After the breakup of Sounds Like Life, featuring himself and Ronnie Day, Vesely started writing and performing his songs solo under the name Secondhand Serenade. (Secondhand, because his wife, Candice, hears all his songs firsthand.) He rented a studio for 8 days and recorded his 10-track debut album "Awake." Through self-promotion through MySpace and PureVolume, he began to build a loyal fanbase and sold his album and merchandise via his MySpace profile. He quickly rose to the MySpace "Top Unsigned Artists" list, and even entered the iTunes Top 100, a feat for an unsigned act.
He has since signed a deal with new label Glassnote Records, founded by CEO Daniel Glass. In total, Secondhand Serenade has sold about 73,000 digital tracks and more than 10,000 copies of his album "Awake," according to Nielsen SoundScan. After the album was released on Glassnote/ILG on Feb. 6, 2007, with two additional songs, it debuted on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart at # 16.
Vesely was featured on MTV's "You Hear It First," along with spots on AOL Music's "Breakers" and on Yahoo! Music's "Who's Next?".
Another album, "A Twist In My Story," has since been released and a band effect was added digitally. He is on tour, now with a band.
Half Alive
Secondhand Serenade Lyrics
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Don't get up, I'll get through on my own
I don't know if I'm home or if I lost my way into your room
I'm spiraling into my doom, I'm feeling half alive
But I know one day you and I will be free
To live and die by our own rules
Free despite the fact that men are fools
I'm almost alive
And I need you to try and save me
It's okay that we're dying
But I need to survive tonight, tonight
Well, excuse me while I get killed softly
Heart slows down and I can hardly tell you I'm okay
At least till yesterday you know you caught me off my highest guard
Believe me when I say it's hard, we'll get through this tonight
And I know one day you and I will be free
To live and die by our own rules
Free despite the fact that men are fools
I'm almost alive
And I need you to try and save me
It's okay that we're dying
But I need to survive tonight, tonight
And you touch my hand ever so slightly
Girl, I'm not ready for this yet
And the deadly looks you cast upon me
I won't regret, I won't regret, I won't regret, I won't regret
And I was trying to disappear
But you got me wrapped around you
I can hardly breathe without you
I was trying to disappear
But I got lost in your eyes now
You brought me down to size now
I'm almost alive
And I need you to try and save me
It's okay that we're dying
But I need to survive tonight, tonight, tonight
I'm almost alive
And I need you to try and save me
It's okay that we're dying
But I need to survive tonight, tonight
I need to survive tonight, tonight
The lyrics of Secondhand Serenade's song Half Alive describe a complicated relationship full of uncertainty, turmoil, and a desire to survive by any means necessary. The song's protagonist wakes up in the middle of the night, surrounded by the scent of his lover, but feels lost and unsure if he's home or not. He contemplates the idea of spiraling into his own doom, feeling "half alive." Despite this, he admits that he and his partner will be "free to live and die by our own rules," a sentiment that is both hopeful and resigned.
The song's chorus repeats the idea that the singer is "almost alive" and needs his partner to try to save him. Even though the two are "dying," he needs to survive the night. The second verse features the singer speaking of feeling vulnerable and caught off guard by his partner. He is struggling to breathe without her, but doesn't feel ready for her attention.
Overall, the lyrics of Half Alive express the conflicting emotions present in many difficult relationships. The singer is torn between needing his partner to help him survive while also feeling unsure and overwhelmed by their relationship. Through the song's powerful lyrics, the listeners are given a glimpse into the struggles of a complicated romance.
Line by Line Meaning
It's four am, I'm waking up to your perfume
I wake up to the scent of you at this ungodly hour
Don't get up, I'll get through on my own
I don't need your help, I'll manage myself
I don't know if I'm home or if I lost my way into your room
I'm not sure if I'm in the right place or if I stumbled into yours
I'm spiraling into my doom, I'm feeling half alive
I'm descending into my inevitable downfall, I'm hardly alive
But I know one day you and I will be free
I'm aware that eventually we'll be liberated
To live and die by our own rules
To make and break our own laws of living and dying
Free despite the fact that men are fools
Free despite the common knowledge that men are foolish
I'm almost alive
I'm nearly living
And I need you to try and save me
I require your efforts to rescue me
It's okay that we're dying
It's acceptable that we're perishing
But I need to survive tonight, tonight
But I need to survive this very night
Well, excuse me while I get killed softly
Excuse me as I suffer a slow death
Heart slows down and I can hardly tell you I'm okay
My heart rate decreases, and it's challenging to confess that I'm emotionally stable
At least till yesterday you know you caught me off my highest guard
At least until yesterday, you caught me off guard
Believe me when I say it's hard, we'll get through this tonight
Believe me when I say this is difficult, but we'll make it through tonight
And you touch my hand ever so slightly
Your touch on my hand is exceedingly gentle
Girl, I'm not ready for this yet
I'm not prepared for this yet, girl
And the deadly looks you cast upon me
The lethal looks you give me
I won't regret, I won't regret, I won't regret, I won't regret
I won't feel remorse, I won't feel remorse, I won't feel remorse, I won't feel remorse
And I was trying to disappear
I was attempting to vanish
But you got me wrapped around you
But you have entangled me in your embrace
I can hardly breathe without you
I struggle to breathe in your absence
I got lost in your eyes now
I've become lost in your gaze
You brought me down to size now
You've humbled me now
But I need to survive tonight, tonight, tonight
But I need to survive this very night, tonight, tonight
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: John Vesely
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind