SIGNALS

Lyrics

Getting darker earlier now Colder and wondering how Much longer this winter will be Between you and me Now go away Without words all that you say Through this puzzle we love to play Sinking feeling it’s another day Ashamed Can’t get out the words to turn this around Needing you Dressed in layers of defense Getting harder to pretend Looking beyond what we call friends Feeding the depths till this winter ends Letting more and more begin Keeping it hid like a precious gem Pushing pushing pushing pushing pushing Against the wind Can’t get out the words to turn this around Lost my sight blinded by this deafening sound Silence petrify Simple words turn to lies Waiting wishing walking by Winter takes away the light Silence petrify Simple words turn to lies Waiting wishing walking by Winter takes away the light Needing you to be Needing you to breathe Needing you needing you needing you needing you Getting darker earlier now Colder still wondering how Much longer this winter will be Between you and me Can’t get out the words to turn this around Lost my sight blinded by this deafening sound

Written by Michael T Letsinger

THE STORY

This is about the lack of intimacy inside a long term relationship, and the things that stay unsaid when both people know something is wrong. There is no clean resolution. It lives in that uncomfortable space where both people know something has to change, but the conversation never quite happens. Sometimes we build a version of the problem in our heads that becomes bigger than the shared reality.

Lyrics

What does honesty look like to you Another bleeding heart another fucking excuse Against a backdrop of it all means nothing A little funny how we all just keep running So concerned of how you might look at me (scoff) So focused on just how ugly A turn my actions take when stressed stressed stressed Forget Cannot stop giving all these reasons Falling from my mouth The kingdom of my couch Cannot stop living in rewind Best way to keep you away Its okay lets fade What does friendship look like to you Another one to abuse another fucking bruise Against a backdrop of we all die alone Screaming love while I bury the bone Cannot stop giving all these reasons Falling from my mouth The kingdom of my couch Cannot stop living in rewind Best way to keep you away Its okay lets fade Fading away Cannot stop giving all these reasons Falling from my mouth The kingdom of my couch Cannot stop living in rewind Best way to keep you away Its okay lets fade Reasons after reasons

Written by Michael T Letsinger

THE STORY

This is my relationship with drugs, escape, shame and the cockiness that can come with being dissociated from reality. The frustrating part is that I can see the cycle clearly and still keep choosing it. Depression sends me toward getting high, getting high creates more shame, and the circle starts again. A snake eating its tail. The repeated “reasons” at the end are all the excuses pulling me back toward the fade. That cycle is no longer part of my life. I don’t use drugs now, and hearing the song from this side of it gives those old excuses a different weight.

Lyrics

How do I look what do you think Is there a way that I can see Do you believe in my beauty Even if you think Im ugly Another shot another cut Another nip another tuck Another I dont give a fuck Even if you think Im ugly Hey there’s a beauty you cannot see A vibe alive inside of me Asking you to believe In our humanity Such a human thing We all want love Need to be seen You are the one How do I look what do I care What do you think I wouldn’t dare Give some love gimmie a hug Even if you think Im ugly Another day try to stay young Another year cannot outrun Thinking of death not very fun Even if I think Im ugly Hey there’s a beauty you cannot see A vibe alive inside of me Asking you to believe In our humanity Such a human thing We all want love Need to be seen You are the one Such a human thing We all want love Need to be seen You are the one Well we all want love Need to be seen Yeah I see you you human thing You are the You are the You are the You are the You are the one

Written by Michael T Letsinger

THE STORY

This is about the relationship between outer beauty and inner beauty, and how much power we hand over to appearance. The verses live in insecurity, aging and the fear of not being seen. The chorus reaches for something simpler: we all want love, we all need to be seen, and there is a beauty inside us that cannot be measured from the outside. No amount of filler or Botox changes the ending. Might as well love yourself while you’re here.

Lyrics

Used to pride yourself on being someone Who would always be there Together forever you’d say Everybody knows things change Choices must be made Only so many hours in the day Where you wanna throw your weight Love can be a tricky bitch Two sides to every coin Thinking about what your thinking Making me think I need to make a point Don’t fucking lie to me Don’t fucking lie to me Respect the history Why the fuck would you lie to me Don’t fucking lie to me Respect the history It’s okay if we are over You did what you did I said what I said And now its over There never has to be Anything left between you and me Cut it clean were both so mean And now we're finally free Im fine See you in the street dancing to the beat Sitting across from someone new as you get a bite to eat I’m not following it’s just coincidence Honestly it’d be really great if you moved somewhere east Knowing now why you lied wondering why we ever tried Is it a waste when all the scars teach over time Feeling more alive breathing deep inside Animal trap in my mind never met my kind Strong and silent type knowing my wrong from right Never ever gonna let someone get that close again Don’t fucking lie to me Respect the history It’s okay if we are over You did what you did I said what I said And now its over There never has to be Anything left between you and me Cut it clean were both so mean And now we're finally free

Written by Michael T Letsinger

THE STORY

This is about the end of a relationship and everything that gets stirred up when trust is gone. There is resentment, betrayal and a lot of “I’m FINE!” energy in it. The defense is part confidence and part pain. Underneath all of that is the reality that relationships end, people hurt each other, and sometimes the cleanest thing left to do is let it be over.

