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.
When The Sun Sleeps
Underoath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At least I prayed (so I prayed)
The romance has been dead for years
But I've been too afraid
To dig the grave (so I prayed)
Relief, support, never came
Memories carry me through the days
And angels came to watch us play
Close my eyes
Just for tonight
The sun still sleeps
And when she wakes
A movie that plays in my mind
Remembering you helps me survive
Every day a re-run of the next
I promised to stay by your side
That all would change
I can't complain
Another victim of the game
Close my eyes
Just for tonight
The sun still sleeps
And when she wakes
Maybe love will find us again
For there is always tomorrow
Sincerely 'til the end
Close my eyes
Just for tonight
The sun still sleeps
And when she wakes
You'll be a memory
The lyrics of Underoath's song "When The Sun Sleeps" speak about letting go, but at the same time, holding on to memories of a past love, wishing that it could be rekindled. The writer expresses their desperation towards a lover who they thought would never leave, yet they are gone, and they fear they may never return. The writer admits that the "romance has been dead for years" but they have been too afraid to let go and move on, hence praying for the power to let go of the pain and memories that haunt them.
Furthermore, the writer admits feeling alone and vulnerable since no one came to their aid when they needed it most, highlighting the theme of abandonment. The memories of their childhood with the person that they yearned for the sun to return. The writer believes that their past happiness could save them from drowning in the pain of their present reality. The last stanza is an attempt to convince themselves that there is still a chance that love could find them once more, for all things are possible, and tomorrow is a new day filled with hope.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought you'd come back
I had hoped and expected you to return to me
At least I prayed (so I prayed)
I prayed for your return, even if it was unlikely
The romance has been dead for years
Our relationship has been lifeless for an extended period of time
But I've been too afraid
I was too frightened to end it and move on
To dig the grave (so I prayed)
I was too afraid to end our relationship, so I prayed for a resolution
Relief, support, never came
I never received the assistance or relief that I was hoping for
Memories carry me through the days
I am sustained by memories of our past together
Of when we were kids
During the early days of our relationship
And angels came to watch us play
Our happiness was so pure and innocent, it was as if angels were watching over us
Close my eyes
I am closing my eyes to escape reality
Just for tonight
Only for a brief period of time
The sun still sleeps
The world is in a state of rest and quietness
And when she wakes
When the world reawakens
A movie that plays in my mind
A vivid recollection that replays in my thoughts
Remembering you helps me survive
Thinking back on our relationship gives me comfort and strength to go on
Every day a re-run of the next
My days are stagnant and monotonous
I promised to stay by your side
I had previously vowed to always be there for you
That all would change
But things have not gone as planned
I can't complain
I must take ownership of the situation
Another victim of the game
I am just another person who has been caught up in the challenges of love
Maybe love will find us again
There is hope that our love could be rekindled
For there is always tomorrow
There is always the possibility for the future
Sincerely 'til the end
I truly mean this sentiment down to the very end
You'll be a memory
Regardless of what happens, our time together will remain a memory
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ricardo Vazquez
I thought you'd come back at least I prayed, so I prayed
The romance has been dead, the romance is dead, the romance is dead
For years, you come back
But I've been too afraid to dig the grave, so I prayed
Relief support never came
Memories carry me through the day
Of when we were kids
And angels came to watch us play
[Chorus]
Close my eyes just for tonight
The sun still sleeps, and when she wakes
Close my eyes just for tonight
The sun still sleeps, and when she wakes
A movie that plays in my mind
Remembering you helps me survive
Every day a re-run of the next
I promised to stay by your side
That all would change, I can't complain
Another victim of the game
[Chorus]
Maybe love will find us again
For there is always tomorrow
Sincerely 'til the end
[Chorus x2]
[Outro]
You'll be a memory, be a memory
You'll be a memory, be a memory
You'll be a memory, be a memory
You'll be a memory, be a memory
You'll be a memory, memory, memory, memory
RyHillChiBulls
Lyrics
I thought you'd come back at least I prayed (so I prayed)
The romance has been dead (the romance is dead, the romance is dead)
For years (you come back)
But I've been too afraid to dig the grave (so I prayed)
Relief support never came
Memories carry me through the day
Of when we were kids
And angels came to watch us play
Close my eyes, just for tonight
The sun still sleeps, and when she wakes
Close my eyes, just for tonight
The sun still sleeps, and when she wakes
A movie that plays in my mind
Remembering you helps me survive
Every day a re-run of the next
I promised to stay by your side
That all would change, I can't complain
Another victim of the game
Close my eyes, just for tonight
The sun still sleeps, and when she wakes
Close my eyes, just for tonight
The sun still sleeps, and when she wakes
Maybe love will find us again
For there is always tomorrow
Sincerely till the end
Close my eyes just for tonight
The sun still sleeps and when she wakes,
Close my eyes just for tonight
The sun still sleeps and when she wakes
Close my eyes, just for tonight
The sun still sleeps, and when she wakes
Close my eyes, just for tonight
The sun still sleeps, and when she wakes
You'll be a memory (be a memory)
You'll be a memory (be a memory)
You'll be a memory (be a memory)
You'll be a memory, memory, memory, memory.
Gema Lopez
Era la canción favorita de mi novio y hoy el ya no está…. Ivan donde quiera que estes te amo y siempre estarás aquí en mi corazón…. ❤
Bill
I'm 32 now and still never leaving the wonderful sounds of my youth.
Bradie Reboul
34 and this is still perfection.
dadadadankable
30 here. What we had growing up. Damn it was awesome. 🤘Still sounds as good today as it did back then. Gotta love memory lane.
Kiefer Bauer
31 and felt dude. 8th grade vibes
Ric G
Hahaha…41yrs old and remember seeing these guys when this album came out…as a 22yr old! Taking my 18yr old to see them with LOATHE and Periphery tomorrow night!🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
Bryson Grigg
@Ric G nostalgia
Christoph
This song might be the closest thing there is to actually reliving what it felt like growing up in the early-mid '00's. Listening to this song in one's 30's - it now feels like a love letter to a certain youthful past that ended so abruptly but felt like an eternity. Afternoons were darker, images were blurrier, romance was moodier - this song speaks to those lush undertones. These days it's all I ever think about anymore... life hasn't been the same for a long time.
JohnBlackRose
Its definately a different time in itself. Everything back then was person to person. Now its screen to screen the human element has been removed. Heck even underoaths newer stuff just feels so detached from what it used to be
Hanzo Resurreccion
Me now, a 32 year old father: Close my eyes, just for tonight. My son still sleeps, AND WHEN HE WAAAAAAKES!