The band gained popularity early on through word of mouth after they released 6 demos available for download exclusively on their website. They then went on to release a self-titled full-length and more recently a 6 track EP Prepare To Be Wrong. The band currently consists of John Nolan (vocals, guitar, piano), his sister Michelle DaRosa (vocals, guitar, piano), Shaun Cooper (bass) and Will Noon (drums). The band recently added a new song titled "The Miracle That Never Came" on its myspace.
Straylight Run's latest album, The Needles The Space, was released on June 19, 2007.
On June 3, 2008, Michelle DaRosa announced on the band's myspace that she was officially leaving to pursue her own solo projects. Shortly after leaving Straylight Run, DeRosa formed the band Destry which includes Shaun Cooper from her former band and Sam Means of the defunct indie rock band The Format
On February 16th 2010, Straylight Run went on an indefinate hiatus.
In March of 2010 TBS announced the return of John Nolan, and Shaun Cooper rejoining TBS
Sympathy For The Martyr
Straylight Run Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you can't rely,
On anyone for anything,
So you make your complaints,
And all everyone's let you down,
You just can't,
Ever win,
Convinced there's a war on,
Convinced that your critics are watching,
And you've always got something,
You've always got something to prove,
So tie the noose,
And raise the cross,
The martyr's arrived,
A desperate plea for sympathy,
It's all you'll need,
A laundry list of problems,
Doesn't make you interesting,
And never getting help doesn't make you brave,
Not listening to reason doesn't mean that you have faith,
Your just cutting off your nose to spite your face,
So tie the noose,
And raise the cross,
The martyr's arrived,
A desperate plea for sympathy,
It's all you'll need!
And you want it all
You want it, you want it all,
You want it, you want it all,
You want it, you want it all,
You want it, you want it all,
You want it, you want it all,
You want it, you want it all,
You want it, you want it all,
You want it, you want it all,
You want it, you want it all,
You want it, you want it all.
The lyrics to Straylight Run's song "Sympathy for the Martyr" explore the themes of self-pity and the desire for attention and validation. The singer sings about someone who constantly complains and feels let down by others, unable to rely on anyone for anything. They believe that there is always a war against them and that their critics are constantly watching their every move, and they feel a need to prove themselves at all times. This obsessive need for validation and attention leads them to act like a martyr, tying the noose and raising the cross for sympathy.
The lyrics suggest that the singer may not have much sympathy for this person, as they call out their behaviors as uninteresting and not particularly brave. The laundry list of problems that this person presents does not make them unique or engaging, and refusing to listen to reason does not equate to having faith. In fact, their attempts at self-sabotage are self-defeating and counterproductive.
Overall, "Sympathy for the Martyr" is a critical exploration of self-pity and the dangerous desire for validation and attention. The singer acknowledges that this behavior is ultimately unproductive and selfish, urging the listener to seek a different path.
Line by Line Meaning
You just can't relax,
You are always anxious and on edge, unable to calm down.
And you can't rely,
You don't trust anyone else to support or help you.
On anyone for anything,
You feel like you have to be completely self-sufficient in order to succeed.
So you make your complaints,
You constantly voice your grievances and frustrations to anyone who will listen.
And all everyone's let you down,
You believe that everyone in your life has failed you in some way.
You just can't,
You are unable to overcome your negative thoughts and emotions.
Ever win,
You feel like you are always losing in life.
Convinced there's a war on,
You see the world as a hostile and difficult place.
It's always everybody versus you,
You feel like you are constantly in conflict with everyone else.
Convinced that your critics are watching,
You think that people are always judging and criticizing your every move.
And you've always got something,
You always feel like you have to prove yourself or your worth to others.
You've always got something to prove,
You are always trying to demonstrate that you are good enough or deserve respect.
So tie the noose,
You are so overwhelmed and distressed that you contemplate ending your life.
And raise the cross,
You view yourself as a martyr or victim, suffering for your beliefs or struggles.
The martyr's arrived,
You see yourself as a martyr or hero, sacrificing for a cause or purpose.
A desperate plea for sympathy,
You crave pity and attention from others.
It's all you'll need,
You believe that sympathy and empathy from others will make everything better.
A laundry list of problems,
You have a long list of issues and challenges that you face.
Doesn't make you interesting,
Your problems don't make you unique, special, or noteworthy.
And never getting help doesn't make you brave,
Facing your problems alone doesn't make you courageous or strong.
Not listening to reason doesn't mean that you have faith,
Rejecting logical or practical advice doesn't make you faithful or spiritual.
Your just cutting off your nose to spite your face,
You are harming yourself or sabotaging your own success out of stubbornness or resentment.
And you want it all
You have a strong desire for success, recognition, or validation.
You want it, you want it all,
You want to achieve everything you desire or dream of.
You want it, you want it all,
You are driven by a hunger for more and more success or accomplishment.
You want it, you want it all,
You are willing to work and sacrifice in order to achieve your goals.
You want it, you want it all,
You believe that you deserve to have everything you desire.
You want it, you want it all,
You are consumed by ambition and the pursuit of success.
You want it, you want it all,
You will stop at nothing to achieve your dreams and aspirations.
You want it, you want it all,
Your desire for success and recognition is all-consuming and overwhelming.
You want it, you want it all,
You are convinced that achieving your goals will bring you happiness and fulfillment.
You want it, you want it all,
Your desire for success is so intense that it eclipses all other priorities in your life.
You want it, you want it all,
You believe that having everything you want will finally make you happy and content.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christopher Makridis
A laundry list of problems doesn't make you interesting
And never getting help doesn't make you brave
Not listening to reason doesn't mean that you have faith
You're just cutting off your nose to spite your face