Lyrics

There is a feeling screeching inside Like a timebomb almost alive The image never leaves as I close my eyes Everywhere I look it’s a pattern of knives How do you learn to leave a scar like me Been picking that scab since I was fifteen Some pain is positive and yearns to be free Some cuts to the bone and will never ever leave Nevermind nevermind Upside down under water Trying to breathe Rise above the pain break the link in the chain Freedom to live the truth regardless of you Rise above the pain it doesn’t have to be the same What’s freedom to you what you gonna do Without all these words can we identify With all of us clutching to life how could we ever die With every breath you take do you feel the moment slipping by Surrounded by death does it make you feel more alive Nevermind nevermind Upside down under water Trying to breathe Rise above the pain break the link in the chain Freedom to live the truth regardless of you Rise above the pain it doesn’t have to be the same What’s freedom to you what you gonna do The more the heart breaks the bigger the love we make When there's an absence of pain Sometimes the good good good just gets in the way It’s complicated Mirrors reflection see this battle scar Why all this self hate when it had gone so far Break these bones to get a moment alone When you’re in my head there’s no place you don’t exist Break these bones to get a moment alone Rise above the pain break the link in the chain Freedom to live the truth regardless of you Rise above the pain it doesn’t have to be the same What’s freedom to you what you gonna do The more the heart breaks the bigger the love we make When there's an absence of pain Sometimes the good good good just gets in the way It’s complicated Letting go definition will not let the victim win Letting go definition will not let the victim win Oh no here it comes again no here it comes again So this moment is when I force this fucking end Is there any way to heal a scar like me Been picking that scab since I was twenty three Some pain is positive I seen it with my eyes Everywhere I look it’s a pattern of knives It's a pattern of knives It's a pattern of knives It's a pattern of knives Its a

Written by Michael T Letsinger

THE STORY

This is about the patterns we inherit, repeat and sometimes do not even notice until they are everywhere. Fear can keep us circling the same choices long after we know they are hurting us. The song is about recognizing those cycles, trying to break them, and realizing that once you finally see a pattern clearly, you cannot unsee it. Everywhere I look, it’s a pattern of knives.

Lyrics

Agenda obvious it’s only what you want So blessed to be in the presence of such a fucking cunt Make way Say whatever needs to be said It’s all about the sale in the end Worth tied to the bumper of this rocket ship Deception is reality why you bleeding all over me Shit talking your kids is this serious under your spell they’re all delirious Standing alone seeing through holding ground so fuck you Oh we can take this as far as you want to go Say whatever needs to be said It’s all about the sale in the end Worth tied to the bumper of this rocket ship Play the part to the moment at hand Going against here comes the wrath Pushing swinging like that bully bitch Pity pity shame shame Expectation lays the way To all the disappointment They’re all so disappointed And I just cannot anymore

Written by Michael T Letsinger

THE STORY

This is about manipulation, fake people, toxic professional dynamics and the moment when you finally see through all of it. There are moments of confrontation, anger and strength, but I am aware that being consumed by the drama keeps me tied to it too. The resolution is not winning the fight. It is becoming too exhausted to keep participating. “I just cannot anymore.”

Lyrics

If only there was a way to dismantle All the walls and obstacles I create That’s constantly keeping all the love I have for you away Always trying to crawl out of the holes I dig At the top you’re standing there wanting us both to win Preprogrammed to self destruct Forgotten how to love So fearful of what is done So fed up with what's to come All the answers live inside Can get so wrapped up lost in time Got the power cannot deny That all the answers live inside How did I become this shell Of a man burning in hell Actions to keep away this pain Do nothing but delay delay delay (hell yeah) All the answers live inside Can get so wrapped up lost in time Got the power cannot deny That all the answers live inside Sometimes I lose it can feel so lost Sometimes illusions can keep us locked Sometimes what's right turns out so wrong I wish we could just get along All the answers live inside Can get so wrapped up lost in time Got the power cannot deny That all the answers live inside The only way is through Going alone on the other side I’m with you Sovereign as this man and the choices made Looking for the light to lead the way

Written by Michael T Letsinger

THE STORY

At this point in the record I have spent a lot of time calling other people out. This song turns all of that back toward me. It is about introspection, self-love and taking responsibility for the walls I build myself. Meditation, yoga, self-care, sobriety, actually sitting with what is happening instead of trying to medicate or ignore it. The realization is simple and difficult: the only way out is through. All the answers live inside.

Lyrics

Pushing forward that’s the action Keeping brave turning back from Past lives that lie and wait Close the coffin door on yesterday Silence seems to shine a light Love is keeping it bright Demon’s still screaming my name Playing like it’s a game a game a game Taught so young just fit into Nevermind what I want to do Wanted to be happy But not if it might embarrass the family Silence seems to shine a light Love is keeping it bright Demon’s still screaming my name Playing like it’s a game a game a game yeah It’s okay dont have to overthink It's okay not living on the brink Okay to throw this love around And okay easier than it sounds In the moment where we all live We get to choose Silence seems to shine a light Love is keeping it bright Demon’s still screaming my name Freedom living no shame Silence seems to shine a light Love is keeping it bright Demon’s still screaming my name Freedom living no shame no shame no shame no no Alive for the first time

Written by Michael T Letsinger

THE STORY

The previous song ends with “looking for the light to lead the way.” This song asks what that light actually is. For me it became peace, authenticity, and the choice to stop living entirely from old fear. The verses look at the pressure to fit into a mold and not embarrass the family. The bridge opens into “it’s okay.” The ending, “Alive for the first time,” is the resolution of the album: not that every problem disappeared, but that there might actually be something on the other side of all of it.