During the band's early years, when they were fronted by former vocalist Dallas Taylor, Underoath displayed a heavier style than their later, more well-known work, incorporating disparate influences from death and black metal. With Taylor, they released Act of Depression, Cries of the Past, and The Changing of Times. Following Taylor's departure, Spencer Chamberlain became lead vocalist. The band then released They're Only Chasing Safety and Define the Great Line, gaining a certified gold rating and the highest-charting Christian album on The Billboard 200 since 1997, respectively. These two albums have given them more mainstream and commercial success. They're Only Chasing Safety marked an extreme departure from their earlier work, with extensive use of clean vocals and poppy rhythms, and a near-complete eradication of breakdowns and the use of double-bass. Define The Great Line reflected another shift in style, once again incorporating heavier styles into Underoath's sound. While the album still featured extensive clean vocals, its use of heavier vocals, detuned guitars, and Botch-inspired guitar work paved the way for Underoath's future.
Underoath released a live album called Survive, Kaleidoscope on May 27, 2008. Earlier that year, the band recorded a new studio album called Lost in the Sound of Separation, which was released on September 2, 2008, peaking at number 8 on the Billboard 200. In April 2010, Aaron Gillespie announced his resignation from the band, stating that there are no hard feelings and that he will continue to pursue his other band, The Almost, leaving Underoath with none of its founding members.
The band recorded their seventh album with new drummer Daniel Davison, formerly of Norma Jean. The album, Ø (Disambiguation), was released on November 9, 2010.
In October 2012, Underoath announced that they would be disbanding the following year, in addition to a career-spanning compilation album, Anthology: 1999–2013, which was released on November 6, 2012. The band then embarked on a nine-date farewell tour, which wrapped up at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida on January 26, 2013.
In January 2015, the band launched a campaign to finalize production of documentary film about their farewell tour of 12 shows, posting two trailers on that subject to their YouTube channel.
In July 2015, Underoath began teasing the phrase "rebirth is coming" and an accompanying cryptic video across their social media accounts. The audio portion to the cryptic video, when played backwards, turned out to be the chorus for "It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door" off the band's 2004 album They're Only Chasing Safety, and later a countdown timer ending on August 24, 2015 later appeared on the band's website.
On August 17, 2015, the band's first show since disbanding in 2013 was announced, headlining the Self Help Fest in San Bernardino, California on March 19, 2016, along with A Day to Remember. In an interview article for Alternative Press, Chamberlain and Gillespie confirmed that the band was reuniting.
In Completion
Underoath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the empty ocean
We can watch the city
Descend behind the skyline
On our backs
We float away
Now forget about the way you used to be
But I never wanted to let you drown without me
Tonight
We are the only ones to watch it fall apart
We slide into our place
Where I can watch you swim
Don't forget my hands still wrapped around your neck
We fall deeper into the ground
This night's never looked so hollow
I wanted to share this with you with you
I'll wait till it opens up again
Sit here until the water reaches our necks
Finally get to watch them wash away the lies
Tonight I fail
But I never wanted to let you drown without me, without me
Open your lungs
Follow me down
Open your lungs
Follow me down
I set this up
Keep swimming
Keep swimming
Oh God
I am emptier than you
The lyrics to Underoath's song "In Completion" are a reflection on the ending of a relationship. The first verse starts with an invitation to escape reality: "follow me to the empty ocean/ we can watch the city descend behind the skyline." The singer wants to share a moment of liberation with his partner, drifting towards nothingness and leaving their past behind. The line "now forget about the way you used to be" represents the need to let go of the past to fully embrace the present moment.
The second verse starts with an admission of guilt: "tonight, I fail/ but I never wanted to let you drown without me." The singer recognizes his responsibility for not being able to keep the relationship afloat. However, they still share a bond that no one else can understand: "we are the only ones to watch it fall apart." As the song progresses, the imagery shifts from floating to sinking, representing the weight of the past on their relationship: "we fall deeper into the ground/ this night's never looked so hollow." The singer wants to stay with their partner until the end, even if it means drowning with them: "sit here until the water reaches our necks/ finally get to watch them wash away the lies."
Overall, the song captures the bittersweet feeling of a relationship coming to an end. The singer wants to stay with their partner until the very end, even if it means drowning with them. The lines "open your lungs/ follow me down" represent the singer's invitation to their partner to let go of their past and fully embrace the present moment. The last line, "Oh God, I am emptier than you," represents the pain of being left with nothing but memories.
Line by Line Meaning
So follow me
Join me on this journey
To the empty ocean
Towards a desolate place
We can watch the city
Observe the bustling city
Descend behind the skyline
Disappear from sight
On our backs
Lying flat and vulnerable
We float away
Drift off from reality
Now forget about the way you used to be
Leave your past behind
Tonight I fail
I am unsuccessful today
But I never wanted to let you drown without me
I don't want you to suffer alone
We are the only ones to watch it fall apart
We are the only ones witnessing its demise
We slide into our place
We fit into our roles
Where I can watch you swim
Where I can observe you in motion
Don't forget my hands still wrapped around your neck
Don't forget that I have control over you
We fall deeper into the ground
We sink lower into despair
This night's never looked so hollow
This night has never felt so empty
I wanted to share this with you with you
I wanted to experience this with you
I'll wait till it opens up again
I will wait for a new beginning
Sit here until the water reaches our necks
Wait until we are almost drowning
Finally get to watch them wash away the lies
The truth will be revealed
Open your lungs
Breathe deeply
Follow me down
Come with me into the depths
I set this up
I planned this
Keep swimming
Continue moving forward
Oh God
Expression of surprise or exasperation
I am emptier than you
I have less to offer than you
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher Dudley, Daniel Travis Davison, Grant Brandell, James Smith, Timothy McTague, William Spencer Chamberlain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
InfinityPotato
So follow me to the empty ocean
We can watch the city
Do you sit behind the skylight
It happens?
We float away and forget
About the way you used to be
Tonight I fail but never wanting
To let you drown without me
Tonight we are the only ones
To watch it fall apart
We sat into our place
Where I can watch you swim
Don't forget my hands
Still wrapped around your neck
We fall deeper into the ground
This night has never looked so hollow
I wanted to share this with you
I'll wait till it opens up again
Sit here till the water reaches our necks
Finally get to watch them
Wash away the night
Open your lungs
Follow me down
I said this up
Keep swimming
Oh God, I am emptier than you
dudebroman10
This album finally grew on me. It took until they broke up to realize that this album was definitely the best thew ever produced. They finally found their true sound, and it was with Spencer doing all the vocals. He definitely has one of the best all around voices I've ever heard. Thanks for everything Underoath, you really are the best.
MegaJonZero
I love this song and this band.
InfinityPotato
So follow me to the empty ocean
We can watch the city
Do you sit behind the skylight
It happens?
We float away and forget
About the way you used to be
Tonight I fail but never wanting
To let you drown without me
Tonight we are the only ones
To watch it fall apart
We sat into our place
Where I can watch you swim
Don't forget my hands
Still wrapped around your neck
We fall deeper into the ground
This night has never looked so hollow
I wanted to share this with you
I'll wait till it opens up again
Sit here till the water reaches our necks
Finally get to watch them
Wash away the night
Open your lungs
Follow me down
I said this up
Keep swimming
Oh God, I am emptier than you
Spydrfish
Very appropriate name for Underoath's final song, and a great song period. I would have liked to hear at least one more album with Spencer doing all the vocals though.
BoffleFloffle
Minute long ring out is eargasmic. Love it.
Lil throw
they ended on the highest note possible and im proud to be a loyal fan for many years now.
Crisp Chaos
Are you still a fan, if so, you’re a legend
millriseman1
What an end! I need to go buy this album now!!!
Zoe
Currently my favorite song. I love this dude's voice. It's kinda different but absolutely perfect for this song. When I first heard it I thought it was underoath's lead singer with a retainer or something. 30 seconds into the vocal part of the song- yeah right. (probably all of you would never make that mistake, but cut me some slack I'm new to underoath, and for that matter I'm new to screamo.....so instead of calling me stupid could u guys tell me of some songs like this.....I'm lovin this an
TrephineArtist
Talk a bout leaving on a high note. All of the final three albums are superb and they proved with 'disambiguation' that it was possible for Underoath to make a great album without Aaron. Awesome band, also huge respect to them for not going the commercial route after the (relatively) commercial sounding 'They're only chasing safety.'