The Secret Handshake was the pop/electronic solo project of Luis Dubuc.
… Read Full Bio ↴The Secret Handshake was the pop/electronic solo project of Luis Dubuc.

Dubuc first got his start playing drums in a couple of bands with his friends, most notably in the hardcore unit Thirty Called Arson. Inspired by artists like Michael Jackson and Daft Punk, he eventually began writing and recording some songs as a side project in his Dallas-based bedroom with a laptop and Wurlitzer to assist him. By November 2004, Dubuc had self-released his first full-length album, entitled Antarctica. Less than a year later, he followed up with the EP This Is Bigger Than You and I, which was issued through Doll House Recordings. Momentum began building around his distinctive electronica laptop pop/rock, and The Secret Handshake developed a devoted fanbase. Another EP, Summer of '98 (referring to the summer before he started high school), was released in early 2007 through New York's Triple Crown Records, anchored by the vocoder-heavy title track. The full length One Full Year followed, becoming his full length Triple Crown Records debut.

In 2008 The Secret Handshake was featured on the Punk Goes Crunk compilation/covers album, where he covered Skee-Lo's rap classic "I Wish".

On April 29, 2009, The Secret Handshake released his third studio album, My Name Up in Lights. The album was recorded entirely in Dubuc's apartment in Dallas. In 2009, the album reached #17 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and #45 on the Independent Albums chart.

The Secret Handshake opened for the Alternative Press Tour 2009, entitled The Fall Ball, which also featured You Me At Six, Set Your Goals, The Academy Is..., and Mayday Parade. Luis Dubuc was featured on the subscriber-only cover of Alternative Press November 2009 issue, along with the lead singers of the other bands featured on The Fall Ball tour with a feature article. The Secret Handshake toured in Australia from November 26 to December 6.

The Secret Handshake finished a two-month tour in the summer of 2010 with Every Avenue, Sing it Loud, and There for Tomorrow on the Motel 6 "Rock Yourself to Sleep" tour.

The Secret Handshake's fourth studio album Night & Day was released on August 17, 2010. Sound In The Signals complimented the new style found on the album, but criticized Dubuc's vocal ability. Alternative Press noted the new Motown sound was a risky move but stated that Dubuc "obviously had the skills to pull it off".

Luis Dubuc was interviewed in the Alternative Press October 2010 issue, in the feature article titled You Can Hurry Love.

In 2011, Dubuc put The Secret Handshake to sleep and began to make music under the name Mystery Skulls.

Dominó
The Secret Handshake Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

whats it like
to give up on your dreams
I hope I never
have to find out

I'm feelin' down
tearing at the seams
but here I am

just singin' out

but I fear I'm getting closer
I'm worried all the time

I'm calling you out
like we did when we were kids
and you still had dreams
of making it big
how can it be that you gave up?
life's all a show
and you'll keep falling down
like a Domino

you never tried
never made it real
you never even bothered to shout

I'm makin' sounds
and working on my dreams
and here I am
just singin' out

but I fear I'm getting closer
I'm worried all the time

no one knows
what's in store
you've got to(got to)
keep on(keep on)
movin' on

takes time to grow
you never know
you've got to(got to)
try to(try to)
prove me wrong

future nobody knows
keep on making the climb

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Secret Handshake's song Domino explore the fear of giving up on one's dreams: "what's it like to give up on your dreams, I hope I never have to find out." The songwriter expresses their own feelings of being down at times, but they persist in pursuing their dreams "just singin' out." However, they worry about getting closer to the point of giving up. They then call out to someone, reminiscent of their childhood, who used to dream of "making it big," but has now given up on their dreams. The songwriter questions how anyone can simply give up and fall down like dominos.

The song ends with a message of hope to keep persevering and moving forward, taking time to grow and continuing to climb. The lyrics emphasize the importance of following one's dreams and putting in the effort to make them a reality. Overall, the song highlights the struggle to maintain hope in the face of uncertainty and setbacks, while encouraging listeners to keep pursuing their dreams.

Line by Line Meaning

whats it like
Asking about the feeling of giving up on one's dreams.

to give up on your dreams
Abandoning one's aspirations and ambitions.

I hope I never
Expressing a desire to never experience such a situation.

have to find out
To avoid discovering the feeling of giving up on one's dreams.

I'm feelin' down
Feeling depressed and unhappy about something.

tearing at the seams
On the verge of breaking apart.

but here I am
Despite feeling down, I am still here and present in this moment.

just singin' out
Expressing oneself through music.

but I fear I'm getting closer
Worrying that I am approaching the point of giving up on my dreams.

I'm worried all the time
Feeling anxious and concerned about the future.

I'm calling you out
Challenging someone to confront their past decisions.

like we did when we were kids
Referencing a time in the past when the artist and addressee were more idealistic and unburdened by adult responsibilities.

and you still had dreams
Referring to the time when the addressee still had aspirations and goals.

of making it big
Desiring to achieve great success and recognition.

how can it be that you gave up?
Questioning why the addressee abandoned their dreams.

life's all a show
Describing life as a performance or facade.

and you'll keep falling down
Predicting that the addressee will continue to fail and face obstacles in life.

like a Domino
Comparing the addressee's setbacks to a chain reaction.

you never tried
Accusing the addressee of never putting in effort to achieve their dreams.

never made it real
Failing to turn dreams into tangible reality.

you never even bothered to shout
Not even trying to express oneself or seek opportunities.

I'm makin' sounds
Creating music and expression.

and working on my dreams
Putting in effort and striving towards personal goals.

no one knows
Uncertainty about the future.