Life After Death and Taxes (Failure II)

"Life After Death and Taxes (Failure II)" is a song by Relient K, from their fourth album Mmhmm. It was released as a Christian radio single in late 2006.

It is a sequel to the song "Failure to Excommunicate" from the band's second album The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek, and includes, at the end, a string quartet excerpt from that song. Both songs include solos by drummer Dave Douglas.

The end of "Failure to Excommunicate" has the same string quartet music, but with more quirky noises in the background. "Life After Death and Taxes" has the static and hold-out from the last guitar chord, underlying the fact that the latter is a darker, more serious song.

Like "Failure to Excommunicate" this song is about and contains Christian themes, like heaven, death, and Jesus Christ's help and comfort in times of pain. "Life After Death and Taxes" is more of a closer to "Failure to Excommunicate." Where "Failure to Excommunicate" says, "Know it's the world versus Jesus and you," this song says, "Never forget...death and decay can't touch us now," instilling a more sure feel to the somewhat open-ended song "Failure to Excommunicate."

The screamed vocals are performed by David Bunton of the Christian Death Metal band The Showdown

Relient K
  • Matt Thiessen
  • Matt Hoopes
  • John Warne
  • Jon Schneck
  • Ethan Luck
  • Todd Frescone
  • Stephen Cushman
  • Brett Schoneman
  • Jared Byers
  • Brian Pittman
  • Dave Douglas
Studio albums
  • Relient K
  • The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek
  • Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do
  • Mmhmm
  • Five Score and Seven Years Ago
  • Forget and Not Slow Down
EPs
  • 2000 A.D.D.
  • The Creepy EP
  • Employee of the Month EP
  • The Vinyl Countdown
  • Apathetic EP
  • Must Have Done Something Right EP
  • The Nashville Tennis EP
  • Is for Karaoke EP
Other
  • All Work & No Play (demo)
  • Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand (Christmas album)
  • Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer (Christmas album)
  • The Bird and the Bee Sides (rarities album)
  • Is for Karaoke (cover album)
Selected singles
  • "My Girlfriend"
  • "Pressing On"
  • "Sadie Hawkins Dance"
  • "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything"
  • "Chap Stick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry"
  • "Be My Escape"
  • "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been"
  • "The Truth"
  • "High of 75"
  • "I So Hate Consequences"
  • "Life After Death and Taxes (Failure II)"
  • "Must Have Done Something Right"
  • "Forgiven"
  • "The Best Thing"
  • "I Need You"
  • "Give Until There's Nothing Left"
  • "Devastation and Reform"
  • "Forget and Not Slow Down"
Related articles
  • Discography
  • "Rebuild"
  • Book
  • Category

Famous quotes containing the words life, death and/or taxes:

    “One cannot be a good historian of the outward, visible world without giving some thought to the hidden, private life of ordinary people; and on the other hand one cannot be a good historian of this inner life without taking into account outward events where these are relevant. They are two orders of fact which reflect each other, which are always linked and which sometimes provoke each other.”
    —Victor Hugo (1802–1885)

    “As for death one gets used to it, even if it’s only other people’s death you get used to.”
    —Enid Bagnold (1889–1981)

    “The law before us, my lords, seems to be the effect of that practice of which it is intended likewise to be the cause, and to be dictated by the liquor of which it so effectually promotes the use; for surely it never before was conceived by any man entrusted with the administration of public affairs, to raise taxes by the destruction of the people.”
    —Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)