Lyrics

"For everyone who knew, yeah, I apologize
I'm sorry mom and dad, no I never meant to make you cry
Thanks to all my friends you're the reason I'm alive
You make everyday worth living in this ribbon called time
Well, it'll take more than bad luck just to kill me!"
-- Trophy Scars

"Oh oh, things are gonna change now for the better
Oh oh, things are gonna change
Hands, like secrets, are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives, your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down (repair)
You dismantle me"
-- Anberlin

"And you will live on
Our hearts will beat stronger
As we remain as one
We will last just a little while longer

And as we pull ourselves together
We can't help, but be torn apart
And we will always have each other
Just like it was from the start

When five becomes four
And four becomes one
You're not just passing on
You're passing on all the fun we had
You made us laugh
We only cried, but once
You made us laugh
In photographs, on display for everyone"
-- Hawthorne Heights

"Maybe I know somewhere
deep in my soul
that love never lasts.
And we've got to find other ways
to make it alone.
Keep a straight face.
And I've always lived like this
keeping a comfortable distance.
And up until now I had sworn to myself
that I'm content with loneliness.

Because none of it was ever worth the risk.

Well you are the only exception.
You are the only exception."
-- Paramore

"Now do you see what i see?
Your calm is breaking the sound
Do not fear what i fear to pretend
All this will start where it ends

Wake up, you're alive
We're on your side"
-- Lovedrug

"I'm the type of person who lets fear drive
I'm the type of guy who lets it drive
Cause I'm addicted, I'm needy,
I'm lost without you
I need you
I need you

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saves a wretch like me
I once was lost
But now I'm found
Was blind but now I see"
-- The Almost

"I'll help you break the walls down.
I'll help you break the walls down...
Bust you out, and take you home,
Believe you me you are not alone,
I'll help you break the walls down."
-- The Rocket Summer

"I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home"
-- My Chemical Romance

Bibliography

Glock, Allison. "Surfer to Savior." Rolling Stone. 10 Dec. 2009: 64-69.

Smith, S. E. "What Is To Write Love on Her Arms?" WiseGEEK: Clear Answers for Common Questions. Conjecture Corporation, 12 Dec. 2009. 17 Mar. 2010.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-to-write-love-on-her-arms.htm.

"To Write Love on Her Arms: An Interview with the Founder." Interview by Jeff Goins. Wrecked for the Ordinary. Wrecked.org, 15 June 2007. 16 Mar. 2010.
http://culture.wrecked.org/?filename=to-write-love-on-her-arms-an-interview-with-the-founder&redirected=wreckedfortheordinary.com.

"To Write Love on Her Arms (Jamie Tworkowski)." Interview by Julia Conny. Absolutepunk.net. 16 Oct. 2007. 16 Mar. 2010.
http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=272484.

To Write Love on Her Arms. To Write Love on Her Arms, 2010. 17 Mar. 2010. http://www.twloha.com/.

Yohe, Renee. Purpose for the Pain: a Collection of Journals. Orlando, FL: Bonded, 2008.

What musicians support TWLOHA?

TWLOHA receives support from numerous bands, especially in the indie/alternative rock genres. Leading musicians in this genre such as Aaron Gillespie of The Almost and Underoath, Stephen Christian of Anberlin, Bryce Avery of the Rocket Summer, Mat Kearney, and many more contribute through benefit concerts. These artists, on January 9, 2010, played a concert sponsored by TWLOHA in Orlando (twloha.com). The popularity of these musicians alone attract people who are either struggling with depression or looking to help people that are struggling. The concert, Heavy and Light, is dedicated in memory of Casey Calvert, a guitarist and singer for Hawthorne Heights who died a few years ago of unknown causes. His band had already been in support of the organization, and, after Casey’s death, they made shirts to honor him, which read: “Our hearts are heavy and light. We laugh and scream and sing. Our hearts are heavy and light” (twloha.com). Other bands, such as Paramore and Forever the Sickest Kids had t-shirt designs that benefited TWLOHA extremely positively. Lovedrug, an indie band, also created a slogan t-shirt which has become a motto for the organization. It reads: “Wake up. You’re alive, we’re on your side” (twloha.com). From the song, “Everything Starts Where it Ends,” Lovedrug have supported and appreciated everything Tworkowski and TWLOHA has done for the community. While the organization continues with their connections of the popular bands of the genre, Tworkowski has set his sights higher in the music industry, however. One of his idols, Bono of U2, does similar, humanistic promotions, and Tworkowski would love to “be on his radar” (Conny). Another band that correlates with the style and genres of TWLOHA’s followers but also is popular internationally is My Chemical Romance. Tworkowski looks forward to hopefully meeting Gerard Way and his band, as he feels there is common ground between them (Conny). The founder of TWLOHA comments on MCR’s song, “Famous Last Words,” and says that was a song the organization supported and promoted to followers. The theme of pushing through the pain of lost love rings throughout the song and especially in the chorus, “I am not afraid to keep on living/I am not afraid to walk this world alone.” An optimistic view after the realization that one is in pain is something that music can provide an injured soul, and Tworkowski stresses this importance in many of his interviews (Glock).

