They have toured with such notable bands as: The Acacia Strain, Architects, Bleeding Through, Comeback Kid, Counterparts, Every Time I Die, For Today, The Ghost Inside, Norma Jean, Stick to Your Guns, and Underoath. They were featured on the All Stars Tour in 2012 and 2013, as well as playing on the Warped Tour in 2014.
Current members:
Drew York - vocals
Tom Williams - guitar
Anthony Altamura - bass
Craig Reynolds - drums
Discography:
2001 - People Over Profit
2003 - Audio Prozac
2005 - Our Oceania
2008 - Villains
2009 - Make Your Own History
2011 - Rising Sun
2013 - Anonymous
2015 - Subliminal Criminals
2017 - Only Death Is Real
2019 - Internal Atomics
Formaldehyde Kiss
Stray From the Path Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sprawled on a single piece of paper
Beside a mattress assuring me that
My heart will never break
And I'm as dependent on it
As a hopeless addict
On the needle being clean
Broken framed photographs
Perched on aging furniture
Unconsciously reminding me
As does the shrapnel scar of
A wounded vet
You know its love when we
Dance without moving and converse
Without the lifting of tongues
Every silver will tarnish
Every flower will wither, but if
You part before one heart stops
With my last dying breath... I swear..
I would die a thousand deaths...
Before I let your lips touch mine...
The opening lyrics of Stray from the Path's “Formaldehyde Kiss” describe a note that the singer has beside their mattress. The note tells them that their heart will never break, and the singer is dependent on this assurance like an addict needs a clean needle. This can be interpreted as the singer trying to protect themselves from getting hurt in a romantic relationship by believing in this note's message. However, this is a false sense of stability that they are relying on. The note is just a piece of paper, and the feeling of their heart breaking is inevitable in life.
As the song progresses, the lyrics go on to describe the singer's surroundings. The broken framed photographs on aging furniture remind them of their past experiences and mistakes. The shrapnel scar of a wounded vet is also mentioned, possibly to signify the singer's own emotional wounds. The chorus then highlights the idea of the impermanence of things, that every silver will tarnish and every flower will wither. However, if the singer parts ways before their heart ever stops, they are willing to die a thousand deaths before they let their lover's lips touch theirs. It is clear that the singer is grappling with the idea of commitment and the fear of being hurt in a relationship.
Overall, "Formaldehyde Kiss" explores the themes of romantic relationships, fear of getting hurt, and the temporary nature of everything in life. The singer's reliance on the note's message and the fear of heartbreak is relatable to many, while the vivid imagery used in the song helps to immerse the listener in the singer's struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a sentence
The writer is starting the song by telling us about a sentence.
Sprawled on a single piece of paper
The sentence is written on just one sheet of paper.
Beside a mattress assuring me that
The sentence is sitting next to a bed and giving the writer some kind of assurance.
My heart will never break
The assurance given by the mattress is that the writer's heart will never be broken.
And I'm as dependent on it
The writer is dependent on whatever assurance the mattress and sentence are providing.
As a hopeless addict
The writer's dependence is compared to that of a drug addict.
On the needle being clean
The type of drug addiction being referred to is one where the addict depends on the drug being pure and not contaminated.
Broken framed photographs
The writer is now describing a scene with some broken framed pictures.
Perched on aging furniture
The pictures are sitting on old furniture.
Unconsciously reminding me
The pictures are reminding the writer of something without them realizing it.
As does the shrapnel scar of
The writer is now mentioning something else that reminds them of something important.
A wounded vet
The thing that reminds the writer is the scar of a soldier who has been hurt.
You know its love when we
The writer is now talking about love.
Dance without moving and converse
The kind of love being described is one where people can communicate without actually speaking or doing anything physical.
Without the lifting of tongues
The communication is happening without anyone speaking.
Every silver will tarnish
The writer is now talking about the fact that all things will eventually lose their shine or beauty.
Every flower will wither, but if
The writer is giving the example of flowers as a thing that will eventually die or fade away.
You part before one heart stops
The writer is suggesting that if two people separate before one of them dies, then they will always have good memories.
With my last dying breath... I swear..
The writer is now making a solemn declaration, perhaps suggesting that they would never want to regret something at the end of their life.
I would die a thousand deaths...
The writer is saying that there are many things that are worse than physical death.
Before I let your lips touch mine...
The writer is saying that they will never allow someone to kiss them if it is not sincere or genuine.
Contributed by Carter C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Matt T
God this album was such a cool mix of sounds
John Jonsén
This is STFPs second album, the one before Villains. Some of the songs on it are reeeeeally good, you should check it out.
Ty P
Still banging to this day!
jewyork
Upload the rest of the album! Through thick & thin!!!
assgoblin86
This is when stray was awesome :/
Montserrat Montes Aguilera
so sick. all i know is there new stuff. UNTIL NOW.
V Quezada
this sounds a lot like norma jean but with a nice melodic twist
hussguy1990
somebody upload the whole album, I'm too lazy!
Travis Thornton
glad this is on here
Lisa Dixon
I use to yell to play this at drew when he first started w stray lol..hed get tight