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.
Returning Empty Handed
Underoath Lyrics
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How peaceful it feels
Oh, how it feels against my face
Oh, what a long haul
You brought me here for this
I see nothing but disaster
Now I'm taking you with me
A transparent scenery
That comes as fast as it leaves
Now my eyes flash with white
It's settling in with all the flickering
Here again and again
The floor is more fitting for
The floor is more fitting for
My face
Here again? Here again?
This is getting old, this is getting old
Here again? Here again?
I am being watched
This is overwhelming
Paranoia
Paranoia
As you dig your feet in
I will sink my teeth in the floor
While I lay here alone
As the light begins to breach the border
While I lay here alone
Aware
Of every step
I'm not aware
At all
Aware
Of every step
I'm not aware
At all
Black
Flash white
Black
Flash white
I am awake
The song "Returning Empty Handed" by Underoath is a heavy and intense track that carries a sense of frustration and hopelessness. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the singer's emotions as they express how overwhelming and repetitive their situation feels. The beginning of the song sets a peaceful scene, where the singer is experiencing a moment of calmness. However, the feeling quickly dissipates as they acknowledge that they see nothing but disaster, and their paranoia takes over. They claim to feel watched and overwhelmed, and they are not entirely aware of what's going on. The phrase "Black flash white" indicates that the singer's emotions are quickly shifting from feeling overwhelmed and paranoid to becoming alert and awake.
In the song's later parts, the lyrics take on a more aggressive tone. The singer declares their intention to take someone else down with them and describes sinking their teeth into the floor while lying alone. The repetition of "Here again?" expresses their frustration with the recurring and seemingly unchanging situation. The song ends with the phrase "I am awake," indicating that the singer has gone through a cathartic experience and is now present in the moment.
Overall, "Returning Empty Handed" is a powerful expression of emotions that many people can relate to. It depicts the feeling of being stuck in a repetitive cycle and the frustration of being unable to break free from it. The lyrics also express a sense of anger and aggression, indicating the singer's willingness to fight back against their situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh
Expressing a sense of peace and tranquility
How peaceful it feels
The feeling of peace is profound
Oh, how it feels against my face
The peace is felt physically
Oh, what a long haul
The sense of peace has been long in coming
You brought me here for this
A feeling of having been led to this place
I see nothing but disaster
The surrounding situation is negative
Now I'm taking you with me
Taking the negative situation along
Taking you with me
Bringing the negativity along with oneself
A transparent scenery
The situation is clear and visible
That comes as fast as it leaves
The situation is quickly changing
Now my eyes flash with white
A sudden, bright light startles the singer
It's settling in with all the flickering
A sense of unease and discomfort is setting in
Here again and again
The same negative situation keeps repeating
The floor is more fitting for
The singer is laying on the floor
My face
The singer's face is pressed against the floor
Here again? Here again?
Expressing a sense of annoyance and weariness
This is getting old, this is getting old
The situation is becoming tiresome and repetitive
I am being watched
The singer is experiencing paranoia and feels that they are being monitored
This is overwhelming
The situation is too much to handle
Paranoia
The artist is feeling paranoid
As you dig your feet in
Another person is resisting the negative situation
I will sink my teeth in the floor
The artist is determined to withstand the situation
While I lay here alone
The singer is isolated in their experience
As the light begins to breach the border
A sense of newness or hope is creeping in
Aware
The singer is conscious and alert
Of every step
They are aware of each moment and action
I'm not aware
Contrasting with the previous line - there is a lack of awareness
At all
Emphasizing the artist's ignorance of the situation
Black
A sense of darkness or negativity
Flash white
A sudden burst of brightness
I am awake
The singer is alert and aware
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Aaron Gillespie, Christopher Dudley, Grant Brandell, James Smith, Timothy McTague, William Spencer Chamberlain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind