1. OPEN YOUR EYES
As I walk along these streets
I see a man that walks alone
Distant echo of people's feet
He has no place to call his own
A shot rings out from a roof overhead
A crackhead asks for change nearby
An old man lies in an alleyway dead
A little girl lost just stands there and cries
What would you do?
If it was you...
Would you take everything
For granted like you do?
A boy just 13 on the corner for sale
Swallows his pride for another hit
Overpopulation, there's no room in jail
And most of you don't give a shit
that your daughters are porno stars
and your sons sell death to kids.
So lost in your little worlds
Your little worlds you'll never fix--
What would you do?
If it was you...
Would you take everything
For granted like you do?
You'd turn away
You'd turn away
You'd turn away
You turn away
[Verse 3]
As I walk along the streets
soaking up the acid rain
underneath the taxicabs
I hear the streets cry out in vainWhat would you do? (what would you do)
If it was you... (if it was you)
Would you take everything
For granted like you do?What would you do? (what would you do)
If it was you... (if it was you)
Would you take everything
For granted like you do?2. PRESSURE
I just need this
to be alright-
I can't feel this
another night-
I can't take this,
I come unglued,
I might break down,
in front of you,
Necessary,
to medicate.
I'm not sleeping,
can't stay awake...
Can't see through this
Too much pressure
Drowning in this
Too much pressure
If you need me,
I'll be here
Half unconscious,
escape my fear
I can't take this,
I come unglued,
I might break down,
in front of you,
Necessary,
to medicate.
I'm not sleeping,
can't stay awake...
Can't see through this
Too much pressure
Drowning in this
Too much pressure
My head hurts, this shit isn't getting me high
My chest is so tight, am I going to die?
My stomach's in knots and the room starts to spin
As I wait for this Valium to slowly kick in...
Can't see through this
Too much pressure
Drowning in this
Too much pressureCan't see through this
Too much pressure
Drowning in this
Too much pressure3. FADE
I try to breathe
Memories overtaking me
I try to face them but
The thought
is too much to conceive
I only know that I can change
Everything else just stays the same
So now I step out of the darkness
That my life became 'cause
I just needed someone to talk to,
You were just too busy with yourself.
You were never there for me to
Express how I felt, I just stuffed it down.
Now I'm older and I feel like
I could let some of this anger fade
But it seems the surface I am scratching
Is the bed that I have made.So where were you?
When all this I was going through
You never took the time
To ask me just what you could do
I only know that I can change
Everything else just stays the same
So now I step out of the darkness
That my life became 'causeI just needed someone to talk to,
You were just too busy with yourself.
You were never there for me to
Express how I felt, I just stuffed it down.
Now I'm older and I feel like
I could let some of this anger fade
But it seems the surface I am scratching
Is the bed that I have made.
Oh, I never meant to fade...
Away.
I never meant to fade!
I just needed someone to talk to,
You were just too busy with yourself.
You were never there for me to
Express how I felt, I just stuffed it down.
Now I'm older and I feel like
I could let some of this anger fade
But it seems the surface I am scratching
Is the bed that I have made.
I try to breathe...
4. IT'S BEEN AWHILE
And it's been awhile
Since I could hold my head up high
And it's been awhile
Since I first saw you
And it's been awhile
Since I could stand on my own two feet again
And it's been awhile
Since I could call you
And everything I can't remember
As fucked up as it all may seem
The consequences that are rendered
I've stretched myself beyond my means
And it's been awhile
Since I could say that I wasn't addicted
And it's been awhile
Since I can say I love myself as well
And it's been awhile
Since I've gone and fucked things up, just like I always do
And it's been awhile
But all that shit seems to disappear when I'm with you
And everything I can't remember
As fucked up as it all may seem
The consequences that I've rendered
I've gone and fucked things up again, again
Why must I feel this way?
Just make this go away..
Just one more peaceful day...
And it's been awhile
Since I could look at myself straight
And it's been awhile since I said I'm sorry
And it's been awhile
Since I've seen the way the candles light your face
And it's been awhile
But I can still remember just the way you taste
And everything I can't remember
As fucked up as it all may seem to be, I know it's me
I cannot blame this on my father
He did the best he could for me
And it's been awhile
Since I could hold my head up high
And it's been awhile
Since I said I'm sorry
5. CHANGE
If ever you had said to me before that I would lead this life,
That I am living now, I guess it's all so strange. To feel the way I do inside,
And have so much that I could feel some pride for in my life,
So why is it that I feel like this?
