If these guys don't get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2027 when they're eligible, I riot. Musicians with as much talent and heart as these guys have are rare these days.
The songs age so well, I still remember listening to many of their songs back then, and they're all still powerful and emotional after, like they never grow old.
I saw this song not from a political standpoint, but more of a relationship standpoint. I'm a young man in college, and over the years, my circle of friends have slowly disbanded one by one, and everybody's doing things in their own lives now. I've never really caught up with any of my friends and I feel like all the memories are just memories now, long and gone. Hence when he says "Now all my friends are gone. Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved. Run away~" I think this song is just about growing up and moving on in life.
DomsBlading I know the feeling man, we're all still friends but we're moving apart and starting families and don't have time to hang out anymore, I hate it but at the same time I know thats life and it has to run it's course but at least I've got a lot of memories to cherish from that chapter of life. On to the next I guess lol
Marty Lorenz Not true. Take 30 Seconds To Mars, for example. They have stated they make songs without a clear meaning, so they let the fans decide what the song means to them. A song may be written with certain intentions, but it's not in the artist's control how people interpret the song.
I'm 22 and just graduated college. I'm blessed and managed to find a job; but in a brand new city where I don't know anyone. I'm not really an emotional guy so I haven't cried in years but for some reason listening to this song on the way to work the other day got to me. I'm not a very social guy so it's been a challenge to make new friends. I know it'll get better and I have no right to complain, but this song describes my life pretty well about now.
I can still remember The words and what they meant As we etched them with our fingers In years of wet cement The days blurred into each other Though everything seemed clear We cruised along at half speed But then we shifted gears We ran like vampires from a thousand burning suns But even then we should have stayed But we ran away Now all my friends are gone Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved Runaway But what are we running from? A show of hands from those in this audience of one Where have they gone? Identities assume us As nine and five add up Synchronizing watches To the seconds that we lost I looked up and saw you I know that you saw me We froze but for a moment In empathy I brought down the sky for you but all you did was shrug You gave my emptiness a name But you ran away Now all my friends are gone Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved Runaway But what are we running from? A show of hands from those in this audience of one Where have they gone? We're all ok, until the day we're not The surface shines, while the inside rots We raced the sunset and we almost won We slammed the brakes, but the wheels went on We ran away Now all my friends are gone Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved Runaway But what are we running from? A show of hands from those in this audience of one Where have they gone?
To me this song means to never forget your friends. To enjoy every moment of your life. To never let go of the one you truly love most. To get through the heavy times with ease. And to not worry about your later life. To enjoy what you have now. To take a chance. And most importantly, to never give up.
Rise Against's songs always have message. I like listening to reasonable songs stuffed with intelligent thoughts about the real life. Great song, thanks for sharing!
That's it! RAis not just like "lets do some music and see if it sounds good", you have to listen and think about it then you'll realize what they want to tell you
rise against has that same energy now that you grew to love 20 years ago , havent lost any band members and still lead a genre that died mid nineties, still to this day making bangers.
With all the interpretations of the lyrics, I'll add my own two cents: This is a song about a rebel, much like the artists of Rise Against, who has seen his former rebel friends grow up and move on. Until he realized that everyone has moved on from the revolution but him. They no longer care, and work 9 to 5 jobs. They sold out, and our singer is shocked that they show no interest in their old causes. My favorite line is "I looked up and saw you, I know that you saw me, we locked eyes for a moment, in empathy". It sounds like he feels pity for his friend, for becoming a corporate tool, while his friend feels pity for the singer, because he failed to grow up. They both pity each other, because they both believe that the other leads an inferior life.
As Tim has once stated in an interview, Rise Against helps to point out things in all of our culture as well as being a personal band (for me 100%) that millions can relate to. The important thing is that it stirs emotions. :)
The scent of Bacon Hey man, if you think that it's a love song than keep your meaning. I always get the suicidal vibe from Ready to Fall. Just keep your meaning regardless of the crowd or even the author for your sake.
This song hits me everytime, its crazy how u can be friends with someone from 4 yrs old to 26 yrs old and I'm now 28...my friend just stopped speaking to me after 22 years old best friendship. The military messed his head up..I miss him more than words can describe
I love how smoothly throughout each and every one of their albums, rise against shifts from pop punk to hardcore to somewhere in between to punk and back again. Its great
I was in Jr High/High school when this song came out, and it reminds me of skating everywhere with my old friends/ old acquaintance's. Literally from one town to the next, laughing, falling, doing tricks. It reminds me of old adventures, thrills, fun. Now, we hardly talk. Life is weird.
Now all my friends are gone - maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved. I hate that this isn't people's line. No wonder growing up sucks. You either join the herd or stay true alone.
Rise against is the exact kind of band we need today. We’ve needed them for as long as they’ve been around and more, but I think people are readier to listen.
I think it is about growing up, and how we forget and loss important things in the process, and we do not realize that those things we left behind are really important to us, until it's too damn late
@@kohlmagness6746 the one that's really anti-war, is A Hero Of One, I still think this one it's about growing up, but like You said, it's up to us find our own interpretation ir meaning.
We live on front porches and swing life away, we get by just fine here on minimum wage, If love is a labor I'll slave till the end, I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand.
Amen... this is, admittedly, one of the more popular/"mainstream" rise against songs, but that doesn't make it any less awesome... It's not in the same realm as Savior or the like (I'm actually kinda surprised at what's considered Rise Against's most famous songs, at least according to a quick Google search lol. Don't get me wrong, the ones listed are awesome, but not what I'd picture as the best songs from the band (well, except Savior and, arguably even better, The Good Left Undone, as those two are pretty awesome, even if I often prefer the lesser known stuff like Audience of One, Entertainment, Voices Off Camera, Injection (okay, that one is pretty well known), etc. Or from the newer albums, Methadone (yeah, admittedly fairly well known), The Black Market, The Numbers...the most recent albums admittedly have fewer singularly incredible tracks, but do make for a pretty great listening experience if you just start at the beginning of an album and listen all the way through.
Song Meaning to me I can still remember The words and what they meant As we etched them with our fingers In years of wet cement -Basically a friendship/group pact that was something like "best friends forever!" The days blurred into each other Though everything seemed clear We cruised along at half speed But then we shifted gears -time is passing by doing the same old stuff (half speed) with the same old group through high school years until graduation/post-college (until we shifted gears) We ran like vampires from a thousand burning suns But even then we should have stayed But we ran away Now all my friends are gone -"We ran like vampires from a thousand burning suns" People all went in different directions with life "But even then we should have stayed" abandoning the good old days/memories (hindsight speaking). "But we ran away, Now all my friends are gone" is pretty self-explanatory. Maybe we’ve outgrown all the things that we once loved Runaway But what are we running from ? A show of hands from those in this audience of one Where have they gone ? -"maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved" clearly is questioning yourself "how could this be that we don't hang out anymore?" "what are we running from?" Again why are we so scared/lazy to get the group back/spend more time together "A show of hands from this audience of one" is a metaphor for literally asking us the listener "can you relate to this?" And of course, we all are an audience of one in this because we all didn't meet up in the same area (of course unless you saw them live :p) Identities assume us
As nine and five add up Synchronizing watches To the seconds that we lost -"Identities assume us As nine and five add up" is pretty self-explaining, ADULTING IS HARD! :p "synchronizing watches to the seconds that we lost" is a reference to when we realize how precious time is I looked up and saw you I know that you saw me We froze but for a moment In empathy -"I looked up and saw you I know that you saw me, we froze but for a moment, in empathy" is literally running into an old friend in public randomly I brought down the sky for you but all you did was shrug You gave my emptiness a name -"I brought down the sky for you but all you did was shrug" Is when you are so excited to see them as you view that friend as a "No matter how long its been we are soooooo tight and can just pick back up like it was nothing!" And you start trying to make conversation and the "shrug" is basically them just dipping on ya asap. You gave my emptiness a name" That was the gut-punch feeling with how disposable you have become to this friend But you ran away Now all my friends are gone Maybe we’ve outgrown all the things that we once loved Runaway But what are we running from ? A show of hands from those in this audience of one Where have they gone ? -But you ran away, NOTICE NOW HE SAYS "YOU RAN AWAY" and not "WE RAN AWAY" which clearly shows you are realizing how disposable you are to your "friends" the rest of this paragraph is basically the same as in the first chorus but "Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved" now could be used as an excuse you are making for yourself to justify this abandonment. We’re all ok, until the day we’re not The surface shines, while the inside rots We raced the sunset and we almost won We slammed the brakes, but the wheels went on - "We're all okay until the day we're not" is pretty self-explaining. "The surface shines while the inside rots" is just eating up inside over the situation. "we raced the sunset and we almost won, we slammed the brakes but the wheels went on" (it's backwards how I will explain this so read it all first and it will make sense) Is basically saying we made a promise always keep in touch (slamming the brakes) but the wheels went on (we never kept that promise) which in the end we lost the friendship/connection. "we raced the sunset and we almost won" because we got a different life now with a job/making money, but not the same old life now. Hence we almost won at life because of our job success, but not really because of the friendship you believe in more than the others is lost. We ran away Now all my friends are gone Maybe we’ve outgrown all the things that we once loved Runaway But what are we running from? A show of hands from those in this audience of one Where have they gone? -this is similar to the first chorus
To me the song is not solely about friendship and lost of friendship but also about time passing by, growing old. The phrase « we race the sunset and we almost won, we slammed the brake but the wheels went on » means as young adults you party all day every day, up until late at night, rince and repeat and live your life like there is no tomorrow and like it will never end ( at high speed) which is well represented by ´´we race the sunset and we almost won ´´. But then without really noticing it you finish school, get a girlfriend, a job a kid, and all of a sudden in matter of just a few years your life is completely different. « we slammed the brakes but the wheels went on » means you tried to hold on to this young lifestyle but as hard as you tried , time flew by anyway and everything changes.
"We're all OK, until the day we're not. The surface shines while the inside rots." Given how many people commit suicide due to the stress caused by social expectations. Literally trying so hard to appear perfect and "normal" that they ignore their own mental and physical health until they just can't stand another day of it.
This sounds like how life is When I was in school my friends and I would play video games, have nerf wars, cosplay superheroes, do karaoke on my iPad, at the time I thought this was how it would be forever But now some of us went to college,some of us joined the marines, some of us went into missionary work, and now here I am listening to this song on my phone while I work with no one but myself for company, and my only friends now are NPCs in video games
Honestly one of the best artists of my generation. Like each generation can talk about the groups that were important to their time period and Rise Against is absolutely in that category
Having listened to this song before seeing the video, my interpretation of it was always that it's the story of someone looking back on when he fell for someone, but they clearly weren't meant to be and he lost all of his friends in the process after pushing them away in favour of the other person.
This is my favorite Rise Against song EVER. My old friend and I would sing along to this song back in the day...I always think of him when I hear it. :)
10 years ago I would listen songs of Rise Against as a kid with a rebel spirit. Sometimes I would not understand some parts. Now I got older and my feelings and experiences have changed. But these songs still speaks to me. And I understand what i could not back then
That's the beauty with bands like rise against, in our youth we simply appreciate the surface level qualities of the music with a very basic understanding of what is being said but once we come back and are more mature we can appreciate the things we were too young and niaeve to understand
I get really mad when people insult my music. Especially Rise Against. They are probably one of the best bands in music history in my opinion. They stand for nothing but great things, and they have helped me through a lot of hard times. Thanks Rise Against.
I love how meaningful this song can be. The interpretation for me is always outgrowing your friends and familial relationships. Not knowing who you are... Identities assume us - I was always a people pleaser. I didn't see the point in standing up for myself because I felt that it wasn't worth causing trouble. That there are bigger issues in this world, that my friends and family should come first than my own well-being. I've always had anxiety and depression, self cutting and drinking would numb the pain away. I stayed in an abusive relationship for 3 years and was sexually assaulted by my best friend. Yet this entire time I blamed myself for everything, I felt like if I didn't stand up for myself then that no one would believe me now. When I finally voiced it, no one understood. They said it was my fault and questioned my role in it. I believed that I caused all this. I just got back from a 4 day music festival and I was surrounded by thousands of people. I was next to 3 of my friends. Yet none of them realized that behind my sunglasses and bandanna that I was crying during the show. I never felt so alone ... and all I could think of was this song.
"Synchronizing watches to the seconds that we lost" Rise Against has a great habit of just combining a bunch of profound phrases and sentiments and putting them all together in a song.
I wanted to share something with you guys: in october 2009, i lived in a city, my school only had idiots who wanted nothing (if they went into a supermarket and stayed there the rest of my life was already good). I've always been a dreamer. I downloaded this complete album on the internet from pirate sites, and this song marked me in a way because I always remember that time in high school. This song the initial Riff chills me and fills my eye with water, but it is a good memory, guys. Things have changed and continue to change. A save the Rock crowd of all generations "But we ran awaaaaaay Now all my friends are gone ... " Cheers from Brazil
This is one of those songs where the meaning of the video was completely different than what I thought the song was about. I've listened to it for years and have always thought it was more about growing apart, how fast life moves, and how eventually you end up in the world alone. And even though you feel alone, "show of hands from those in this audience of one" always spoke to me in the way like we're all in this shit together. and even though it seems like we're all alone, a lot of other people are alone, too. "Run away, what are we running from?" I always thought of in the way like no one really knows what the fuck we're doing with our lives. The most important thing lyrically, to me, is how the first two choruses say "'You' ran away", as if to blame everyone else, and then it shifts to the final chorus saying "'We' ran away" as if to say we're all to blame for losing this race to life and it's nobody's fault. I wish I never watched this video cuz they clearly have a different message for this song haha
This song isn't about the military, it's about society. If we do not exercise our rights as citizens to instigate reform, then we will end up with a totalitarian government, and lose our rights to act. It's about the fact that everything seems fine now, but we won't act until it's not. And by then it will be too late.
