Hands Like Houses - Better Before (ft Aaron Gillespie) Official Music Video

On Tour around Aus in March ’24. Tickets at Better before is a song about the negative impact that comes with welcoming someone or a substance into your life, even if it has a toxic impact. For myself it plays into the concept of substances/addiction and how that can change how you perceive yourself, your relationships and your own way of living. I see it as a reflection of toxic relationships, manipulative behaviors and unhealthy dependences on short term highs with long term lows. When I sing the chorus even though it is directed at a “person” in the lyric, for me I think about a past self and the inherent guilt that comes with losing control, making mistakes and the realization that those toxic behaviours stemmed from not just a relationship, but the myriad of toxic things that fed my life for a long period of time and created the destructive situation. For me it’s a deeper look into how I view my past mistakes, toxic dependencies and the discovering/acceptance of growth. ~ Josh Written and performed by Hands Like Houses & Aaron Gillespie Additional music and production by Callan Orr Produced by Callan Orr Engineered, Mixed and Mastered by Callan Orr at Avalanche Studios Vocals by Aaron Gillespie Director / Editor - Sam Koster Additional Shooting by Neal Walters Dancer - Polina Ludina LYRICS: I was better before I met you I’m always coming down, living at the bottom. This pain don’t feel the same, drowning in the sorrow. The magic you erased, left me so hollow. The smile upon your faces haunt me -Playing the game, running away Finding a way to Barely escape Look at your smile, circle the drain A beautiful cycle On and off again, bathing in the sin I never seem to win, but you love to watch me try It felt good to know, I let you in my soul I gave you all control, But I was better before I met you. It felt so good to hate And see just what you did Would you chase me down the drain Or live in your madness There’s no chance that I’ll get worse There’s no chance that I won’t hurt -Playing the game, running away Finding a way to Barely escape Look at your smile, circle the drain A beautiful cycle It felt good to know, I let you in my soul I gave you all control, But I was better before I met you. Is it better now Do you think you got enough? Ever wonder why? I never gave it up It’s so funny how You ruined me with love Ain’t it funny that You’ll never get enough You’ll never get enough You’ll never take enough It felt good to know, I let you in my soul I gave you all control, But I was better before Better before I met you (It felt good to know) Before I met you (I let you in my soul) But I was better before I met you