How do I feel -- I've been here before, I've felt this-
Retreat to a place, a place within me, I need this-
Keep it all down, bottled inside, it breaks me-
To torment again and torture me like it used to.
I try and try to break away from all the hate I'm feeling
For every one of you that's ever done me wrong
I need to justify the reasons for the way I'm living
I guess I can't 'cause I don't feel like I deserve
How do I feel -- I've been here before, I've felt this-
Retreat to a place, a place within me, I need this-
Keep it all down, bottled inside, it breaks me-
To torment again and torture me like it used to.
My life is the 23rd hour of day
Once said that everything goes, by yesterday
So now the waves they have subsided and my soul is bleeding,
I can't take away all the shame I feel, forgive me.
How do I feel -- I've been here before, I've felt this-
Retreat to a place, a place within me, I need this-
Keep it all down, bottled inside, it breaks me-
To torment again and torture me like it used to.
Again
Again
Again
Again
6. CAN'T BELIEVE
Respect, respect what is found
Respect should abound
Respect everything that you leave
I can't believe
Can't believe
Can't believe
And I, I can't believe
I can't believe all the travesty surrounding me
I want to flee
Well, I want to flee from everything In front of me
I can't believe
Can't believe
Can't believe
Never again, trusted in you
Fuck everything that you think I should be
I stand
Never again, never again
I can't believe
Can't believe
Can't believe
Can't believe
Can't believe
STAIND - BREAK THE CYCLE
I have played this album nonstop back-to-back on repeat in my car for weeks. By playtime, it is my favorite album.
It's not technically the most impressive or aesthetic, but it is pure and raw. It's comfortable for me, like an older brother or uncle I didn't really have. To hear someone else, a man, who's gone through the shit. It's the experienced optimism and bitterness of a reformed addict, not the naivety of pop. Wrapped in a plea for help and thrashing, wailing guitars and crisp drums.
The music sounds loose but it's tight and solid. They use the space, they lean on each other, they have a surgeon's touch with the hammer.
They're not trying to be the best, nor witty, nor clever, it's just utterly raw and hits harder than anything else to me. It's human, it's relatable, it feels like home. It called out my pain before I knew what it was.
7. EPIPHANY
Your words to me just a whisper,
Your face is so unclear,
I try to pay attention,
Your words just disappear...
Oh-
'Cause it's always raining in my head
Oh-
Forget all the things I should have said
So I speak to you in riddles
'Cause my words get in my way
I smoke the whole thing to my head
And feel it wash away
'Cause I can't take anymore of this
I wanna come apart
Or dig myself a little hole
Inside your precious heart
Oh
'Cause it's always raining in my head
Oh
Forget all the things I should have said
I am nothing more than
A little boy inside
That cries out for attention
Yet I always try to hide
'Cause I talk to you like children
Though I don't know how I feel
But I know I'll do the right thing
If the right thing is revealed
'Cause it's always raining in my head
Forget all the things I should have said
8. SUFFER
Suffer
Suffer
Suffer
The more you see the more you do
The television's feeding you
With what you want to hear
Anger and fear, because you suffer
The hate you feel won't go away
You're all programmed to feel this way
To live another day
Within a world that longs to suffer
(Suffer)
And then I come to find
Everything's okay
Seen this all before
But that was yesterday
Try to walk right through
The messes that I've made
Just let me enjoy
The life here that I live
I try to give this all to you
Can't take anymore to deal
With this, it hurts inside
I know why I hide, 'cause I suffer
(Suffer)
I tried to keep it all inside
It didn't leave me too much pride
I forced it all down inside
Forced myself to make me suffer
(Suffer)
And then I come to find
Everything's okay
Seen this all before
But that was yesterday
Try to make it through
The messes that I've made
So I can enjoy
The life here that I live
And then I come to find...
And then I come to find
everything's okay
Seen this all before
But that was yesterday
Try to walk right through
These messes that I've made
Just try to enjoy
This life here that I have 9. WARM SAFE PLACE
Another day inside my world
I'm married to you and this road
A road that never lets me sleep
There's no way to escape these demons I am forced to keep
And then I'll find, you here,
Through your eyes, everything's clear,
And I'm home, inside your arms,
But I'm alone, for now.
I mean the best with what I say
It doesn't always sound that way
I never learned to work things out
'Cause in my family all we ever seemed to do is shout
And then I'll find, you here,
Through your eyes, everything's clear,
And I'm home, inside your arms,
But I'm alone, for now, alone for now
And I try to sleep
The drugs I take are killing me
I think of you to ease my pain
But you're so far
And now it's time to say goodbye
I love you baby, please don't cry
And then I'll find, you here,
Through your eyes, everything's clear,
And I'm home, inside your arms,
But I'm alone, for now.
10. FOR YOU
To my mother, to my father
It's your son, or it's your daughter
Are my screams loud enough for
You to hear me?
Should I turn this up for you?
I sit here, locked inside my head
Remembering everything you said
The silence gets us nowhere
Gets us nowhere way too fast
The silence is what kills me
I need someone here to help me
But you don't know how to listen
And let me make my decisions
I sit here, locked inside my head
Remembering everything you said
The silence gets us nowhere
Gets us nowhere way too fastAll your insults and your curses
Make me feel like I'm not a person
And I feel like I am nothing
But you made me, so do SOMETHING
'Cause I'm fucked up, because you all
Need attention, attention you couldn't give
'Cause I sit here, locked inside my head
Remembering everything you said
The silence gets us nowhere
Gets us nowhere way too fastI sit here, locked inside my head
Remembering everything you said
The silence gets us nowhere
Gets us nowhere way too fast 11. OUTSIDE
And you can bring me to my knees again
All the times that I could beg you please in vain
All the times that I felt insecure for you
And I leave my burdens at the door
But I'm on the outside, I'm looking in
I can see through you, see your true colors
'Cause inside you're ugly, you're ugly like me
I can see through you, see to the real you
All the times that I felt like this won't end, it's for you
And I taste what I could never have, it was from you
All the times that I've cried
My intentions, full of pride
But I waste more time than anyone
But I'm on the outside, I'm looking in
I can see through you, see your true colors
'Cause inside you're ugly, you're ugly like me
I can see through you, see to the real you
All the times that I've cried
All this wasted, it's all inside
And I feel all this pain
Stuffed it down, it's back again
And I lie here in bed
All alone, I can't mend
But I feel tomorrow will be okay
But I'm on the outside, I'm looking in
I can see through you, see your true colors
'Cause inside you're ugly, you're ugly like me
I can see through you, see to the real you 12. WASTE
Your mother came up to me. She wanted answers only she should know. It wasn't easy to deal with the tears that rolled down her face, I had no answers because I didn't even know you.
But these words,
they can't replace
the life you
the life you waste.
How could you paint this picture? Was life as bad as it should seem that there were no more options for you?
I can't explain how I feel, I've been there many times before, I've tasted the cold steel of my life crashing down before me
But these words,
they can't replace
the life you
the life you waste.
Did Daddy not love you? Or did he love you just too much? Did he control you? Did he live through you at your cost? Did he leave no questions for you to answer on your own?
Well, FUCK THAT, and FUCK HER, and FUCK HIM, and FUCK YOU.
For not having the strength in your heart to pull through.
I've had doubts, I have failed, I've fucked up, I've had plans.
Doesn't mean I should take my life with my own hands.
But these words, they can't replace
The life you, the life you waste
But these words, they don't replace
The life you, the life you WASTE
13. TAKE IT
I feel like this won't go away
No matter how hard I try to
Squeeze my eyes shut so I can't see
The pain in you
This pain in me,
In me
Everything that I can say to you
Won't help you
Everything you need is right in front of you
Just take it
I know that I'm really not here
To represent what I'm not clear
About in my head
Sometimes I feel fucked up just like you do,
Like you do
But everything that I can say to you
Won't help you
Everything you need is right in front of you
Just take it
Try to make it through the daily pain
That you feel
Maybe tomorrow won't be so bad
I know it
'Cause
I once felt that way
Nothing I could say
Made it go away
I lived through this
I still feel this
I just live for my tomorrow
Just make it go away
Just make it go away
She'll make it go away
She'll make it go away
STAIND - BREAK THE CYCLE
I have played this album nonstop back-to-back on repeat in my car for weeks. By playtime, it is my favorite album.
It's not technically the most impressive or aesthetic, but it is pure and raw. It's comfortable for me, like an older brother or uncle I didn't really have. To hear someone else, a man, who's gone through the shit. It's the experienced optimism and bitterness of a reformed addict, not the naivety of pop. Wrapped in a plea for help and thrashing, wailing guitars and crisp drums.
The music sounds loose but it's tight and solid. They use the space, they lean on each other, they have a surgeon's touch with the hammer.
They're not trying to be the best, nor witty, nor clever, it's just utterly raw and hits harder than anything else to me. It's human, it's relatable, it feels like home. It called out my pain before I knew what it was.