Smile Empty Soul is a 3-piece alternative hard rock band formed while its m… Read Full Bio ↴Smile Empty Soul is a 3-piece alternative hard rock band formed while its members attended different Santa Clarita high schools: Sean Danielsen (guitar and vocals), Ryan Martin (bass), and Derek Gledhill (drums). For Anxiety, Derek Gledhill was replaced by Dominic Weir. Dominic was then replaced by Ryan's friend Jake Kilmer. Later on, Mike Booth joined as second guitarist but split by mutual agreement during their 2007 tour. As of 2018, the band's lineup consists of Danielsen, bassist Mark Young and drummer Victor Ribas.

Years active:1998-Present
They have released six albums to date:
Smile Empty Soul (Released: May 27, 2003)
Anxiety (Due in 2005, but delayed until 2010)
Vultures (Released: October 24, 2006)
Consciousness (Released August 25, 2009 by F.O.F/EMI Records).
3's (Released May 22nd, 2012 by eOne Records]
Oblivion (Self-Released May 25, 2018)

False Alarm
Smile Empty Soul Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Glass shard sticking out of my heart
Now the summer has subsided for the rain
Last time take a look in these eyes
Spend eternity escaping from the pain

Last chance when the hummingbirds dance
And the river's overflowing on its banks
Hold tight when the weather is right

There's another that awaits to take your place

False alarm I could have sworn
That something else was going on
False alarm I could have sworn
That something else

False alarm I could have sworn
That something else was going on
False alarm I could have sworn
That something else

Glass shard sticking out of my heart
Now the summer has subsided for the rain
Last time take a look in these eyes
Spend eternity escaping from the pain

Last chance when the hummingbirds dance
And the river's overflowing on its banks
Hold tight when the weather is right
There's another that awaits to take your place

False alarm I could have sworn
That something else was going on
False alarm I could have sworn
That something else

Glass shard sticking out of my heart
Now the summer has subsided for the rain
Last time take a look in these eyes
Spend eternity escaping from the pain

Last chance when the hummingbirds dance
And the river's overflowing on its banks
Hold tight when the weather is right
There's another that awaits to take your place

Hold tight when the weather is right
There's another that awaits to take your place

Overall Meaning

"False Alarm" by Smile Empty Soul is a song that deals with heartbreak and the painful aftermath of a failed relationship. The lyrics describe the hurt and trauma that the singer is going through, represented by a "glass shard sticking out of [their] heart". The summer has ended and given way to a rainy season, mirroring the shift in the singer's emotional state. The chorus repeats the phrase "False alarm, I could have sworn that something else was going on", suggesting that the singer may have misread the signals in the relationship or been blind to the impending end.

The second verse provides some hope or at least a distraction from the heartbreak. The "last chance when the hummingbirds dance" and the "river's overflowing on its banks" may refer to moments of beauty or natural wonders that the singer can cling to in order to escape the pain. However, this is tempered by the reminder that "there's another that awaits to take your place". In other words, the world continues on without the singer's love and there will be other people who come along.

Line by Line Meaning

Glass shard sticking out of my heart
A metaphorical representation of heartbreak and emotional pain that is hard to deal with.

Now the summer has subsided for the rain
The happy and carefree times are over and a period of sadness has taken over.

Last time take a look in these eyes
A plea to be truly seen and understood by someone before it's too late.

Spend eternity escaping from the pain
The pain is so intense that it feels like it will never go away or heal completely.

Last chance when the hummingbirds dance
A fleeting moment of opportunity to try and find happiness or a solution to a problem.

And the river's overflowing on its banks
A representation of the chaos and turmoil that is happening in the present time.

Hold tight when the weather is right
When things are good, hold on tight and enjoy it while it lasts.

There's another that awaits to take your place
If someone leaves or abandons you, there will always be someone else that comes along to fill that void.

False alarm I could have sworn That something else was going on
A realization that what was originally thought to be true or important was actually false or insignificant.

False alarm I could have sworn That something else
A repetition of the previous line to emphasize the feeling of confusion or realization.

Contributed by Avery N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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