Leveler

I made an account solely for the purpose of ranting on just how awesome this song is... I think it's about a girl who's recently betrayed him in a relationship. The whole first verse is basically him exposing the girl to what she really is. Often times insecure girls with problems will try to act as victims and play off as if they need help but really they are just desperate for attention. Basically he's saying you always cry about getting betrayed but won't think twice about screwing people over. Then I think in the next verse he's really exaggerating time trying to show he spend all of his time with this person and was truly dedicated to them. The 8,064 hours of conspiracies would be him playing in his mind what she was doing when she wasn't with him. Whenever you have someone lie to you, even once, you'll often find yourself creating scenarios in your head of what's really happening. All he wanted was for the girl or person to be honest. The next verse is aweseomeeeee, he's basically saying if he wasn't a Christian he would have been the one destroying her instead her him and that even though she's done this to him he still forgives her. Then he goes on to say he's no longer accepting the fact he's been a victim, he's moving forward and he's going to become all he can be. The only thing I haven't quite figured out is the meaning of " Leveler, make level the road for the righteous". The last verse is self explanatory, he's basically saying he forgives her for everything she's done and he hopes one day God will show her true love. The reason I am so into this song is because basically the entire song just recently happened to me. I'm not sure if it's about a girl but the "queen of hearts" is a dead give away in my opinion. Basically, forgive those who wrong you and you can never go wrong. That doesn't mean take the person back, it just means forgive them and let the anger go. Vengeance is never truly satisfying... Don't ever let someone else break your character and who you are as a person and don't ever stoop to their level... August Burns Red have some of the most influential and meaningful lyrics in my opinion. This band is REAL, very down to earth, and they display what a Christ follower should think like. Thank you for making this song, you guys rock!!!!

I too created an account for this song alone. I think that there are many subtleties used in this song, and to me this is one of the most powerful songs ever. I may be mistaken, and someone can gladly prove my wrong, but didn't Jake's father leave him when he was 17? If you do the math, 8064 hours, and 200 months is equal to 17 years. His father betrayed him for 17 years til he finally left? You can apply the beginning lyrics to this as well.

You have become a malicious liar that breaths for attention, playing charades, wearing the head of a lamb. My days consumed by nights of you. Howling at the moon as if you were wounded, but no, you’re the one showing teeth, ready to feast on newborn beginnings as you cry wolf. Howling at the moon, but no, you’re showing teeth. We know. You’re ready to feast on newborn beginnings as you cry wolf.

Then he uses an interesting picture. Queen of heats refers to Alice in Wonderland. Quoting wikipedia:

She is a foul-tempered monarch, that Carroll himself pictured as "a blind fury", and who is quick to decree death sentences at the slightest offense. Her most famous line, one which she repeats often, is "Off with their heads!"

A very accusing person, always finding someone else to blame. Does this sound like a lying, cheating father? Any small offence, seems worthy of death, and the queen flips out. Look at the lyrics and see for yourself. It all fits.

Also, the "Leveler make level the road for the righteous is taken from Isaiah 26:

5 He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust. 6 Feet trample it down– the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor.

7 The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.

Comments?

From an interview with Jake...

"We have another song about someone putting someone through hell, lying to them, and betraying them. I know many people with this similar story. As people, it's really hard for us to forgive someone for all the horrible things they've done to us, especially when they're close to us, such as family or a friend. That song is lyrically pretty brutal, but at the end it just speaks about forgiveness. To truly love someone is to forgive that person."

I'll just leave that here. =)

Does he have a sister or a childhood "friend"? Maybe that's who he's talking about since I doubt he dated someone for 17 years

but my Father has taught me forgiveness == God. Doubt its about something as simple as a break up

This song is DEEP! Probably my favorite besides Poor Millionaire. This song shows how Jake practices his Christianity and is forgiving this 'Queen of Hearts'.

One thing that attracted me to this song is the line "My heart thirsts for vengeance, but my Father has taught me forgiveness. If I had not decided to follow Him, I’d devour you like a lion, leaving your bones out to dry." This line is what makes this song so deep, leaving your bones out to dry is showing how badly he hated this person, but his self control and trust in God. "You have become a malicious liar that breaths for attention, playing charades, wearing the head of a lamb. My days consumed by nights of you. Howling at the moon as if you were wounded, but no, you’re the one showing teeth, ready to feast on newborn beginnings as you cry wolf. Howling at the moon, but no, you’re showing teeth. We know. You’re ready to feast on newborn beginnings as you cry wolf." I believe this is talking about how the person acts innocent (head of a lamb), and that he stays up late at night unable to get the words she said about him or others (IDK what yet). 2nd part is talking about how she is really the attacker and not the innocent one

8,064 hours of conspiracies. 200 months which brings me 17 years of lies and betrayal. The truth. Never seen. Never told. Never known. You’ll never tell the truth. Never seen. Never heard. You’ll never tell the truth. All I want is the truth, the truth, the truth, the truth. (Oh...) I believe he is talking about a friend hes known for a long time (a girl), but I dont think that they were in a relationship.

Queen of hearts. Queen of hearts. But you are the deceiver with a lying tongue and matching lips. My heart thirsts for vengeance, but my Father has taught me forgiveness. If I had not decided to follow Him, I’d devour you like a lion, leaving your bones out to dry. I’d put you through the same hell you put me through, pouring out conspiracies and lies, (and lies) but this world will remember me for all that I’ve done and all that I’ll be. 'Queen of hearts' is the friend/person he is venting at, and in this he is sayin that he wants to take vengeance on everything she said (probably about him), but God 'Father' has taught him that he should be forgiving.

"The victim in me is dead. I am reborn." I think it means that he used to fall for the lies, but now he is a 'new person' and doesnt fall for it

So even though you call me self-righteous and call my beloved treacherous, there is one thing to take away:

"Leveler, make level the road for the righteous." Is talking about God making a way for his followers

"I forgive you, queen of hearts, for through me, He will show you true love. Love." This lyric is showing how he forgives her because it is what God would want him to do/what God WOULD do.

I initially thought this was referring to an institution like the government or church, but I asked Jake about it at Warped Tour. He said that the song is about a particular individual person, but he did not want to call them out. JB offered to tell me who it was for 25 bucks after the show, though :)

zzzzffff, I think you might be right. "Queen of Hearts" does not necessarily have to be a female.

Amen. This song is deep, but at the same time I really think it's just about being wronged and then forgiving that person. God shows forgiveness even when we cannot, and even though we would absolutely decimate that person that wronged us so drastically, we must learn to stick to the values we hold. This song is incredible, chills every time.

This song is power.

But this song is either about his mom or... A seriously pissed off guy just venting. I honestly don't know.