I don't think there's right and wrong when it comes to what you think songs are about, especially if they're kind of vague. If you think it's about a relationship because that's a topic that's bothering you, then that's fine, even if that's not what the band was thinking when they wrote it.
Realizing that I should have never left home 2 years ago, I'm sorry mom. Hope I can be the successful son you've wanted. Fuck I'm 18 almost, time flys and I wasn't even having fun.
Highly doubt you will see this, but you guys in Rise Against are my inspiration in music. So much so that I started to try and make music my career in 4 years. I only started listening to your music around this year March, and that one song was, "From Heads Unworthy" which was my favorite song for so long. Please don't stop making amazing music, you guys are my idols.
Personally I think people get confused into thinking it's political because of the music video but I think that the song has a completely different meaning. So the song is about friendships and the toll loneliness takes on a person. I think the song tells the story of someone who's friendship group has disbanded reminiscing about the good times when they had fun and good times with their friends but eventually the group started to grow apart and the person is left friendless and alone. The song talks about how they feel and the toll loneliness takes on them 'we're all okay until the day we're not, the surface shines while the inside rots.'. The Audience of One is the person. I think the music video shows the how the government childishly sees the world as a playset. The video stars the president's son which is why the boy has a room in the white house and has a man (his father the president) come up to him with other men (his aides and bodyguards) and present him with his birthday presents and cakes. The boy plays with soldiers and tanks while ignoring things like education (the school bus being replaced by a tank), healthcare (the hospital) and people in trouble (the person on the roof calling for help). They only take other issues into concern when something happens and they don't like it. Which is why the boy changes one of the husbands to the bride as because same sex marriage wasn't legalised in all fifty states until 2015 (Appeal to Reason was released in 2008) and when the band starts playing music that opposes the governments decisions the child gets angry and smashes the band silencing them for daring to disagree. At least that's what I got from this
Songs can mean multiple of things. That’s what I like about Rise Against. You can listen to one of their songs again and again and it makes you think of something different or something new that you can relate to.
I feel you man. I come back to this song every once in a while and it actually physically hurts in my chest to listen to it. Reminds me of all the times I’ve had that are now lost. All the friends I had growing up that I no longer talk to. All the things I found joy in as a kid. All gone now. Makes me regret not making the most of being a kid and a teenager. I was too focused on growing up that I didn’t stop to realize I was in some of the best years of my life. I’ve since grown up, and my life is a mess. Plans didn’t work out like I thought they would. Shit sucks.
...a song definitely in my divorce playlist! Helped me get through some very sad court days. Please remember music, not revenge and you will make it through to better days 🙂
+William Reiland Because if the species in question is "Blue Squirrel", just because the squirrel's an albino (and thus, as you stated, white), doesn't mean that the squirrel is no longer part of the species it was born to. Genetically it's the same as all other members of the "Blue Squirrel" species, aside from the one genetic mutation that made it albino.
Damn this song makes me depressed. It already made me sad about friends who drifted apart when I was younger, but now that I'm 20 and I'm not in school anymore, it hits so much harder. I miss seeing my friends every day and I miss not having to worry so much about my future and slaving away at shitty jobs that try to erase individuality. Friends who I thought would stay in my life? I haven't talked to many of them in years. As a matter of fact, I actually barely talked to some of them while they were still around because I was too shy and scared to approach them. Seriously, don't take your friends from school for granted or say "I'll try tomorrow" because time will slap you in the face and all these friends you love will fade out of your life. Some of these friends have managed to fade back in and I've actually become better friends with a few of them, but still. Growing up sucks.
I love the fact that there are still bands that care and take the time to educate in a way that entertains. I can think if no other band that exemplifies the power of music like Rise Against.
Religion doesn't make people bad, religion + government makes people bad, at the heart of every religion is suppost too be a good message of moral value and people seem too ignore that
Rise Against. You will never read this. But I think I speak for most of your Fans when I say this. You help us rise against our problems. you increase awareness of problems not just already known, but problems we all overlook because we dont want to see what we are doing to people, this earth, and animals. And in all of this, you do it with making great entertaining music. You are Epic.
I still remember seeing Rise Against perform at Lollapalooza in maybe 2009 right as they were starting to get big. They were so so excited to get to play at Lolla, especially in Chicago, and did not disappoint!
For all of you people who say things like "how can you dislike this song?" It's a matter of opinion. Everybody has their own opinion and there's nothing you can do about it. I personally think this son is awesome, but don't yell at people who don't. Just shut up and listen to the music.
Don't let anyone tell you a definitive meaning for a Rise Against song. Frequently, Tim states that his songs are often written as love/personal songs that are given a political twist, or vise versa, and they can carry both intended meanings coherently. Another prime example would be Bridges - political or love song? Both.
Sound of Rise Against: 1998 = 100% 2008 (this Song) = 100% 2021% (listen to Broken Dreams inc.) = 100% They dind't have changed a bit! They are still to 100% in their roots!
If these guys don't get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2027 when they're eligible, I riot. Musicians with as much talent and heart as these guys have are rare these days.
Hall of Fame is a big lie.
Rise Against is one of the few bands that even after 10 years of listening to them the music still speaks to me
I feel you, came back to them after not listening to them for more than six years and love them more than ever
Rise Against are the only band that matters right now. Just like the Clash were at one time.
their music is timeless...
all their songs...all their songs are just...so much powerful
The songs age so well, I still remember listening to many of their songs back then, and they're all still powerful and emotional after, like they never grow old.
We’re ok until the day we’re not. The surface shines but the inside rots.
I love the lyrics these guys use, always so deep and just real.
While *
"I brought down the sky for you but all you did was shrug
You gave my emptiness a name"
THIS IS GOOD
YES IT IT GOOD AND UR LOOKS ARE TO AND IF UR LISTENING TO RISE AGAINST UR SPIRIT IS TRUE
Lil Rat i hope you're doing okay
just checkin in again hope you're living your best life and loving who you are!
Sucks when It actually happens to u on a loop for 2 months :)
@@csgo6191 lmao ;) so true fren
I saw this song not from a political standpoint, but more of a relationship standpoint. I'm a young man in college, and over the years, my circle of friends have slowly disbanded one by one, and everybody's doing things in their own lives now. I've never really caught up with any of my friends and I feel like all the memories are just memories now, long and gone. Hence when he says "Now all my friends are gone. Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved. Run away~" I think this song is just about growing up and moving on in life.
It could work that way...but if you listen to the song without watching the video, it opens up a whole new meaning. At least from how I see it
+DomsBlading Same here...
So call them up, get together!
Fenrir In this, you realize our differences of opinion actually mean very little to nothing and we should be free to interpret things as we like.
DomsBlading I know the feeling man, we're all still friends but we're moving apart and starting families and don't have time to hang out anymore, I hate it but at the same time I know thats life and it has to run it's course but at least I've got a lot of memories to cherish from that chapter of life. On to the next I guess lol
Every song has a different meaning to each individual
exactly!
+325spoon Could you list the 7 billion different meanings of this song then, please?
+NAPSTERUK00 yo get rekt
every song has one meaning.
Marty Lorenz Not true. Take 30 Seconds To Mars, for example. They have stated they make songs without a clear meaning, so they let the fans decide what the song means to them. A song may be written with certain intentions, but it's not in the artist's control how people interpret the song.
I'm 22 and just graduated college. I'm blessed and managed to find a job; but in a brand new city where I don't know anyone. I'm not really an emotional guy so I haven't cried in years but for some reason listening to this song on the way to work the other day got to me. I'm not a very social guy so it's been a challenge to make new friends. I know it'll get better and I have no right to complain, but this song describes my life pretty well about now.
Hope you're doing well bro! keep your head up and continue marching on. life isn't just life, its what we make it. ^_^
Hope all is well!
xxTH3EMPIRExx dont worry kid, u got this.
How ya doin' now mate?
Keep grinding man.. my mom's dead my dads in prison my family is falling apart i feel u man :(
this song is a masterpiece
This band's a masterpiece
DevosPictures 100% agree
DevosPictures I like songs but never bands.
+1
exactly these guys know how to hit deep their singles are always powerful
"Days blurred into each other"
*sounds like **_quarantine_*
I can still remember
The words and what they meant
As we etched them with our fingers
In years of wet cement
The days blurred into each other
Though everything seemed clear
We cruised along at half speed
But then we shifted gears
We ran like vampires from a thousand burning suns
But even then we should have stayed
But we ran away
Now all my friends are gone
Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone?
Identities assume us
As nine and five add up
Synchronizing watches
To the seconds that we lost
I looked up and saw you
I know that you saw me
We froze but for a moment
In empathy
I brought down the sky for you but all you did was shrug
You gave my emptiness a name
But you ran away
Now all my friends are gone
Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone?
We're all ok, until the day we're not
The surface shines, while the inside rots
We raced the sunset and we almost won
We slammed the brakes, but the wheels went on
We ran away
Now all my friends are gone
Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone?
