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)
Sick Cycle Carousel
Lifehouse Lyrics
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I think it would kind of look like mine
If it had a home would it be my eyes?
Would you believe me
If I said I am tired of this
How here we go now one more time
I tried to climb your steps
I tried to see how low I could get down to the ground
I tried to earn my way
I tried to tame this mind
You better believe that I tried to beat this
So when will this end
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around i know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this for good
I never thought I'd end up here
I never thought Id be standing where I am
I guess a kind of thought it would be easier than this I guess
I was wrong now one more time
I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how low I could get down to the ground
I tried to earn my way
I tried to tame this mind
You better believe that I tried to beat this
So when will this end
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around
I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this
Sick cycle carousel,
This is a sick cycle, yeah
Sick cycle carousel
This is a sick cycle, yeah
So will this end
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around
I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this for good
When will this end
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around
I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this for good
Sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
The lyrics to Lifehouse's song Sick Cycle Carousel tackle the theme of addiction and the cyclical nature of trying to break free from it. The opening lines "If shame had a face, I think it would kind of look like mine" suggest that the singer is struggling with feelings of guilt and self-loathing. The repetition of "I tried" throughout the song emphasizes the struggle of trying to overcome something that seems to have a hold on them.
The chorus, "Sick cycle carousel, this is a sick cycle," serves as a metaphor for the pattern of addiction, how it can feel like a never-ending cycle that keeps spinning, with no way to get off. The line "I tried to climb your steps, I tried to chase you down" could refer to trying to climb out of the hole that addiction has dug, but always falling back down.
The song ends with a plea for it to stop, with the singer recognizing that the only way to end the cycle is to step down from it for good. The song captures the emotional turmoil of struggling with addiction and the desperation to break free from it.
Line by Line Meaning
If shame had a face
I feel so much shame that it seems like it should have a physical manifestation.
I think it would kind of look like mine
The shame I feel is so overwhelming that if it had a face it would resemble my own.
If it had a home would it be my eyes?
I wonder if the shame I carry is visible in my eyes.
Would you believe me
I am asking for reassurance that others can see my pain and understand what I am going through.
If I said I am tired of this
I am expressing my exhaustion with the endless cycle of shame and guilt that I can't seem to escape.
How here we go now one more time
Despite my weariness, I find myself once again trapped in the same destructive cycle.
I tried to climb your steps
I have attempted to meet certain expectations or standards to feel acceptable to others.
I tried to chase you down
I have pursued an unattainable goal, causing me to feel dissatisfied and unfulfilled.
I tried to see how low I could get down to the ground
I have allowed myself to sink to the lowest points in pursuit of trying to feel worthy and overcome my shame.
I tried to earn my way
I have been attempting to prove my worth and redeem myself through my actions and achievements.
I tried to tame this mind
I have been trying to control my thoughts and emotions, but my efforts have been unsuccessful.
You better believe that I tried to beat this
Despite repeated failures, I refuse to give up and continue to fight against the cycle of shame I find myself in.
So when will this end
I am desperately seeking a way out of this painful cycle.
It goes on and on
The cycle of shame and guilt seems never-ending.
Over and over and over again
I am trapped in a continuous loop of destructive behavior and negative self-talk.
Keep spinning around i know that it won't stop
I feel trapped in a cycle of self-destruction that seems impossible to escape.
Till I step down from this for good
I know that I must make a conscious effort to break free from this cycle and make positive changes to my life.
I never thought I'd end up here
I am expressing disbelief and shock that I have fallen into this cycle of shame and guilt.
I never thought Id be standing where I am
I didn't anticipate that my life would look like this.
I guess a kind of thought it would be easier than this I guess
I had naively hoped that breaking free from this cycle would be more straightforward than it is.
I was wrong now one more time
Despite my misconceptions, I once again find myself in the same painful situation.
Sick cycle carousel,
The cyclical nature of my shame feels like a never-ending ride that I can't get off of.
This is a sick cycle, yeah
I recognize that my current mindset and behaviors are unhealthy and ultimately self-destructive.
Sick cycle carousel
I feel trapped in a cycle of negative thoughts and behaviors that repeat themselves and reinforce my feelings of shame.
So will this end
I am longing for a way out of this painful cycle that I feel trapped in.
Till I step down from this for good
I know that in order to break free from this cycle, I need to make a conscious decision to change my mindset and behavior for good.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JASON WADE, SCOTT FAIRCLOFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind