Echo and Miller formed the band in the fall of 1998, citing a mutual love of old-school new wave, dance-punk energy and dark pop, with bassist Jeff Jaeger, drummer Scott Ellis (Mellowdrone, She Wants Revenge) and guitarist Mike Smith. The latter left during the recording of their debut album, Shakedown!, which was released on The Label, a sub-label of Geffen Records.
After returning from touring, the band found the label was closing its doors, and, after Scott Ellis' departure, released The 1234 EP independently. Following a 2002 summer tour supporting Scarling., the band gathered enough money to release theSTART EP on Smallstone Records. After a tour supporting AFI, the band was signed to Nitro Records. Stabilizing a new line-up with Erick Sanger and Billy Brimblecom, Jr., they recorded their next album, Initiation. In the meantime, theSTART EP was re-released on Nitro Records under the title Death Via Satellite. Unfortunately, on the day of Initiation's release, Brimblecom announced his departure. The band proceeded to tour with artists such as The Offspring, Auf Der Maur and Garbage with a number of fill-in drummers. Sanger was let go in 2006 for unclear reasons, paving the way for current rhythm section Lance Webber and Chelsea Davis. The band also parted ways with Nitro Records, and signed with Metropolis Records later that year, releasing Ciao, Baby in 2007.
Blood On My Hands
theSTART Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only shooting blanks
Nothing that would put a hole in
You or your precious heart
That's right, I'm yours for the taking
I'll put up a front
They won't even know I'm faking
It's my heart that you're breaking
Or so you seem to be tonight...
Last dance, second chance
Even when there's blood on my hands
Last chance left to dance
Even when there's blood on my hands
My idea of romance
My lack of innocence
Really makes no difference
Here and now
I am ripe for the plucking
Ready to take a dive
Throw the fight, you'll be so lucky
It's not just my heart
It's my soul that you're sucking
Or so you seem to be tonight...
Last dance, second chance
Even when there's blood on my hands
Last chance left to dance
Even when there's blood on my hands
Even when there's blood on my hands
Or so you seem to be tonight...
Last dance, second chance
Last chance left to dance
Last dance, second chance
Last chance left to dance
Even when there's blood on my hands
Even when there's blood on my hands
Even when there's blood on my hands
Last dance, second chance
Last chance left to dance
Last dance, second chance
Last chance left to dance
The lyrics to theSTART's song Blood On My Hands speak to a deep sense of self-awareness and understanding of one's own faults and mistakes. The singer is admitting to being flawed and imperfect, with a lack of innocence and a willingness to put on a façade to impress others. They recognize that their actions may hurt those they care about, but they are still willing to take risks and put themselves on the line, even if it means that they will end up with "blood on [their] hands."
The chorus of the song, with its repetition of the phrases "last dance, second chance" and "even when there's blood on my hands," convey a sense of urgency and desperation. The singer seems to be saying that they don't have much time left to make things right or to find happiness, and that they are willing to take risks and make mistakes in order to achieve their goals. At the same time, they are aware that their actions may have consequences and that they may end up hurting themselves or others in the process.
Overall, Blood On My Hands is a powerful and emotionally charged song that speaks to the dualities of human nature and the struggles we all face in trying to find our way in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I am cocked and loaded
I am prepared and ready to act
Only shooting blanks
I am pretending to be dangerous, but I am not really a threat
Nothing that would put a hole in
I am not going to cause any actual harm
You or your precious heart
I do not want to hurt you or damage what is important to you
That's right, I'm yours for the taking
I am willing to be vulnerable and let you have control
I'll put up a front
I will pretend to be something that I am not
They won't even know I'm faking
I am convincing in my act
It's not just my bones
I am not just physically affected by this situation
It's my heart that you're breaking
My emotions are being hurt
Or so you seem to be tonight...
I am not sure if what I am feeling is real or if it is just in my head
Last dance, second chance
This is our last opportunity to make things right
Even when there's blood on my hands
Even if I am to blame for what has happened
My idea of romance
My concept of love and relationships
My lack of innocence
The fact that I am not naive in matters of the heart
Really makes no difference
It does not matter that I am not pure or overly romantic
Here and now
In this moment, at this time
I am ripe for the plucking
I am vulnerable and easy to take advantage of
Ready to take a dive
I am willing to risk everything for this chance
Throw the fight, you'll be so lucky
If you win, it will be because I let you
It's not just my heart
My soul and entire being is invested in this
It's my soul that you're sucking
You are taking everything from me
Last chance left to dance
This is our final moment to try and make things right
Even when there's blood on my hands
Even if I am responsible for the situation we are in
Last dance, second chance
This is our final opportunity to fix things
Even when there's blood on my hands
Even if I am at fault
Last chance left to dance
This is our last chance to try and make things work
Last dance, second chance
This is our final opportunity to make things right
Even when there's blood on my hands
Even if I am the one who caused the problem
Contributed by Ella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Adam
Saw this band opening for The Birthday Massacre in 2008. Pure music gold!
Toxic Romzi
I am cocked and loaded
Only shooting blanks
Nothing that would put a hole in
You or your precious heart
That's right, I'm yours for the taking
I'll put up a front
They won't even know I'm faking
It's not just my bones
It's my heart that you're breaking
Or so you seem to be tonight
Last dance, second chance
Even when there's blood on my hands (Whoa)
Last chance left to dance
Even when there's blood on my hands
My idea of romance
My lack of innocence
Really makes no difference
Here and now
I am ripe for the plucking
Ready to take a dive
Throw the fight, you'll be so lucky
It's not just my heart
It's my soul that you're sucking
Or so you seem to be tonight
Last dance, second chance
Even when there's blood on my hands (Whoa)
Last chance left to dance
Even when there's blood on my hands
Even when there's blood on my hands
Or so you seem to be tonight
Last dance, second chance
Last chance left to dance
Last dance, second chance
Last chance left to dance
Even when there's blood on my hands
Even when there's blood on my hands
Even when there's blood on my hands
Even when there's blood on my hands (Whoa)
Last dance, second chance (Whoa)
Last chance left to dance (Whoa)
Last dance, second chance (Whoa)
Last chance left to dance (Whoa)
Kevin Kolata
This is one of the few songs that makes me feel ok. I'm in the army so... i always feel like i have blood on myself. Song doesn't mean it but i like it. Also she's HOT and great voice. Since 2002
Dr. Mike Wood
This song is fucking awesome
PinkStrawberryy
Good song
Janos Zsóka
good