Why does some idiot always type out the lyrics....
"The surface shines, while the inside rots." That part always makes me *feel* this song
Man so many years later and this still hits hard.. Was 24 when I first heard this song. Am 38 now and it means so much to me still
To me this song means to never forget your friends. To enjoy every moment of your life. To never let go of the one you truly love most. To get through the heavy times with ease. And to not worry about your later life. To enjoy what you have now. To take a chance. And most importantly, to never give up.
Rise Against's songs always have message. I like listening to reasonable songs stuffed with intelligent thoughts about the real life. Great song, thanks for sharing!
That's it! RAis not just like "lets do some music and see if it sounds good", you have to listen and think about it then you'll realize what they want to tell you
Dust Bones I like how songs can have loads of different meanings for everybody :)
So true! They first inspired me to make the change and go vegan. Mad respect to them for connecting with younger people through amazing music!
Tim McIlrath's lyrics are always deep,meaningful and powerful. You can tell he means every damn thing he sings.
I just discovered Rise Against a few weeks ago, and they are quickly becoming one of my new favorite bands
Might I suggest Siren Song of the Counter Culture? One of my personal favorite albums
rise against has that same energy now that you grew to love 20 years ago , havent lost any band members and still lead a genre that died mid nineties, still to this day making bangers.
Because they still have their mission, and they still have messages to send.
With all the interpretations of the lyrics, I'll add my own two cents:
This is a song about a rebel, much like the artists of Rise Against, who has seen his former rebel friends grow up and move on. Until he realized that everyone has moved on from the revolution but him. They no longer care, and work 9 to 5 jobs. They sold out, and our singer is shocked that they show no interest in their old causes.
My favorite line is "I looked up and saw you, I know that you saw me, we locked eyes for a moment, in empathy".
It sounds like he feels pity for his friend, for becoming a corporate tool, while his friend feels pity for the singer, because he failed to grow up. They both pity each other, because they both believe that the other leads an inferior life.
People in the comments arguing about how its about the military, and i thought it was a love song for the past 4 years LOL.
As Tim has once stated in an interview, Rise Against helps to point out things in all of our culture as well as being a personal band (for me 100%) that millions can relate to. The important thing is that it stirs emotions. :)
I bet if the video didn't show anything about the military they would've probably never thought about it.
Wow.. never knew. This fact makes me tear up a bit
The scent of Bacon Hey man, if you think that it's a love song than keep your meaning. I always get the suicidal vibe from Ready to Fall. Just keep your meaning regardless of the crowd or even the author for your sake.
dude nice name
This song hits me everytime, its crazy how u can be friends with someone from 4 yrs old to 26 yrs old and I'm now 28...my friend just stopped speaking to me after 22 years old best friendship. The military messed his head up..I miss him more than words can describe
I know this is totally off topic, but I want that playset. You have no idea how much time I would spend playing with that.
+Rururufufu Rererefefe same
+Rururufufu Rererefefe
only if mini rise against is included
#notcreepyatall
"I brought down the sky for you but all you did was shrug.. you give my emptyness a name" ooof, whether I'm 15 or 28 that line always gets me
I love how smoothly throughout each and every one of their albums, rise against shifts from pop punk to hardcore to somewhere in between to punk and back again. Its great
I was in Jr High/High school when this song came out, and it reminds me of skating everywhere with my old friends/ old acquaintance's. Literally from one town to the next, laughing, falling, doing tricks. It reminds me of old adventures, thrills, fun. Now, we hardly talk. Life is weird.
*Gasp*, that bastard killed Rise Against!
Now all my friends are gone - maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved.
I hate that this isn't people's line. No wonder growing up sucks. You either join the herd or stay true alone.
Rise against is the exact kind of band we need today. We’ve needed them for as long as they’ve been around and more, but I think people are readier to listen.
Great song because it has multiple meaning and can be interpreted in different ways.
+Troy Dazzle Nah it's just a big fuck you to George Bush.
+Illier1 lmfao
I think it is about growing up, and how we forget and loss important things in the process, and we do not realize that those things we left behind are really important to us, until it's too damn late
@@robertrockis4evermaggott383 Rise Against songs are made to be interpreted in different ways, but this is mainly about the military (anti-war).
@@kohlmagness6746 the one that's really anti-war, is A Hero Of One, I still think this one it's about growing up, but like You said, it's up to us find our own interpretation ir meaning.
2:45 "Help Is On The Way" and right after "Ready To Fall" anyone see that?
Even though Endgame was made about 2-3 years after this video, sure go ahead.
Zaptto What has Endgame to do with Audience Of One, Ready To Fall and Prayer Of The Refugee?
