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.
The Thief
The Dear Hunter Lyrics
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(We must let words go)
Shadow, theyâ??re oblivious
With plans around
(we want)
Who can save us now?
Love seems barren when cash is king
More than I could ask from those who sleep
A crooked mind and honest heart can still agree
Make emâ?? right
Cheating innocence
Iâ??ve got the time to breathe
Tonight
Got time, got time.
I got time, got time.
The Dear Hunter's song, The Thief is a reflective piece on the corruption in society, a statement on how money holds too much power and the consequences of such power. The first two lines, '(Shrouded) criminal and in the fade of my… (We must let words go)', establish a sense of confusion and detachment from reality. The singer of the song, the thief, is in a state of uncertainty, trying to hide their criminality but their guilt is slowly catching up to them. The words they want to say are restrained, perhaps indicating their inability to express their thoughts, or even a sense of censorship from the powerful forces they're associated with.
Love seems meaningless in the world where cash rules all. The wealthy have a hold on everything, even those who bleed for them, leading to a society where innocence is exploited, where those asleep to the harsh reality suffer, and the dishonest prosper. A crooked mind and honest heart can still come to terms with each other- a statement on accepting the grey areas in life, where ethical boundaries are stretched, and individuals have to make tough decisions for survival. The repetition of 'got time' towards the end reinforces the idea that the thief is aware of their actions and is willing to accept the consequences of their life choices.
Line by Line Meaning
(Shrouded) criminal and in the fade of my...
I am a criminal and hiding in the shadows,
(We must let words go)
We should not rely on words,
Shadow, they're oblivious
People are unaware of my presence,
With plans around
Despite this, people are still making plans,
(we want)
However, we still desire something,
Who can save us now?
We wonder if anyone can help us,
Love seems barren when cash is king
In a world where money is everything, love is useless,
Wealthy for the bleeding, what good will bring
Even when one is rich, they cannot escape pain and suffering,
More than I could ask from those who sleep
I cannot expect help from those who are not awake,
A crooked mind and honest heart can still agree
Even if someone is deceitful, they can still agree with an honest person,
Make em' right
We must correct our mistakes,
Cheating innocence
I am taking advantage of someone's naivety,
I've got the time to breathe
I have time to relax and think,
Tonight
This is happening tonight,
Got time, got time.
I have plenty of time.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CASEY BLUE CRESCENZO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind