Discography:
2007 - Memphis May Fire (EP)
2009 - Sleepwalking
2010 - Between the Lies (EP)
2011 - The Hollow
2012 - Challenger
2014 - Unconditional
2016 - This Light I Hold
2018 - Broken
In early 2007, the band recorded and self-released an EP, and began creating a local following. Shortly thereafter, Memphis May Fire caught the attention of Josh Grabelle, the president of Trustkill Records. In September 2007 the band had officially signed to Trustkill, and their self-titled EP (Memphis May Fire)was reissued through the label in December 2007.
Memphis May Fire hoped to release their debut album by summer 2008, however, during the recording sessions for the album, lead singer Chase Ryan decided to leave the band. Chase explained that he felt that his priorities should be with his newborn child and not a band. Upon announcing his resignation, bass player Austin Radford also decided to part ways with the band shortly thereafter. He would be replaced by Cory Elder. Open auditions were held shortly after Chase's departure, and he was eventually replaced by a new vocalist, Matty Mullins. By this time, Memphis May Fire had already recorded their instruments for the new album with producer Casey Bates and only needed Mullins to contribute his vocals.
Their debut full-length studio album, Sleepwalking, was released on July 21, 2009, through Trustkill Records. Memphis May Fire has described the album as "a new breed of rock n' roll" and musically it has "more aggressive guitar work and noticeably more melodic, but still retains that southern swagger." Their song "Ghost in the Mirror" was used on the soundtrack for the movie Saw VI.
The official music video for "Ghost in the Mirror" was released on February 2nd, 2010 through the Trustkill YouTube page.
Memphis May Fire released a second EP entitled Between the Lies on November 2, 2010, through Bullet Tooth Records with more energy and a different style than their previous releases. On December 9, 2010 the band post in their Facebook that the song "Action/Adventure" will be featured in the video game Rock Band 3. In 2010, Matty Mullins was featured in the song "That's What She Said", from Kid Liberty's debut album Fight with Your Fists.
On January 17, 2011, Rise Records announced Memphis May Fire signed to the label and that a new album will be released in spring. The band recently wrapped up the recording of their upcoming full-length record at Chango Studios (Of Machines, I See Stars, Sleeping with Sirens, etc.) in Orlando, Florida.
On March 3, 2011, a full album teaser for their sophomore album The Hollow was released via Rise Records YouTube page, including its release date of April 26, 2011. On March 22, a full song from The Hollow, titled "The Sinner", was released to Rise Records YouTube page and on iTunes. On April 23, the entire album was released on the Rise Records YouTube page.
On September 15th, the video for the lead single from The Hollow, "The Sinner", directed by Thunder Down Country was released on YouTube.
On February 15th, 2012, a live music video recorded in Orlando Florida for the song titled "The Unfaithful" was released on their YouTube Page.
On February 11th it was announced by Kellen McGregor that the band will be working with Cameron Mizell shortly again, to record their third studio album, Challenger. The album was released June 26th, 2012 through Rise Records while the band is on Warped Tour. On April 11th around midnight, Ryan Bentley announced he has parted ways with the band in a tweet saying "I'm no longer in Memphis May Fire. Details later." On April 17th, the band announced that Anthony Sepe (ex-Decoder) would be replacing Ryan Bentley as their new guitarist:
"For those who may not know already, we recently decided to part ways with our guitarist, Ryan Bentley, and wish him nothing but the best. He's a talented individual and we have no doubt that he will be successful no matter where life leads him. With that said, we'd like all of you to give a warm welcome to our new guitarist Anthony Sepe."
On March 25, 2014, their album Unconditional was released. On October 28, 2016, the band released the album This Light I Hold and on November 16, 2018, the album Broken was released, these last three all through Rise Records.
Current members:
Kellen McGregor – lead guitar, backing vocals, programming, keyboard (2006–present), lead vocals (2006)
Matty Mullins – lead vocals (2008–present)
Cory Elder – bass (2008–present)
Jake Garland – drums, percussion (2010–present)
Touring:
Samuel Penner – rhythm guitar (2017–present)
Former members:
Tanner Oakes – bass (2006–2007)
Ryan Dooley – drums (2006–2007)
Chase Ryan Robbins – lead vocals (2006–2008)
Jeremy Grisham – drums (2007–2008)
Austin Radford – bass (2007–2008)
Daniel De Los Santos – bass (2008)
Joel Seier – rhythm guitar (2009–2010)
Eric Molesworth – drums (2008–2010)
Ryan Bentley – rhythm guitar (2006–2009, 2010–2012)
Anthony Sepe – rhythm guitar (2012–2017)
Jezebel
Memphis May Fire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She wants it all
And she'll stop at nothing!
Everyone knows she's well aware of the fact
That her self respect
Was long lost on her search for something.
First in line
To give it up to the guy at the bar buying two drinks at a time.
It's disgusting that she thinks she's got it all figured out
But what she doesn't know is that to us she's just another one of them.
Girls like you are a dime a dozen.
Just leave, just leave!
We're all better off without your
Disease, disease!
Take your pick from the willing but you'll never get me.
It's obvious the stage is all that you see,
So take your pick from the willing but you'll never get me.
Just go!
The innocent look on her face is all fake.
She's worn out and worn down
From all the one night stands,
Never any interest in a real man or a love that will last.
Oh what a waste! What a waste of a beautiful face.
Was it the way she was raised
Or just the terrible choices she's chosen to make?
Every night it's all the same.
She steals another heart so she can drop another name.
Oh what a shame!
You're all the same, you're all the same!
All dressed up in purple and pink,
She'll do whatever it takes to get to V-I-P
She thinks everyone wants to see her down on her knees,
But what she doesn't know is everyone just wants her to leave!
Just leave, just leave!
We're all better off without your
Disease, disease!
Take your pick from the willing but you'll never get me.
It's obvious the stage is all that you see,
So take your pick from the willing but you'll never get me.
I can feel her staring at me from across the room.
She's got the worst of intentions
And she smells like trouble and cheap perfume.
She's got one thing on her mind,
Her target locked in sight.
She never gets denied
But tonight she'll be surprised.
And she knows every word
To every song I write
So let's have a sing-a-long.
Hello, hello, hello and goodbye!
One track mind,
You wanna check me off the list? Ya right!
The stage is all you see,
So take your pick from the willing but you'll never get me!
The song "Jezebel" by Memphis May Fire describes a girl who is on the hunt for attention and affection. The lyrics depict her as someone who is desperate for validation and is willing to go to any lengths to achieve it. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, as it describes her as being "on the prowl" and willing to stop at nothing to get what she wants. The chorus of the song is a direct message to the girl, asking her to leave as she is a "disease" and everyone is better off without her.
The lyrics of the song suggest that the girl's actions are guided by her lack of self-respect and the absence of love in her life. She is portrayed as someone who is always on the lookout for a man to fill the void in her life, which has led her to engage in one-night stands without any interest in a real relationship. The song wonders if it is the way she was brought up or the choices she has made that have led her to this state.
However, the song does not entirely demonize the girl, as it acknowledges that she is not alone and is just one of many others like her. The song seems to be urging the girl to break free from the pattern she is in, as well as calling out the society that allows such things to happen.
Line by Line Meaning
She's on the prowl
She is actively looking for a sexual partner.
She wants it all
She is looking for a partner who can fulfill all her sexual desires.
And she'll stop at nothing!
She is determined to satisfy her desires, regardless of the cost or consequences.
Everyone knows she's well aware of the fact
She is aware of her reputation as someone who seeks sexual gratification.
That her self respect
She has lost all self-respect in her pursuit of sexual satisfaction.
Was long lost on her search for something.
She has been searching for something to fulfill her desires for a long time and has given up on any sense of self-respect.
First in line
She is always the first one willing to engage in sexual activity with a suitable partner.
To give it up to the guy at the bar buying two drinks at a time.
She is willing to engage in sexual activity with a man who buys her two drinks at the bar.
One track mind,
She is only focused on satisfying her sexual desires and not interested in anything else.
It's disgusting that she thinks she's got it all figured out
Others find her attitude towards sexual relationships disgusting.
But what she doesn't know is that to us she's just another one of them.
Others see her as just another woman who seeks casual sexual encounters.
Girls like you are a dime a dozen.
There are many women like her who only seek casual sexual encounters.
Just leave, just leave!
Others want her to go away and leave them alone.
We're all better off without your
Others feel that they are better off without her in their lives.
