Hailing from Tucson, AZ, post-hardcore quintet Versus the Mirror, formed in… Read Full Bio ↴Hailing from Tucson, AZ, post-hardcore quintet Versus the Mirror, formed in 2004, had already self-financed and recorded their eponymous EP prior to inking a deal with Equal Vision in June 2005. The label released the EP that August, and the guys were back in the studio by the year's end to record their full-length debut. By this time, the band was comprised of drummer Shane Ray, bassist Brad Murray, vocalist David Siebold, and guitarists Gabe Borquez and Kevin Ryan. Working with producer Bob Hoag (The Bled, The Format), Versus the Mirror was able to capture the live intensity of their shows with a raw-sounding album crafted without the use of ProTools, instead employing vintage equipment. The resulting record, Home, was issued in April 2006. That same month, they jumped on the road with The Fully Down as support for a two-month nationwide Boysetsfire tour.

As of early 2007, Versus the Mirror is no more. It was confirmed on their official site, which is no longer onine, on January 4, 2007, saying they needed to "move on and grow." But at the conclusion of the post, he mentions that they are commencing writing for a new record under a new name which hasn't been decided yet, and we will be hearing from them again shortly.

Discography:
2006 - Home
2005 - Versus The Mirror
2004 - Demo

Members:
David Siebold - Vocals
Gabe Borquez - Guitar
Kevin Ryan - Guitar
Brad Murray - Bass
Shane Ray - Drums

Nick Martin - Vocals (on their demos 2003-2004)

Spirits
Versus the Mirror Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

the family fell apart with a strict blow
from an ill-divine addiction
transfixed on its own
undulating survivor rate

for the sake of right mind and public relation
we will call it extreme circumstances
so bite your tongue and open your eyes

as we dance on your grave

my fingers are cocked
and ready to throw back
gratuity and crucial sedatives
blow

for the sake of right mind and public relation
we will call it extreme circumstances
so bite your tongue and open your eyes
as we dance on your grave

you have to break this silence
you have a cyclical sickness
its love is viscious
you have a cyclical sickness
this is my lover's tryst

for the sake of right mind and public relation
we will call it extreme circumstances

so bite your tongue and open your eyes
as we dance on your grave

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of "Spirits" by Versus the Mirror convey an intense and complex family dynamic that has been torn apart by addiction. The singer notes that the family fell apart with a strict blow, indicating that there was likely a significant event or series of events involving substance abuse that created a significant rift. The phrase "ill-divine addiction" suggests that this addiction had a profound impact on the family and may have been viewed as a sort of curse or malignant force that inflicted harm on those touched by it.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, however, the family seems to be in a sort of stasis. The singer notes that they are "transfixed on its own undulating survivor rate," suggesting that they are all caught in a cycle of addiction and recovery with little progress being made. The line "for the sake of right mind and public relation/we will call it extreme circumstances" highlights the family's attempts to maintain some semblance of normalcy and respectability despite the chaos happening behind closed doors.

The latter portion of the song sees the singer expressing frustration and sadness at the situation. They speak of needing to break the silence and address the cyclical sickness that has taken hold of the family. The line "this is my lover's tryst" adds a layer of complexity, suggesting that the singer may be personally involved with someone in the family or that they have an intense emotional investment in the situation. Ultimately, the repeated refrain of "so bite your tongue and open your eyes/as we dance on your grave" conveys a battle cry of sorts, encouraging listeners to speak out and take action in the face of addiction and its devastating effects.

Line by Line Meaning

the family fell apart with a strict blow
Due to a harmful and uncontrollable addiction, the family unit disintegrated abruptly.

from an ill-divine addiction
The root cause of the family's demise was a sinful and corrupt dependency.

transfixed on its own
The addiction was all-consuming and left the family incapacitated.

undulating survivor rate
The pattern of the family's members surviving or succumbing to the addiction was unpredictable.

for the sake of right mind and public relation
To protect the reputation of themselves and others, they portray the situation as extreme circumstances.

we will call it extreme circumstances
They will use this phrase as a euphemism for the destructive addiction and its aftermath.

so bite your tongue and open your eyes
They urge listeners to see the situation clearly, despite their initial desire to remain ignorant.

as we dance on your grave
They mock those who caused the family's pain and take a vindictive stance.

my fingers are cocked
They are physically and mentally prepared for a confrontation or retaliation.

and ready to throw back
They are prepared to respond with force or something negative, just as they have been impacted negatively.

gratuity and crucial sedatives
They have felt indebted to and reliant upon others, often through the use of medications or substances as coping mechanisms.

you have to break this silence
They implore someone suffering from a similar situation to come forward and share their experiences.

you have a cyclical sickness
They recognize that the addiction that plagues them and their loved ones is ongoing and will be difficult to escape.

its love is viscious
Despite the destruction it causes, they acknowledge that the addiction can be comforting or alluring to those afflicted.

this is my lover's tryst
They convey that the addiction has become such an integral part of their life and existence that it feels like a twisted romance.

Contributed by Charlie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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