The band formed in 2000 as a five piece hardcore outfit dubbed Bound. When that band fell apart, bassist Nick Mclenighan and guitarists Terry Morrow and Greg Alltop reformed as a more melodic rock band (with Alltop becoming the band's drummer and Morrow assuming vocal duties). The group's sound shows the influence of bands such as Bad Religion, the Alkaline Trio and the Smoking Popes.
The band has been mentored by Dan Precision, a guitarist who played in popular punk acts 88 Fingers Louie, Rise Against and Break The Silence. The band made early recordings at Precision's Bombshelter studio in Chicago in 2002 and 2003, completing their first proper full length LP The Trials of Recession in February 2004. It was released on Double Zero Records, an outfit run by Mike Felumlee, former drummer of Chicago groups the Smoking Popes and Alkaline Trio. The band signed with upstart label Punknews Records in 2005 and released their second full length Apocalypse In Increments on April 11, 2006.
Elvira
Ryan's Hope Lyrics
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Dancing in her mind, did I find the temporary answer to a
Day that laughs in my face and shows the world for what it's a worth,
A place of human worship, and charred remains of traits that never last,
So, won't you won't you won't you run away?
Before the light, it blinds our eyes today.
Elvira vira vira come alive,
And here she lies, buried in the light
Dancing in her mind, did I find the temporary answer to the day?
I'll try this once again, until the bitter end,
Can we lie in this darkened grave for any longer?
So, won't you won't you won't you run away?
Before the light, it blinds our eyes today.
Elvira vira vira come alive,
And show me all the darkness in your mind.
Show me all the darkness in your mind.
I have found you out.
She becomes the night.
So, won't you won't you won't you run away
Before the light, it blinds our eyes today.
Elvira vira vira come alive,
And show me all the madness in your eyes.
The song "Elvira" by Ryan's Hope is a haunting ballad about a woman named Elvira who is running from the light that threatens to expose the flaws and imperfections of the world. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and a desire for escape from the harsh reality of life. The singer seems to have found a temporary solace in Elvira's darkness, urging her to come alive and show him all the madness and darkness in her mind.
The imagery in the song is vivid and powerful, with Elvira being "blinded in the light" and "buried in the light". This suggests that the light represents a harsh truth that Elvira is running from. The singer, on the other hand, seems to be seeking out this truth, hoping to find answers to the questions that plague him.
Overall, "Elvira" is a melancholic and introspective song that manages to capture the complexities of the human psyche in just a few short verses.
Line by Line Meaning
And here she is, blinded in the light
She stands before us, unable to see clearly due to the overwhelming brightness of what surrounds her.
Dancing in her mind, did I find the temporary answer to a Day that laughs in my face and shows the world for what it's a worth, A place of human worship, and charred remains of traits that never last,
As she dances, I wonder if I have discovered a fleeting solution to the challenges of this world, which often feel cruel and reveal the flawed nature of humanity, where the good qualities we have often fade away.
So, won't you won't you won't you run away? Before the light, it blinds our eyes today.
I implore her to flee before it's too late and the glaring light overpowers us completely.
Elvira vira vira come alive, And show me all the darkness in your mind.
I call upon Elvira to awaken and divulge the inner turmoil she may be harboring.
And here she lies, buried in the light Dancing in her mind, did I find the temporary answer to the day?
Now she lies down, almost as though she has given up, yet I wonder if I might have stumbled onto a possible solution to her problems.
I'll try this once again, until the bitter end, Can we lie in this darkened grave for any longer?
I am determined to persevere and find a solution to our problems, even if it proves challenging and may lead to a seemingly hopeless situation.
Show me all the darkness in your mind. I have found you out. She becomes the night.
I ask that she reveal her innermost insecurities and fears, and as she does, her persona shifts and she embodies the darkness of the night, exposing the stark reality of her situation.
Elvira vira vira come alive, And show me all the madness in your eyes.
Once again, I summon Elvira to come alive and reveal the madness and chaos that are evident in her gaze.
Contributed by Nicholas K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.