Disease, disease!
Her behavior is likened to that of a disease which infects others.
Take your pick from the willing but you'll never get me.
She can choose from any willing partner but will never be able to engage in sexual activity with the artist.
It's obvious the stage is all that you see,
She is only interested in sexual encounters and nothing else.
So take your pick from the willing but you'll never get me.
She can choose from any willing partner but will never be able to engage in sexual activity with the singer.
The innocent look on her face is all fake.
She pretends to be innocent but is not.
She's worn out and worn down
She is exhausted from her constant search for sexual partners.
From all the one night stands,
She has had many sexual encounters that have only lasted one night.
Never any interest in a real man or a love that will last.
She is not interested in forming lasting romantic relationships.
Oh what a waste! What a waste of a beautiful face.
Others feel that her behavior is a waste of her physical appearance.
Was it the way she was raised
Others question if her upbringing led to her current behavior.
Or just the terrible choices she's chosen to make?
Others believe that her current behavior is the result of her own choices.
Every night it's all the same.
Her behavior is predictable and repetitive.
She steals another heart so she can drop another name.
She engages in sexual activity to add another person's name to her list.
Oh what a shame!
It is a shame that she reduces herself to cheap sexual encounters.
You're all the same, you're all the same!
Others see her as no different from other women who engage in casual sexual activity.
All dressed up in purple and pink,
She dresses up in bright colors to attract attention from others.
She'll do whatever it takes to get to V-I-P
She will do anything to gain access to VIP areas where she thinks she can find potential partners.
She thinks everyone wants to see her down on her knees,
She falsely believes that others are interested in seeing her perform sexual acts in public.
But what she doesn't know is everyone just wants her to leave!
Others are not interested in her and want her to go away and leave them alone.
I can feel her staring at me from across the room.
She is looking at the artist with sexual intent.
She's got the worst of intentions
She has negative intentions towards the singer.
And she smells like trouble and cheap perfume.
She is not physically appealing and has a negative image.
She's got one thing on her mind,
She is solely focused on engaging in sexual activity with the singer.
Her target locked in sight.
The singer is her desired sexual partner.
She never gets denied
She always gets what she wants when it comes to sexual activity.
But tonight she'll be surprised.
The artist will not engage in sexual activity with her, which is a surprise for her.
And she knows every word
She knows the lyrics to every song written by the band.
To every song I write
She is familiar with the music and lyrics written by the singer, who is a musician in the band.
So let's have a sing-a-long.
The singer invites her to join in singing their songs.
Hello, hello, hello and goodbye!
The artist is signaling the end of their interaction and does not want to engage in sexual activity with her.
You wanna check me off the list? Ya right!
The artist is not interested in engaging in sexual activity with her.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KELLEN MCGREGOR, MATTHEW MULLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lulverine
He isn't even slut shaming. He's married. So if any girl is trying to get with a married man then they're the lowest type.
@freekingwasobi658
Finally, someone said it.
@lulverine
***** Well I feel like either way he has a right to what he believes. If he thinks that girls who have casual sex with band members are doing something wrong then he has the right to believe that it's wrong in my opinion, but to me it seems like he's writing this about girls who know he's married and still try to hook up with him at shows.
@karelpepels96
***** Matty Mullins writes pretty much all the Memphis May Fire lyrics alone, so i doubt that someone else wrote this
@bransondewitt8033
***** This comment though /bow,
@joshalpha6446
+Levi Jaymes he isnt talking bout girls that happen to hook up with band members listen to the song again his talking bout those that do everythingvthey can to sleep with those already in the spotlight smh
@jeremymichaelnt
I like how when the line "I can feel her staring at me" comes up at 3:08 it sort of fits the image of the artwork character fading with the eyes still very visible like it's staring at you. Very cool, i got a chill.
@lovergirl5013
i can't believe that someone (i saw like 3 comments) saying this is slutshaming.. he is a married man and a woman tried to seduce him, despite that fact that he's married, to get famous. this isn't slutshaming, this is calling out an issue
@kevintheneck
It is slut shaming. that being said, nothing wrong with that. 🤘
@albertmendoza8330
Courtney K Also, this song is based on a bible story. We. actually talked about Jezebel at my church recently and this song fits the description of that woman, just in today's context.