before I've begun
I feel behind and hopeless before even starting
Time stops to tell me all I could have done
Regret prevents me from moving forward; I'm stuck in the past
How long till the word will be completed
When will life finally make sense?
How many times will history repeat it
Why do people keep making the same mistakes?
I'd rather be wrong than be deceived
I'd rather make a mistake than be tricked into believing something false
To thinking that I believe
I don't want to be duped into thinking I'm genuinely convinced of something
That I can stand to be here on my own
I'm not sure I can handle being alone
There's too many questions that we won't ask
We're afraid to ask important questions that could lead us to uncomfortable answers
In hopes that this too will pass
We ignore problems and hope they'll just go away on their own
How far down do we have to go before we know it
How bad does the situation have to become before we acknowledge it?
How long till the words fall to the pages
When will the knowledge we have become action?
How many times till all we can say is save us
When will things become so dire that we cry out for help?
I want to go
I'm tired of being stuck here
Will you show me the way
Can someone please help me find my path?
How long will it take
When will things finally change?
Lyrics © Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JASON WADE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind