The original lineup consisted of Austin Thornton, Kevin Hanson, and Tim Sherrill with Cory Ferris and Ben Ferris. These members recruited vocalists Michael Bohn and Tyler Carter for unclean and clean vocals, respectively.
The band recorded a three-song demo with producer Cameron Mizell containing the songs "Hell, or High Water," "I.," and "If Not, for Ourselves," which were uploaded to their MySpace profile. They also recorded and released a cover of "TiK ToK." The Artery Foundation took notice and Rise/Velocity Records signed the band before they even played their first show. They recorded their album during the same month that they were signed.
The band's first tour was on the Pyknic pArtery Tour in the summer of 2010, headlined by Drop Dead, Gorgeous and shared with From First to Last, Attila, Sleeping With Sirens, Abandon All Ships, For All Those Sleeping, and Scarlett O'Hara.
Tyler Carter's soul-influenced clean vocals has garnered him comparisons to Jonny Craig, who also provided guest vocals on their album. The band went on a Canadian tour supporting Abandon All Ships in October of 2010 as well as the Average Guys With Exceptional Hair Tour across America, presented by MerchNow.com, in November with A Skylit Drive, Motionless in White, Scarlett O'Hara, and For All Those Sleeping.
The band released their debut music video for "[&] Delinquents" in December. By the end of December 2010, lead guitarist Tim Sherrill left Woe, Is Me. Geoffrey Higgins took up the position officially in March 2011.
The band released a new single "Fame > Demise" on March 21, 2011 through the iTunes store. The song is the last one to feature Sherrill on lead guitar. Tyler Carter has stated that the song will not be on the band's upcoming second album.
In late June 2011, Higgins left the band and they were forced to play their first Warped Tour performances with only Kevin Hanson's rhythm guitar while lead guitars were back-tracked for the time being. Weeks afterward, Andrew Paiano, formerly of Abandon All Ships, joined Woe, Is Me to play lead guitar.
On August 10, 2011, it was announced excluslvely through Alternative Press that Tyler Carter would be leaving Woe, Is Me. His statement can be read here on AltPress.com.
On September 15, 2011, Woe, is me announced their new vocalist, Hance Alligood, formerly of Oh, Manhattan.
Ben Ferris, Michael Bohn and Cory Ferris have left Woe, Is Me in March 2012.
Woe, Is Me announced they were parting ways with Austin Thornton in March 2013, leaving Kevin Hanson as the only remaining member from the original lineup.
Visit the band's official blog at http://fuckyeahwoeisme.tumblr.com/
November 18th 2013 WIM announced about their breaking up.
In 2022 Woe, Is Me have started back up with the original line-up except for Tim Sherrill on lead guitar and Tyler Carter on vocals. Hance Alligood is on vocals instead and Andrew Paiano on guitar.
Members
Current:
Michael Bohn - Unclean vocals (On Numbers)
Hance Alligood - Clean vocals
Andrew Paiano - Rhythm guitar
Kevin Hanson - Rhythm guitar (On Numbers)
Ben Ferris - Keyboards (On Numbers)
Cory Ferris - Bass (On Numbers)
Austin Thornton - Drums (On Numbers)
Ex-members:
Tyler Carter - Clean vocals (On Numbers)
Tim Sherrill - Lead guitar (On Numbers)
Jack Langdell - Lead guitar
Geoffrey Higgins - Lead guitar
Doriano Magliano - Unclean vocals
Brian Medley - Bass
David Angle - Drums
Matt Mulkey - Clean vocals
Fame>Demise
Woe Is Me Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought I had your word
That a father dies before his son
Now the reaper and his men are marching your way straight to hell
All that you taught me to be
Was a moper, a dreamer that only refused to dream.
Oh save it please
And I'm speaking just to show you the way.
How could you
Shelter me out
I'm much older now
You're a chemical fiend you shatter like a beaker
When I only want to show you the way
The architect, the creator
I'll build my way out of your demise
These dreams are my castles
Not the walls you built up around me
Oh when I look at my watch and I know
Time is gold
It can't be pawned and it can't be sold
Now you're running out of time,
Better relapse and rewind
Crucify your addiction so you can cross this line
Nothing can save you from the fate that awaits you
Disregard the signals
Disregard the smoke
Father don't believe them
Just let them fucking choke
Now we lay you down to sleep
I pray his hands, your soul to reap
And if I die before you wake
Then I've lost a bet and for fucks sake
When all your cards are on the table
Pray the floor is still and stable and dance your life away
Your true colors are starting to get loud
(So loud that it hurts my ears)
Have fun praying to your gray god now
This war don't determine who's right
This war just determines who's left Standing tonight
Stop handing me lights
I can see what you are in the dark just fine
I'm not blind I'm bending the blinds
Peaking through to get a glimpse of your anguishing life
You're hiding like a vampire here comes the strife
This won't hurt me cause I get a thrill from the bite.
So place your bets
Place your bets
'Cause through my eyes you'll reap what you sew
In "Fame>Demise" by Woe Is Me, the singer is grappling with conflicting emotions about their father figure. At the beginning of the song, they address the devil and god, indicating that they feel they are being tempted or tested. The singer then brings up the idea of a father dying before their son, raising questions about mortality and the father figure's role in the singer's life. The singer is disappointed that the father figure only taught them to be a "moper" and not to dream. The singer feels misunderstood and ignored by the father figure, who is a "chemical fiend" and "shatters like a beaker." The singer desires to show the father figure "the way," but feels that they are being shut out.
Amidst the frustration and disappointment, the singer asserts their own agency and independence. They declare that they will build their way out of the father figure's "demise" and create their own dreams and castles. The singer acknowledges the value of time but also recognizes that it cannot be controlled or owned. They urge the father figure to "relapse and rewind" and overcome their addiction before it is too late. The singer ultimately wishes that if they die before the father figure, they have not lost their bet.
The song grapples with complex emotions of disappointment, frustration, and self-assertion. It explores the tension between dependence and independence, and the struggle to make sense of mortality and addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
The devil and god are knocking at my door
I feel trapped and conflicted between making good and bad decisions.
I thought I had your word
I trusted you, but now I feel betrayed.
That a father dies before his son
I expected to outlive you, but now I'm not so sure.
Now the reaper and his men are marching your way straight to hell
You made bad choices, and now you have to face the consequences.
All that you taught me to be
The lessons you taught me have left me feeling hopeless.
Was a moper, a dreamer that only refused to dream.
You made me feel like it was impossible to achieve my dreams.
Oh save it please
I don't want to hear your excuses or lies.
My voice is peaking through your speakers
I'm speaking out against the things you taught me and the choices you made.
And I'm speaking just to show you the way.
I want to guide you towards making better choices.
How could you
I can't believe you would do something like this.
Shelter me out
You kept me from seeing the truth about your choices.
I'm much older now
I've grown up and can see things more clearly.
You're a chemical fiend you shatter like a beaker
Your addiction is destroying you and those around you.
When I only want to show you the way
I want to help you overcome your addiction and make better choices.
The architect, the creator
I'm in charge of my own life and future.
I'll build my way out of your demise
I'm going to make something of myself despite the obstacles you put in my way.
These dreams are my castles
I have big dreams and I'm going to make them into reality.
Not the walls you built up around me
I won't let the negative things you taught me hold me back.
Oh when I look at my watch and I know
I'm running out of time to make something of myself.
Time is gold
Time is valuable and should be used wisely.
It can't be pawned and it can't be sold
I can't buy more time or sell what little I have left.
Now you're running out of time,
You too are running out of time to make better choices.
Better relapse and rewind
You might have to face your addiction again to overcome it.
Crucify your addiction so you can cross this line
You need to give up your addiction to succeed in life.
Nothing can save you from the fate that awaits you
You made your bed, now you have to sleep in it.
Disregard the signals
You're ignoring the warning signs that things are getting worse.
Disregard the smoke
You're ignoring the warning signs that you're headed down a bad path.
Father don't believe them
Don't believe the lies or excuses you tell yourself.
Just let them fucking choke
Let the negative things in your life go and move on.
Now we lay you down to sleep
I'm saying goodbye to you.
I pray his hands, your soul to reap
I hope you find peace in the afterlife.
And if I die before you wake
If I die before you, I hope you'll remember the things I tried to teach you.
Then I've lost a bet and for fucks sake
I'll have died without achieving my dreams and goals.
When all your cards are on the table
When everything is out in the open.
Pray the floor is still and stable and dance your life away
Make the most of your life and enjoy it while you can.
Your true colors are starting to get loud
Your true personality is becoming more evident and it's not pretty.
(So loud that it hurts my ears)
I can't bear to hear it anymore.
Have fun praying to your gray god now
You worship things that are worthless and won't help you in life.
This war don't determine who's right
Fighting with each other won't solve anything.
This war just determines who's left Standing tonight
The only thing that matters is who comes out on top in the end.
Stop handing me lights
Stop trying to give me the wrong advice.
I can see what you are in the dark just fine
I know your true intentions and personality.
I'm not blind I'm bending the blinds
I'm looking beyond the surface level and seeing the truth.
Peaking through to get a glimpse of your anguishing life
I can see that your choices are causing you pain and suffering.
You're hiding like a vampire here comes the strife
You're avoiding facing the truth and the consequences of your choices.
This won't hurt me cause I get a thrill from the bite.
Your actions won't affect me because I'm strong enough to handle them.
So place your bets
Make your choices and take your chances.
Place your bets
Make your choices and take your chances.
'Cause through my eyes you'll reap what you sew
You'll get what you deserve in life, based on your choices.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Austin Thorton, Derek Carter, Kevin Hanson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zachary9706
10 years ago was banging out to this right out of highschool. 10 years later I’m Currently sitting at my desk as a medical provider banging this out between seeing patients. I’ll listen to this til I die. LETS GOOOOO
@RalphWiggum.1
gg
@mattbenson2034
I’d feel way more comfortable knowing my medical provider blasted woe, is me between visits.
@Solid_Dude
It's so good
@cwynn9
This band could've been so successful. They had the greatest sound,
@lukedavies5896
To be honest Only when Tyler and Michael was in the band
@lukedavies5896
I agree 100% ^
@wasupyoh
*****
Nah man, Issues is nothing compare to this :/ Tyler lost his melodies and Michael sounds weak without Ben. The music overall is alot more repetitive and not as exciting.
@lukedavies5896
eeewwhh Oh So is that why Woe is me is split up and Issues are doing really well ? In fact Tyler and Michael are doing 1000x better being in issues :)
@thingmon8728
Luke Davies False, the original guitarist in this band made it. They left, and their second album was garbage, it was just open breakdowns, this shit is melodic with all the tapping and time signature changes