“Raise Your Horns” by Halestorm
The lyrics of “Raise Your Horns” are heavily imbued with symbolism – more so, it can be said, than any other track found on its album (“Back from the Dead”). But most generally speaking, what the vocalist is encouraging the audience to do is be fearless in living the life as they idealize. Or as Lzzy Hale, who coined the phrase “raise your horns”, has elucidated, what it actually means is “to exalt oneself”.
But of course, that is interesting terminology to point to such an idea. Maybe what Halestorm is doing, artistically, is comparing us human beings to animals like the proud bull. A bull would often raise its horns instead of backing down from confrontations.
But once again taking the other songs found on this same album into consideration, another reasonable postulation is that metaphor serving as a reference. A reference to what? A reference to, most honestly speaking, the devil.
More specifically, in 2018 Lzzy Hale started an initiative called #raiseyourhorns. This initiative was globally popular. The purpose of that campaign was, most easily explained, to encourage sufferers of mental illness to air out their personal experiences related to such. This was in the aftermath of another female musician, one Jill Janus, committing suicide.
And no, the above assertion is not to imply that there was anything evil behind said initiative. But the devil is the character who is commonly depicted as having “horns”. Also in some circles, which many a popular musician are believed to be part of, he is commonly understood as being a champion of free will and humanism or otherwise put, non-conformity and self-exaltation.
Takeaway
All things considered, it can be ascertained that Lzzy is someone who doesn’t particularly believe in mainstream moral and religious standards. So what she’s promoting here is that people accept their own countercultural leanings.
On top of that, pointing to the aforenoted concept of mental health, adherents should not be ashamed to show how they’ve been ‘scarred’ by “this world”.
When was “Raise Your Horns” released?
“Raise Your Horns” is the eleventh and final track on the “Back from the Dead” album by Halestorm. Halestorm released this song as part of the album in question on May 6 of 2022.
This album, which is the band’s 5th, produced the following singles:
Credits
Lzzy Hale co-wrote “Raise Your Horns”. She wrote it in conjunction with long-time collaborator, Scott Stevens.
On the song’s production side, co-writer, Scott, worked with one Nick Raskulinecz. The pair hold sole production credits.
What the actual fuck are you on about Amanda? An empowering song about showing who you are, not being ashamed, and loving yourself for who you are instead of who everyone around you wants you to be, is a devil promotion? Why is this drivel on here?
Here’s an explanation of the lyrics right from the writer’s (Lzzy) own mouth: https://youtu.be/_jgIdZ3B3fo
Stop imposing your religion where it’s not being needed.
I think the term ‘Raise your horns’ refers to how vikings celebrated a victory, a death of one of their fighters or life. Raising their horns which usually containing ale. So the song is about celebrating who you are, with all your mistakes and blemishes, not shying away from life or self doubt but going for it!
I think the term ‘Raise your horns’ refers to how vikings celebrated a victory, a death of one of their fighters or life. Raising their horns which usually containing ale. So the song is about celebrating who you are, with all your mistakes and blemishes, not shying away from life or self doubt but going for it!
Seems like a clear reference to satanism
You could postulate this, or listen to Lzzy explain why the song was written to deal with her own mental health issues and to tell the mainstream culture of American Machismo to go f* itself. Help each other, don’t hide the fact we’re human. But I expect nothing better from gun clutching bible thumping Evafundies.
The horns being referenced here is a raised fist with pointing and little fingers extended upwards. The thumb can be pressed against the curled index and ring fingers, or it can extended outwards. It is a salute to heavy metal songs, or a greeting between heavy metal fans. It was popularised by Ronnie James Dio in the early 1970’s and has been used ever since. Some people have attributed satanic attributes, either positively or negatively, to the salute. However it is first and foremost a celebration of heavy metal music, those who create it, and those who listen to it.