Hailey

when this first CD came out leighton did this track by track thing about what each song was about. apparently he almost died? found this from alternative press article ""This song was inspired by a true story that I had while I was touring a few years back. I was in Ohio and fainted on stage during the first song of the set. I ended up puking blood backstage and all night, but tried to make it to Chicago for the show the next day. As I was walking to the van from the hotel, I blacked out onto the concrete. Long story short, they had to cut me open and stop internal bleeding. They were pretty sure they were not going to be able to keep me alive through it. (That was heavier than I thought it would sound.) ""

Thanks @carefuldaze I thought so too just wasn't sure.

I love everything about this song. As a long time Lydia fan I feel like I've watched Leighton's life go from very terrible to very hopeful to very exciting and happy. Now that his life is well off I'd like to believe he only wishes the same for the girl he once was in a dark place with.

Lydia fans will know straight up what this song is about without having to look too much into it.

Instead of "basement" the line is supposed to be "Baseline took it's toll..." which references an area of Phoenix, near where the band is from.

think it's:

"they cut me wide open till I grinned guess it's time"

When asked in an Interview... Who is Hailey? That name has appeared on both albums now.

Leighton - Hailey is a girl that has plagued and supported me through some very hard times in my life.

Hailey seems to be a girl that Leighton is unable to move on from/let go. This song makes me think that perhaps Leighton betrayed by following something or someone else and leaving Hailey in the "midwest". It's like he had the opportunity at a better life than living in a basement apartment, but had to pick between it and the girl, leaving her in December. I get the feeling that now looking back Leighton feels bad for (Maybe even regrets) getting out of there. It's an apology.

The song December is said to be about a drug addiction. & in the interview he said hailey “is a girl that has plagued and supported him through some very hard times. Those “hard times” might be a drug addiction. So, in the first verse, he is basically stating he could of died from the drug addiction. And in the second verse, he is talking about how they always did the “same shit” which is doing drugs in the apartment. & He might of gotten her into drugs, since he says “It’s my fault”. & when he says “Yeah come on tell me how, tell me how I'm not underground” he’s saying it’s crazy how he ISN’T dead because he heavily abused drugs and almost died. Then, finally, the chorus. “Hailey if you’re out there” — if she is alive still because of her addiction “Yeah got me away from there” — might of helped him get off the addiction. “I hope you made it through December” — He hopes she made it through and out of her OWN drug addiction. “Yeah that seems like such a blur” — He can barely remember those days because he was always under the influence.

Hope this makes sense to everyone? haha.

"doctors came right in and said he most likely won't win. But who the hell am I, they spared my life in the midwest"

straight from the booklet

Why the spelling change?

There's two different explanations about Hailey from Leighton. In the interview with Jamie Pham the question "Who is Hailey? That name has appeared on both albums now." was replied with "Hailey is a girl that has plagued and supported me through some very hard times in my life."

In a separate interview with AP (Alternative Press) Leighton explains the song Hailey saying "This song was probably half way done when I brought it into the studio. For some reason, with most every song I do, I like to finish it "in the studio." I very rarely "finish" a song before actually tracking it. This song was inspired by a true story that I had while I was touring a few years back. I was in Ohio and fainted on stage during the first song of the set. I ended up puking blood backstage and all night, but tried to make it to Chicago for the show the next day. As I was walking to the van from the hotel, I blacked out onto the concrete. Long story short, they had to cut me open and stop internal bleeding. They were pretty sure they were not going to be able to keep me alive through it. (That was heavier than I thought it would sound.) Me and Matt [Malpass, producer] spent a little while making the beat for the chorus before I went in and put vocals on it. This first track was actually one of the last things I tracked for the entire record."

You hear the name Hailey in other songs like, "This is Twice Now" with the lyrics: "Baby just ask once more 'Cause I saw your door wide open, but the floor is still freezing. Hailey, I was sick and I'm still quite unwell. Tell me it's you or nothing at all."

Also in the song "Her & Haley" with the lyrics: "They will not be afraid, only two know how sad this gets the stage is set for them both, and on the bathroom floor, glass ready, there's no turning back now."

I understand that's not the same spelling [Haley, Hailey] but I do believe it's the same girl.
Leighton also writes a lot about December, and I believe it's a significant time for him. Their first album was named "This December, It's One More and I'm Free". Also in Hailey he writes "I hope you make it through December" which was directed towards Hailey.

When Leighton sings "And no one knows it, but she, she saved me" in Hospital, I also believe he's talking about Hailey. He may be talking about that time he went to the hospital to stop internal bleeding, described in the song Hailey.

He says Hailey has plagued and supported him. Obviously, plague is a negative term, meaning continually trouble/distress. And somehow supported him too, possibly a reason he wrote the lyrics "And no one knows it, but she, she saved

PLEASE feel free to share your thoughts on this :)

I like to pretend this song is about me. LOL I know it's not, clam down. But I have always loved Lydia and I have definitely lived on Baseline Rd. in Phoenix (also I'm sure there are many other towns with a Baseline Rd) But it just made me think of the nights I would stay up all night sitting, and drinking, and laughing, and smoking on the patio of my Baseline apartment with a certain someone