Most of the band's albums, starting with their 2006 debut album Act I: The Lake South, the River North, are concept albums and a part of a common storyline, planned to conclude with a sixth album. The most recent addition is 2016's Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional. Additionally, they have released albums unrelated to the Acts; The Color Spectrum in 2011, Migrant in 2013, and the EP All Is As All Should Be in 2017.
The band began as a side project of Casey Crescenzo when he was a full-time member of The Receiving End of Sirens. The Dear Hunter was originally intended as a vehicle for music Crescenzo had written that didn't fit with the sound of The Receiving End of Sirens. In the winter of 2005 Casey recorded the Dear Ms. Leading demos. He created 10 copies on burned CDs that were circulated amongst his friends and posted online for download. While elements and characters featured on the demos would reappear on the subsequent Acts, Crescenzo has confirmed that there was a transformation in how he represented these themes and persons; while the story had its origins in his personal life, the Acts removed most autobiographical elements in favor of fiction.
Son
The Dear Hunter Lyrics
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And move to disguise
With a soul below
Only the eyes above
Slowly and silently
Slip away
Sleep now in the soil
A stolen smoke assumes
Leaving the shell to atrophy
Meet with the earth
As the sober spirit sings
Leave, leave it behind
This truth is (harming you?)
Leave, leave it behind
(?)
Your life hereafter
Will cure all your troubles
And recast a history
Turn and walk away
And what of the father?
Will he (analyze?)
And what about the mother?
Will she discover the truth
Behind this life we're living
Now everything we've ever had
Is here for us
Now everything we've ever had
Is here for us
Don't worry 'bout the father
I'll take care of him
And as for the mother
She always loved her son
And you look like him
The lyrics of "Son" by The Dear Hunter are dark and introspective, reflecting upon the cyclical nature of life and death. The first stanza describes a person lying down and slowly slipping away into death, with only their eyes remaining as a connection to the world above. The second stanza speaks directly to the deceased person, urging them to leave behind their troubles and embrace the afterlife. The third stanza asks about the deceased person's family, and assures them that they will be taken care of.
The lyrics of "Son" use vivid metaphors to describe the process of dying and returning to the earth. The line "Sleep now in the soil" suggests a peaceful, almost nurturing relationship with the earth, while "A stolen smoke assumes" may refer to the fleeting nature of life and how it can seemingly disappear in an instant. The line "And recast a history" hints at the idea of reincarnation or the possibility of living multiple lives.
Despite the heavy subject matter, the song ends on a hopeful note. The final lines suggest that the deceased person is being remembered fondly by their loved ones, and that they live on in some way through their resemblance to their son.
Line by Line Meaning
We lay aligned
We are lying down next to each other in a straight line
And move to disguise
We are trying to cover up our true feelings
With a soul below
With our emotions hidden beneath the surface
Only the eyes above
Only our eyes give away the truth
Slowly and silently
We are slipping away quietly and gradually
Slip away
We are disappearing
Sleep now in the soil
It's time for us to rest in the ground
The dust in the debris
Our bodies will decompose and blend in with nature's elements
A stolen smoke assumes
A fleeting moment of pleasure is taken from us, leaving only emptiness
Leaving the shell to atrophy
Our physical form is left to decay and rot
Meet with the earth
Our remains will return to the ground
As the sober spirit sings
As our soul departs from our body
Leave, leave it behind
Let go of your worries and fears
This truth is (harming you?)
This reality is causing you pain
Your life hereafter
Your existence beyond this life
Will cure all your troubles
Will relieve you of your worries and difficulties
And recast a history
Your past will be rewritten
Turn and walk away
Leave your old life behind and move forward
And what of the father?
What will happen to the father?
Will he (analyze?)
Will he try to understand this situation?
And what about the mother?
What will happen to the mother?
Will she discover the truth
Will she uncover the reality of this situation?
Behind this life we're living
Behind the facade of our existence
Now everything we've ever had
All that we possessed
Is here for us
Is left behind as a memory
Don't worry 'bout the father
Do not concern yourself with the father's well-being
I'll take care of him
I will ensure he is taken care of
And as for the mother
And as for the mother
She always loved her son
She had love for her child
And you look like him
And you resemble him
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CASEY BLUE CRESCENZO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind