It's not so much the pain
It's more the actual knife
Pretending the picture is perfect
I cut myself to sleep
I close my eyes for a second
And curse my fragile soul
I scream to hide that I'm lonely
The echo calls my name
If I ever, if I never
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see, make me be
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life, I'm right here
Stay awhile and breathe me in
Take this life, I'm right here
Stay awhile and breathe me in
The rain drops just beg to hit me
What now? Hasn't rained for days
No time to play hide-and-seek
I call on you to take me on
Break me down to pieces
Put me back, do it right this time
Struggling to fill this empty shell
Burn all my efforts
In the end it means nothing
If I ever, if I never
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make see, make me be
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life, I'm right here
Stay awhile and breathe me in
Take this life, I'm right here
Stay awhile and breathe me in
These thoughts burn a hole in my heart
These thoughts will keep me free and
These thoughts burn a hole in my heart
These thoughts will keep me free and
If I ever, if I never
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see, make me be
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life, I'm right here
Stay awhile and breathe me in
Take this life, I'm right here
Stay awhile and breathe me in
- In Flames (2006)
Sweden's In Flames has been around for a few years and have never really gotten the respect they deserve. I guess it could be because they took the Swedish death metal formula and made it more accessible to a broader metal audience. This particular song is no exception. In 2006 metalcore (a hybrid of heavy metal and hardcore) was the dominant style. "Take this Life" is Swedish Death Metal center with a metalcore wrapper.
This song is sung from the point of view of someone on the edge. Whatever has hurt this person has pushed them into something that will most likely result in self-destruction. This kind of subject matter has been covered before in song, but what sets this apart from the whiny type of songs is the raw fury of emotions that are felt at the do-or-die moment. I had the (mis)fortune of watching a video-taped suicide that a crazed fan sent to Bjork. There was a fire building in this young man's eyes has he read his final statement to Bjork that reached a crescendo right before he pulled the trigger of the gun in his mouth.
While the singer may not yet have his finger on the trigger, he is close to the breaking point. I remember reaching the breaking point of all the crap from "Recognize." I tried to take desperate measures on a couple of occasions to free myself from the overall situation. In both instances my plans were thwarted and I had to find the release another way, but the intensity of this song matches the intensity of hatred, loneliness, and contempt I felt toward one of my problem sources.
There was one person who tried to make me see, to make me believe, but sadly I did not realize it at the time. To be honest, I wasn't quite sure if I could trust this person at that point... that's how alone I felt. This person even offered me an escape from the situation, but since it wasn't on my terms, I turned it down. I was calling for help, but then turning it down when it was offered.
Well, Mardi, here is your second trip into death metal. You may or may not like it, but I still value your opinion. Time to plug my iPod into the line-in port of my car stereo.
Sweden's In Flames has been around for a few years and have never really gotten the respect they deserve. I guess it could be because they took the Swedish death metal formula and made it more accessible to a broader metal audience. This particular song is no exception. In 2006 metalcore (a hybrid of heavy metal and hardcore) was the dominant style. "Take this Life" is Swedish Death Metal center with a metalcore wrapper.
This song is sung from the point of view of someone on the edge. Whatever has hurt this person has pushed them into something that will most likely result in self-destruction. This kind of subject matter has been covered before in song, but what sets this apart from the whiny type of songs is the raw fury of emotions that are felt at the do-or-die moment. I had the (mis)fortune of watching a video-taped suicide that a crazed fan sent to Bjork. There was a fire building in this young man's eyes has he read his final statement to Bjork that reached a crescendo right before he pulled the trigger of the gun in his mouth.
While the singer may not yet have his finger on the trigger, he is close to the breaking point. I remember reaching the breaking point of all the crap from "Recognize." I tried to take desperate measures on a couple of occasions to free myself from the overall situation. In both instances my plans were thwarted and I had to find the release another way, but the intensity of this song matches the intensity of hatred, loneliness, and contempt I felt toward one of my problem sources.
There was one person who tried to make me see, to make me believe, but sadly I did not realize it at the time. To be honest, I wasn't quite sure if I could trust this person at that point... that's how alone I felt. This person even offered me an escape from the situation, but since it wasn't on my terms, I turned it down. I was calling for help, but then turning it down when it was offered.
Well, Mardi, here is your second trip into death metal. You may or may not like it, but I still value your opinion. Time to plug my iPod into the line-in port of my car stereo.
An interesting choice. I would have thought you would have chose something a bit more.... grim let's say. But I digress.
ReplyDeleteThe emotion heard in this song is pure and raw. I think it's a person at the brink that has all but pulled the trigger. Hopelessness comes to mind yet when you listen to edge in his voice its as though he welcomes the end.
Being pushed to that point I can relate. I have stood on the edge and been pulled back by the very last string. When you get to that point there really is no rationalization. There is no "thinking about it". The only feeling I had was purely being alone and screaming but no one could hear it.
So I listened to the song 3 times, I liked it but don't tell my better half, he will think he is winning me over.
Give in to the dark side.
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