Yeah I knew
Wow good eye!
@@plaxian2566 Because they probably didn't know the title of the song "Help Is On The Way" 3 years before they made it.
A masterpiece.
helmutssss agreed... reliving their concerts in my head when i should be sleeping.
We live on front porches and swing life away, we get by just fine here on minimum wage, If love is a labor I'll slave till the end,
I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand.
+Rapid Wrestling wrong video bub xD
CGxSamurai lol i know, this song reminded me of swing life away idk why
+Rapid Wrestling thats why the lyric is families
+Rapid Wrestling thats why the lyric is familiar...
+J. Knite huh?
29 years old. Still remember when I first heard this song. I love that I can always come back and sing my heart out. 🥺🖤
this song is an anthem to the soul
Amen... this is, admittedly, one of the more popular/"mainstream" rise against songs, but that doesn't make it any less awesome...
It's not in the same realm as Savior or the like (I'm actually kinda surprised at what's considered Rise Against's most famous songs, at least according to a quick Google search lol. Don't get me wrong, the ones listed are awesome, but not what I'd picture as the best songs from the band (well, except Savior and, arguably even better, The Good Left Undone, as those two are pretty awesome, even if I often prefer the lesser known stuff like Audience of One, Entertainment, Voices Off Camera, Injection (okay, that one is pretty well known), etc. Or from the newer albums, Methadone (yeah, admittedly fairly well known), The Black Market, The Numbers...the most recent albums admittedly have fewer singularly incredible tracks, but do make for a pretty great listening experience if you just start at the beginning of an album and listen all the way through.
I think I've literally heard this song a thousand times and I still love when he says "we're all okay until the day we're not"
the end of the music video is crazy, they are speaking the truth and the government silences them... so accurate
This is probably my favorite Rise Against song. It’s very underrated and definitely the best one from Appeal To Reason.
it has its own video how the fuck is it underrated?
Architects
its fairly rated its a liked song
Savior
@tammy mingoy
Agreed
Song Meaning
to me
I can still remember
The words and what they meant
As we etched them with our fingers
In years of wet cement
-Basically a friendship/group pact that was something like "best friends forever!"
The days blurred into each other
Though everything seemed clear
We cruised along at half speed
But then we shifted gears
-time is passing by doing the same old stuff (half speed) with the same old group through high school years until graduation/post-college (until we shifted gears)
We ran like vampires from a thousand burning suns
But even then we should have stayed
But we ran away
Now all my friends are gone
-"We ran like vampires from a thousand burning suns" People all went in different directions with life "But even then we should have stayed" abandoning the good old days/memories (hindsight speaking). "But we ran away, Now all my friends are gone" is pretty self-explanatory.
Maybe we’ve outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from ?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone ?
-"maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved" clearly is questioning yourself "how could this be that we don't hang out anymore?"
"what are we running from?" Again why are we so scared/lazy to get the group back/spend more time together
"A show of hands from this audience of one" is a metaphor for literally asking us the listener "can you relate to this?" And of course, we all are an audience of one in this because we all didn't meet up in the same area (of course unless you saw them live :p)
Identities assume us
As nine and five add up
Synchronizing watches
To the seconds that we lost
-"Identities assume us As nine and five add up" is pretty self-explaining, ADULTING IS HARD! :p
"synchronizing watches to the seconds that we lost" is a reference to when we realize how precious time is
I looked up and saw you
I know that you saw me
We froze but for a moment
In empathy
-"I looked up and saw you I know that you saw me, we froze but for a moment, in empathy" is literally running into an old friend in public randomly
I brought down the sky for you but all you did was shrug
You gave my emptiness a name
-"I brought down the sky for you but all you did was shrug" Is when you are so excited to see them as you view that friend as a "No matter how long its been we are soooooo tight and can just pick back up like it was nothing!" And you start trying to make conversation and the "shrug" is basically them just dipping on ya asap. You gave my emptiness a name" That was the gut-punch feeling with how disposable you have become to this friend
But you ran away
Now all my friends are gone
Maybe we’ve outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from ?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone ?
-But you ran away, NOTICE NOW HE SAYS "YOU RAN AWAY" and not "WE RAN AWAY" which clearly shows you are realizing how disposable you are to your "friends" the rest of this paragraph is basically the same as in the first chorus
but "Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved" now could be used as an excuse you are making for yourself to justify this abandonment.
