Each year, critics at the Chicago Tribune name a "Chicagoan of the Year." The 2008 winner for music was Local H.
Local H started as hard-rock duo formed by Scott Lucas (vocals/guitar/bass) and Joe Daniels (drums). The two began in 1987 at their mainline high school in Zion. After failed attempts at recruiting a bassist, Lucas added bass pickups to his electric guitar.
Local H's 1995 debut Ham Fisted was released to lukewarm reception, but their 1996 follow-up As Good as Dead was certified gold and contained the hits "Bound for the Floor" and "Eddie Vedder." It was better received by critics, as was 1998's Pack Up the Cats, which spawned the single "All the Kids Are Right." Unfortunately, their label Polygram merged with Universal, and the album was all but forgotten in transition.
Daniels left in 1999. Lucas recruited recent Triplefastaction drummer Brian St. Clair later that year. St. Clair was a drum tech for Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick. Lucas and St. Clair released their first album together, Here Comes the Zoo, in 2002 on Palm Pictures. The No Fun EP came next in 2003, and Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles? followed in 2004 to favorable reviews, with the track "Everyone Alive" being featured in the 2004 video game Burnout 3. The break-up concept album 12 Angry Months followed in 2008, and to coincide with the 2012 presidential election the group issued Hallelujah! I'm a Bum that year, both albums receiving critical praise.
Brian St. Clair would amicably leave the band, playing his last show in November 2013, before Ryan Harding joined to fill in his spot. In 2015, the duo would issue their ninth studio album Hey, Killer through G&P Records, an independent label they operate that has also been utilized for smaller releases for the band in the past. In 2020, the duo iussued Lifers through AntiFragile Music.
Local H garnered good publicity for a cover of the Britney Spears hit "Toxic". The cover was available on the band's web site and is the last track on the otherwise live album Alive '05, issued in 2005. "Toxic" has been performed at recent concerts.
Local H is known for creativity in concerts. In 2003, the band auctioned off a concert on eBay, and in 2004, performed at Fritz's Corner in Zion. In 2005, the duo performed a series of set-list request shows, where the audience got to vote on what they wanted the band to play. Gabe Rodriguez often accompanied the band on tour and provided back-up vocals or kazoo playing.
Every Halloween, Local H plays in Ardmore, masquerading as a certain group. They have performed as Nirvana, Tom Petty, Oasis, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and Sex Pistols.
Hands on the Bible
Local H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scared like a child
God holds you liable
For what you've done
Homicidal
Stare down your idols
Pretty baby never born
You didn't mean it
But they saw you do it and they know your name
Rats in the attic
Toys in the cellar
She's an addict
He wants to learn
Hands on the bible
Egomaniacal as you screw yourself into oblivion
Worn and faded
Stoned and jaded
You'll have to face it on your own
Smashed on the pavement
Stunned in amazement
Everything you made comes crawling back to you
You can't believe it
You didn't mean it
But they saw you do it and they know your name
So hands on the bible
Scared like a child
God holds you liable
For what ya done
Homicidal
Stare down your idols
A pretty baby never to be born
You can't pretend that you don't know the reason
For the repent that you saw
Hands on the Bible
Hands on the Bible
Hands on the Bible
Hands on the Bible
The song "Hands on the Bible" by Local H is a powerful, fast-paced rock song that explores themes of guilt, redemption, addiction, and obsession. The lyrics describe a person who is scared and feeling like a child, holding their hands on the Bible, and feeling the weight of the terrible things they've done. The song argues that even if we try to deny it or ignore it, God holds us responsible for our actions, and there is no escaping the consequences of our choices.
The song opens with the lines "Hands on the Bible/ Scared like a child/ God holds you liable/ For what you've done." These lines set the tone for the rest of the song, which is full of references to addiction, violence, and self-destructive behavior. The lines "Rats in the attic, toys in the cellar/ She's an addict, he wants to learn" suggest that the characters in the song are struggling with addiction and may be using drugs or alcohol to escape their problems. The lines "Egomaniacal as you screw yourself into oblivion/ Worn and faded, stoned and jaded" suggest that the characters are so obsessed with their addiction or their destructive behavior that they cannot see how it is affecting their lives.
The chorus of the song is repeated several times throughout the song: "Hands on the Bible/ Scared like a child/ God holds you liable/ For what you've done." This chorus reinforces the central message of the song, that we are responsible for our actions, and that we cannot escape the consequences of our choices.
Line by Line Meaning
Hands on the Bible
Acknowledging the Christian faith and the importance of its teachings
Scared like a child
Feeling fear and insecurity like one would as a child
God holds you liable
Believing that God will hold one accountable for their actions
For what you've done
Taking responsibility for one's actions and acknowledging their consequences
Homicidal
Feeling an intense desire to hurt or kill someone
Stare down your idols
Directly confronting the things or people one idolizes and questioning their worthiness of admiration
Pretty baby never born
Feeling regret for something that never came to fruition
You can't believe it
Feeling disbelief or incredulity about something that has occurred
You didn't mean it
Asserting that one did not intend for something to happen
But they saw you do it and they know your name
Acknowledging that the truth of one's action is known to others and carries consequences
Rats in the attic
Metaphorical reference to hidden or unwanted elements within oneself or one's home
Toys in the cellar
Metaphorical reference to hidden or buried elements within oneself or one's home
She's an addict
Referring to a woman with a substance abuse problem
He wants to learn
An individual seeking knowledge or improvement
Egomaniacal as you screw yourself into oblivion
Obsession with one's own self-importance leading to a destructive spiral
Worn and faded
Referring to something that has aged and lost its vibrancy
Stoned and jaded
Feeling apathetic and disconnected due to drug use
You'll have to face it on your own
Accepting that one must deal with the consequences of their actions alone
Smashed on the pavement
Referring to a violent or catastrophic event
Stunned in amazement
Feeling shocked and overwhelmed by what has occurred
Everything you made comes crawling back to you
Realizing that one's actions will come back to them, whether positively or negatively
You can't pretend that you don't know the reason
Acknowledging that one knows the cause of their regret or wrongdoing
For the repent that you saw
Suggesting that one should ask for forgiveness or redemption for their actions
Hands on the Bible
Reiterating the importance of faith and utilizing it as a guide for one's actions
Hands on the Bible
Repeating the refrain as a reminder of the central theme and message of the song
Hands on the Bible
Emphasizing one last time the gravity of the song's message
Hands on the Bible
Concluding the song and leaving the listener with the final words of encouragement and guidance
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Russell Sartor
I love this band way underrated one of the best live shows out there!!!
Marcy Brennan
Efffff' yes!
libramom
Yessss
T. R.
I know itβs been 4 years since your comment but I have to say I π― agree. I saw them in 99 at the whiskey a go go in Hollywood and thatβs one of my most memorable shows
Bleach Bath
Underrated song from a criminally underrated band.
Garrett Stuart
Itβs 2023 and LOCAL H is still the best band ever
kodiegames23
I want to thank my dad for having me growing up with Nirvana and Local H.
Crypt Keeper
Me too my dad having me growing to local h, nirvana, sublime and soundgarden.
Red Forman
I'd like to thank your dad too.
VenomShotYou
Hell ya same