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.
Writing on the Walls
Underoath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sit right here for half an hour?
We'll speak of what a waste I am
And how we missed your beat again
I swear we need to find some comfort
In this run down place
To bridge the gap of this conscious state
I'm short on time
How come you try?
That brings us home
To fit the shape of
And I pray for
What they tell you
You to move on, move on (but mostly what they show you)
At this rate we can't keep up but I sure
I'm taking back all the things I said
I'm taking back all the things I said
But I sure can't just sit still
Keep me filled in, I swear I'll come
We walk alone
We walk alone
We walk alone
We walk alone
We walk alone
We walk alone
Back home
Alone back home
You're almost gone and I'm okay
I still see your shadow
To give you time to be afraid
But never your face again
I remember your presence
I hope to God you come down
I hope to God you feel this now
I hope to God you come down
I hope to
God
I know there must be some way out of here
And all of them will be waiting there
The lyrics of Underoath's song Writing On The Walls are filled with despair, desperation, and longing for connection. The song expresses a deep sense of disappointment and disillusionment with life, as the singer laments the loss of something precious, perhaps a relationship, and the struggles of living in a harsh reality. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer asks why they cannot sit together for half an hour and talk about how they have failed and missed opportunities.
The song continues to express the need for comfort and a sense of unity, as the singer acknowledges the difficulty of living in their current consciousness state. They are short on time and are struggling to keep up with the pace of life. They speak of taking back things they said, wishing for someone to keep them filled in and hoping for a way out of their current existence. The repetition of "We walk alone" emphasizes the singer's sense of isolation and loneliness, and they reach out to the elusive "you" who has left them, hoping for a reunion.
The final lines express a hope for a new beginning, a way out of the current situation. The singer longs for an escape from the present reality of loneliness and despair, and imagines a future with a sense of hope and possibility.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe we, why don't we
Suggesting that it would be worthwhile to come together and talk about something.
Sit right here for half an hour?
Offering an idea to take the time to sit down and talk.
We'll speak of what a waste I am
Acknowledging the singer's feeling of low self-worth.
And how we missed your beat again
Admitting a mistake or shortcoming in one's behavior.
I swear we need to find some comfort
Expressing the need for comfort or solace.
In this run-down place
Describing a location that is in disrepair or decline.
To bridge the gap of this conscious state
Trying to find a way to connect with the present moment.
That we live in
Reflecting on the reality of the artist's current situation.
I'm short on time
Being aware of time constraints or limitations.
How come you try?
Questioning a person's motives or actions.
That brings us home
Referring to a feeling of belonging or being grounded.
To fit the shape of
Conforming to a certain standard or expectation.
And I pray for
Asking for help from a higher power or hoping for the best possible outcome.
What they tell you
Referring to external influences or messages that impact one's decision-making.
You to move on, move on (but mostly what they show you)
Encouraging someone to move forward, but acknowledging the difficulty of doing so when faced with external obstacles.
At this rate we can't keep up but I sure
Recognizing that the current pace is difficult to maintain.
I'm taking back all the things I said
Apologizing or retracting previous statements.
But I sure can't just sit still
Acknowledging the need to keep moving or taking action.
Keep me filled in, I swear I'll come
Asking to be updated or informed about something, with a promise to follow through.
We walk alone
Acknowledging the feeling of loneliness or isolation.
We walk alone
Repeating the theme of loneliness or isolation for emphasis.
We walk alone
A third repetition to reinforce the artist's feelings.
We walk alone
The fourth repetition to continue emphasizing the point.
We walk alone
The fifth repetition of the loneliness theme.
We walk alone
The sixth repetition to drive the message home.
Back home
Returning back to one's starting point or place of origin.
Alone back home
Repeating the theme of loneliness and linking it to the homecoming.
You're almost gone and I'm okay
Recognizing that someone is about to leave or change, but expressing that the artist is okay with it.
I still see your shadow
Acknowledging the lingering presence of someone who is no longer there physically.
To give you time to be afraid
Suggesting that someone is intentionally giving another person a chance to feel fear or apprehension about something.
But never your face again
Acknowledging that one may not see someone's face again, literally or metaphorically.
I remember your presence
Recalling someone's presence, even though they are no longer present physically.
I hope to God you come down
Expressing a hope or wish to see someone again or for them to come back.
I hope to God you feel this now
Expressing a strong emotion or message and hoping that it is received and understood by someone else.
I hope to God you come down
Repeating a desire or wish to see someone again, to reinforce the message.
I hope to
Expressing the sentiment that the artist dearly wishes for something to happen.
God
Referring to a higher power, expressing hope or faith.
I know there must be some way out of here
Recognizing and acknowledging that there is a difficult situation, but expressing hope or belief that there is a solution.
And all of them will be waiting there
Anticipating or imagining a positive experience or outcome, involving the presence of others.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Aaron Gillespie, Christopher Dudley, Grant Brandell, James Smith, Timothy Mctague, William Spencer Chamberlain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Clash With Canadian Rebel
LYRICS :
Maybe we, why don't we
Sit right here for half an hour?
We'll speak of what a waste I am
And how we missed your beat again
I swear we need to find some comfort
In this run down place
To bridge the gap of this conscious state
That we live in
I'm short on time
How come you try?
That brings us home
To fit the shape of
And I pray for
What they tell you
You to move on, move on (but mostly what they show you)
At this rate we can't keep up but I sure
I'm taking back all the things I said
I'm taking back all the things I said
But I sure can't just sit still
Keep me filled in, I swear I'll come
We walk alone
We walk alone
We walk alone
We walk alone
We walk alone
We walk alone
Back home
Alone back home
You're almost gone and I'm okay
I still see your shadow
To give you time to be afraid
But never your face again
I remember your presence
I hope to God you come down
I hope to God you feel this now
I hope to God you come down
I hope to
God
I know there must be some way out of here
And all of them will be waiting there
truthisreal.
Listening to this music is so nostalgic in such a heart breaking way. I used to struggle so much in middle and high school with depression. Being 30 still depressed sucks. I’ve come such a long way and still no where at all lol. Underoath has literally saved my life more than one time with their music. Still holding me down over a decade later.
Hunter Bigelow
Chin up bud, tough times make strong people ♥️ small progress is still progress
baba yaga
Same here fam
Ryan Rieff
Same man. We’re so strong compared to our young us. We are our younger hero’s by surviving. That person couldn’t handle it. The person you are now can and is and will.
Beezy Beez
this is turning jam 🤘but you must hear “Glory” by SLT 🎸🎶🎧
alexis
Me too! High school was the worst years of my life. This song brought me into this genre of music. Under oath will always be my top band
Jason Nuss
Just discovered this song and band. So much raw emotion. The gritty growls blended with clean melody, the drum fills, guitar arrangement- absolute masterpiece
benny dennis
Gotta dig into their first few albums, they’re masterful. Not sure about their later stuff, but I haven’t found a single bad song
Christian Castillo
It’s almost a bittersweet feeling seeing all my age group people coming back to this song only to reminisce the good ol days of when music was there for us in a broken home, keep on keeping on y’all
JohnBlackRose
Back in a time when everything was deeper than it is today.