What is his and the organization's goal and how do they plan to reach it?

In 2007, Tworkowski’s goal for TWLOHA was to raise $100,000 (Conny). However, in 2008, the organization raised $2.9 million in merchandise alone (Glock). He explained that 25% of the income goes directly to treatment and recovery organizations. As one can see, the organization is far-exceeding the expectations of its founder. Tworkowski also has non-financial goals, as well. He aims to tour with bands and speak internationally. He has already been to Australia, but plans to spread his influence to Europe and several other continents (twloha.com). In Spring of 2007, Tworkowski and some of his interns toured with Bayside and Anberlin during Warped Tour, speaking in front of crowds as big as 20,000 people (Conny). He is incredibly gracious to these bands, who have not only been accepting to his organization, but the music they produce inspires those who TWLOHA are trying to help. The TWLOHA founder explains, “I believe in their story, as it is one of pain and loss, of overcoming and letting go. They make music that is raw and honest and intense” (Conny). Having music and words to relate to, Tworkowski believes, is that much more helpful in the recovery process. Convincing people that they are not alone, that pain is a part of life and others feel it, too, is a realization that, through music, can act as a catalyst on the road to redemption. Overall, Tworkowski aims to spread the word of TWLOHA and help as many as he can. Slogans like “Love is the Movement,” “Hope is Not a Myth,” “Stop the Bleeding,” and “Rescue is Possible” have become everyday vernacular on twloha.com, t-shirts, posters, and in minds everywhere because of the organization’s reach (Goins).

How did TWLOHA start?

The beginnings of TWLOHA can be traced back to the story of redemption of one girl, and the assistant that helped her pull through: Renee Yohe and Jamie Tworkowski (Yohe iii). Yohe had struggled with addiction and depression and was in a rut in her life. Tworkowski recognized his calling and acted boldly. On top of talking to her when she was struggling and telling her to keep pushing through in times of darkness, he blogged about Yohe’s struggles to bring attention to the issue, along with raising money to pay for her rehabilitation (Glock). Through his valiant efforts, she found redemption and supporters across the nation urged him to keep doing what he was doing. Next thing he knew, To Write Love on Her Arms was making $2.9 million in merchandise alone in one year (Glock). Tworkowski remains humble about the organization, claiming it is simply “an organization for broken people, led by broken people” (Yohe 397). While Tworkowski answers questions from hundreds of thousands worldwide, he never forgets the influence of music on his foundations for TWLOHA. He recalls being at a Coldplay concert, “There is something about singing ‘Yellow’ with 15,000 people…you just start to believe the world can be a better place” (Glock). These thoughts are the ideals he bases his organization on; the belief that hope and inspiration can push one to recovery and redemption. Tworkowski also explains that, “Music is powerful in its ability to capture, inspire, and communicate things in a way that is real and honest...a song can go places a conversation often can’t” (Goins).

What is To Write Love on Her Arms?

To Write Love on Her Arms, or TWLOHA, is a non-profit organization that aims to help people that struggle with suicidal thoughts, depression, self-injury, and addiction (Smith). According to twloha.com, about 121 million suffer from depression around the world. Of these 121 million, about 2/3 are never treated for their depression. Furthermore, 18 million of these cases occur in the United States. What started as blogging about helping someone struggling with addiction, self-injury and depression, TWLOHA has launched itself to the international spectrum that now boasts merchandise, blogs, tours, and sponsorships (Glock). TWLOHA propelled itself to this level by integrating itself into the music world. Bands have benefit and awareness concerts, branding the TWLOHA name; the organization tours with bands and speaks at concerts and schools in the area; bands have specialized TWLOHA merchandise that fans can purchase to donate to the cause; and, songs and lyrics are used by the organization to get messages across to followers and those in need (Glock).