However, their breakthrough came in 2018 with the release of their single "still feel." with an accompanying music video, received media attention and led to the band signing a record deal with RCA Records. "still feel." also charted on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart and has amassed over 80 million streams on YouTube and Spotify.
In August 2019, half•alive released their debut studio album titled "Now, Not Yet." The album was well-received, and the band embarked on a worldwide tour, performing in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
In 2022, the band released "Give Me Your Shoulders, Pt. 1," which served as the first part of their second studio album. However, they later announced the cancellation of "Give Me Your Shoulders, Pt. 2" and unveiled a new single called "Did I Make You Up?" This single was followed by the release of their second album, "Conditions of a Punk," in December 2022.
On October 13, 2022, they released the single "Did I Make You Up?" along with its captivating music video, which culminated in the announcement of their second album, "Conditions of a Punk," set to be released on December 2, 2022.
half•alive's musical style is a blend of beat-driven dance-pop, dark electro-rock, and indie pop. They draw inspiration from various genres and incorporate elements of R&B, funk, soul, and electronic music. The band has cited influences such as Sufjan Stevens, Vulfpeck and Christine and the Queens. Their lyrics often touch on themes of anxiety and religion, and they strive to create a balance between abstract and relatable lyrics to allow listeners to interpret the songs in their own way.
Maybe
half•alive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Maybe, maybe)
Feel the weight, fill the space in the void of my own time
I'm surrounded in pain passed down through my bloodline
I have tried to escape from the maze but it's no use
These chains never break, never budge, never come loose
Story's over
Standing still and it feels like I'm lost in a coal mine
Inside, realize I'm at war in my own mind
It's a place fear creates, I'll be here for a long time
And you don't know where I've been, you weren't there on the front lines
Story's over
Maybe it's not over
Changing is found in motion
Maybe there's balance when you're moving
Could stopping bring you closer
Maybe, tilts you over
Leaning into the same old story
Crossing over
(Maybe, ma-, ma-, maybe)
(Ma-, ma-, maybe) crossing over
(Ma-, ma-, maybe)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ma-, ma-, maybe)
(Ma-, ma-, maybe) crossing over
(Ma-, ma-, maybe)
(Ma-, ma-)
Maybe fear can't define all the walls 'til you enter
And even blood couldn't bind who you are at the center
Could it be that you're more than the scars on the surface
As the heat is beneath all the ash of the embers
Crossing over
Crossing over
The way it's told, there's no more room to grow
The way it's told, there's no return home
Maybe it's not over
Changing is found in motion
Maybe there's balance when you're moving
Could stopping bring you closer
Maybe, tilts you over
Leaning into the same old story
Crossing over
(Maybe, ma-, ma-, maybe)
(Ma-, ma-, maybe) crossing over
(Ma-, ma-, maybe)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ma-, ma-, maybe)
(Ma-, ma-, maybe) crossing over
(Ma-, ma-, maybe)
The lyrics of Maybe by half•alive explore the themes of feeling trapped and stagnant, but also offer the hope of change and growth through movement. The opening lines set the scene of the singer feeling burdened with pain and trapped in a maze that they cannot escape. The repetition of "story's over" emphasizes their sense of hopelessness and resignation to their circumstances. They describe feeling lost and at war within themselves, stuck in a place of fear.
Despite all of this, the chorus offers a glimmer of hope. The singer suggests that maybe it's not over, and that change can be found through motion. They question whether stopping could actually bring them closer to where they want to be. The song suggests that moving forward and crossing over into new territory can offer the balance and change that the singer seeks.
The final verse offers a contemplation on identity and the potential to overcome external and internal barriers. The singer muses that fear and family ties cannot fully define a person and that there is more to them than surface-level scars. The concluding lines make a final assertion that the way things have been told or done before may not allow for growth or returning home, but there is still the possibility of change through motion.
Line by Line Meaning
Feel the weight, fill the space in the void of my own time
I feel the burden of my existence and the emptiness inside me that I try to fill with distractions.
I'm surrounded in pain passed down through my bloodline
My family history is riddled with suffering that affects me even today.
I have tried to escape from the maze but it's no use
I attempt to flee from my troubles, but it seems impossible to break free.
These chains never break, never budge, never come loose
These emotional bonds holding me down are unbreakable and unyielding.
Standing still and it feels like I'm lost in a coal mine
My life is at a standstill, and I feel like I'm in a dark and treacherous place.
Inside, realize I'm at war in my own mind
I understand that I'm battling against myself mentally.
It's a place fear creates, I'll be here for a long time
It's a place of my own making, fueled by my anxieties, and it seems like I'll be stuck here for a while.
And you don't know where I've been, you weren't there on the front lines
You don't understand the trauma that I've experienced because you weren't there with me to face it.
Maybe it's not over
Perhaps there's still hope for me.
Changing is found in motion
Progress is only possible when I'm taking action.
Maybe there's balance when you're moving
Maybe if I keep moving, I'll find equilibrium in my life.
Could stopping bring you closer
Maybe if I pause and reflect, I'll find myself getting closer to my goals.
Maybe, tilts you over
But maybe this pause will cause me to stumble and lose my balance.
Leaning into the same old story
Perhaps I'm stuck in a cycle and repeating the same mistakes.
Maybe fear can't define all the walls 'til you enter
Perhaps I'm letting my fears dictate what I can and can't do without even trying.
And even blood couldn't bind who you are at the center
My lineage doesn't determine who I am at my core.
Could it be that you're more than the scars on the surface
Maybe there's more to me than just the visible wounds and trauma.
As the heat is beneath all the ash of the embers
Like a fire waiting to be sparked, there's potential inside of me, waiting to be fueled.
The way it's told, there's no more room to grow
I've been led to believe that I can't make any more progress.
The way it's told, there's no return home
Going back to where I was before isn't an option, but there may be other directions to move in.
Crossing over
I'm making a change and moving in a new direction.
Ma-, ma-, maybe
Perhaps things will turn out differently this time around.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brett Kramer, J. Tyler Ross Johnson, Joshua William Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@crystalwaters8601
Lyrics:
[Intro]
(Maybe, maybe)
(Maybe, maybe)
[Verse 1]
I feel the weight fill the space in the void of my own time
I'm surrounded in pain passed down through my bloodline
I have tried to escape from the maze but it’s no use
These chains never break, never budge, never come loose
Story's over
Story's over
[Verse 2]
Standing still and it feels like I’m lost in a coal mine
Inside, realize I'm at war in my own mind
It's a place fear creates, I'll be here for a long time
And you don't know where I've been, you weren't there on the front lines
Story's over
[Chorus]
Maybe it’s not over
Changing is found in motion
Maybe it’s balanced when you’re moving
Could stopping bring you closer?
Maybe, tilts you over
Leaning into the same old story
[Post-Chorus]
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe, ah, ah)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe, ah, ah)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe, ah, ah)
[Verse3]
Maybe fear can't define all the walls ’til you enter
And even blood couldn't bind who you are at the center
Could it be that you're more than the scars on the surface?
As the heat is beneath all the ash of the embers
Crossing over
Crossing over
[Bridge]
The way it's told, there’s no more room to grow
The way it's told, there's no return home
[Chorus]
Maybe it's not over
Changing is found in motion
Maybe it's balanced when you’re moving
Could stopping bring you closer?
Maybe, tilts you over
Leaning into the same old story
[Post-Chorus]
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe, ah, ah)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe, ah, ah)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe)
@gkennedy_32
[Intro]
(Maybe, maybe)
(Maybe, maybe)
[Verse 1]
Feel the weight, fill the space in the void of my own time
I'm surrounded in pain passed down through my bloodline
And I have tried to escape from the maze but it’s no use
These chains never break, never budge, never come loose
Story's over
Story's over
Standing still and it feels like I’m lost in a coal mine
Inside, realize I'm at war in my own mind
It's a place fear creates, I'll be here for a long time
And you don't know where I've been, you weren't there on the front lines
Story's over
[Chorus]
Maybe it’s not over
Changing is found in motion
Maybe there’s balance when you're moving
Could stopping bring you closer?
Maybe, tilts you over
Leaning into the same old story
[Post-Chorus]
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe, ah, ah)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe, ah, ah)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe, ah, ah)
[Verse 2]
Maybe fear can’t define all the walls 'til you enter
And even blood couldn't bind who you are at the center
Could it be that you're more than the scars on the surface
As the heat is beneath all the ash of the embers
Crossing over
Crossing over
[Bridge]
The way it’s told, there's no more room to grow
The way it's told, there's no return home
[Chorus]
Maybe it's not over
Changing is found in motion
Maybe there's balance when you're moving
Could stopping bring you closer?
Maybe, tilts you over
Leaning into the same old story
[Post-Chorus]
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe, ah, ah)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe, ah, ah)
Crossing over
(Maybe, ah, ah)
(Maybe)
@heygirl6386
have you guys noticed a lot of their songs are about change and confusion?
@jazza.6550
Glad I'm not the only one I noticed. I like this theme, since I think about change and confusion a lot.
@dreatfuldroid9316
Me too
@jazzparade03
cassandra Them and twenty one pilots are my gems because of this!🤓
@unigamerderp7430
Wow I didn't know that but I like this song a lot.
@iMakeYoutubeConfused
This is why their songs are so relatable and real
@rat9366
This MAY BE my favourite song in the whole album
@JDHDseries
Schmittard Same
@josephpardilla1993
Thank you for an original comment
@chap983
mrs