We’re all ok, until the day we’re not
The surface shines, while the inside rots
We raced the sunset and we almost won
We slammed the brakes, but the wheels went on
- "We're all okay until the day we're not" is pretty self-explaining. "The surface shines while the inside rots" is just eating up inside over the situation. "we raced the sunset and we almost won, we slammed the brakes but the wheels went on" (it's backwards how I will explain this so read it all first and it will make sense) Is basically saying we made a promise always keep in touch (slamming the brakes) but the wheels went on (we never kept that promise) which in the end we lost the friendship/connection. "we raced the sunset and we almost won" because we got a different life now with a job/making money, but not the same old life now. Hence we almost won at life because of our job success, but not really because of the friendship you believe in more than the others is lost.
We ran away
Now all my friends are gone
Maybe we’ve outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone?
-this is similar to the first chorus
To me the song is not solely about friendship and lost of friendship but also about time passing by, growing old. The phrase « we race the sunset and we almost won, we slammed the brake but the wheels went on » means as young adults you party all day every day, up until late at night, rince and repeat and live your life like there is no tomorrow and like it will never end ( at high speed) which is well represented by ´´we race the sunset and we almost won ´´. But then without really noticing it you finish school, get a girlfriend, a job a kid, and all of a sudden in matter of just a few years your life is completely different. « we slammed the brakes but the wheels went on » means you tried to hold on to this young lifestyle but as hard as you tried , time flew by anyway and everything changes.
I'm telling Jethro, I'm sure he'll take offense to your interpretation. Jethro will find you!
"We're all OK, until the day we're not. The surface shines while the inside rots."
Given how many people commit suicide due to the stress caused by social expectations. Literally trying so hard to appear perfect and "normal" that they ignore their own mental and physical health until they just can't stand another day of it.
“But then we shifted gears“ and then the song changes. Just bliss
This song speaks to me more than it did before now that all my friends have drifted away with their own lives.
Now I'm the audience of one.
I'm 13 now, and I am so glad I heard rise against from early childhood... My favorite band and I feel bad that they don't release new songs more...
Jovan Radojicic they are still releasing songs...
Jovan Radojicic ??
New album was released some months ago.
Listened to this song as a young kid now I'm going on 27 song brings back such a feeling
I CAN'T STOP HITTING THE REPLAY BUTTON, HELP.
Who is here in 2023? I love this song!
2023 baby
They are playing this in the grocery store now.
Me 🤘🏾👍🏾
Yes!!! If you're here, you're awesome 🤘
2023, and heard this song for the first time just a few days ago lol. It sounds awesome though ^.^
“Now all my friends are gone, maybe we’ve outgrown all the things that we once loved” . . . So damn relatable it hurts
Ironically, one of my childhood friends and I were at the same concert but didn't know. We were in different sections. It was good for a brief moment.
This sounds like how life is
When I was in school my friends and I would play video games, have nerf wars, cosplay superheroes, do karaoke on my iPad, at the time I thought this was how it would be forever
But now some of us went to college,some of us joined the marines, some of us went into missionary work, and now here I am listening to this song on my phone while I work with no one but myself for company, and my only friends now are NPCs in video games
Hopefully everything is good bro
Honestly one of the best artists of my generation. Like each generation can talk about the groups that were important to their time period and Rise Against is absolutely in that category
My favourite band because even tho the instrumentals are very very generic the lyrics are so impactful and we'll put together and relatable.
Having listened to this song before seeing the video, my interpretation of it was always that it's the story of someone looking back on when he fell for someone, but they clearly weren't meant to be and he lost all of his friends in the process after pushing them away in favour of the other person.
This is my favorite Rise Against song EVER. My old friend and I would sing along to this song back in the day...I always think of him when I hear it. :)
This song is so relevant in today's society. Leave it to Rise Against to write a song years ago that still resounds. Love you guys!
10 years ago I would listen songs of Rise Against as a kid with a rebel spirit. Sometimes I would not understand some parts. Now I got older and my feelings and experiences have changed. But these songs still speaks to me. And I understand what i could not back then
Me too haha
That's the beauty with bands like rise against, in our youth we simply appreciate the surface level qualities of the music with a very basic understanding of what is being said but once we come back and are more mature we can appreciate the things we were too young and niaeve to understand
His voice just lives for the lyrics Couldnt imagine anyone else singing these songs
I get really mad when people insult my music. Especially Rise Against. They are probably one of the best bands in music history in my opinion. They stand for nothing but great things, and they have helped me through a lot of hard times. Thanks Rise Against.
Damn..how deep is this guys lyrics..a real poet..touching and emotional song..love it🤘
I love how meaningful this song can be. The interpretation for me is always outgrowing your friends and familial relationships. Not knowing who you are... Identities assume us - I was always a people pleaser. I didn't see the point in standing up for myself because I felt that it wasn't worth causing trouble. That there are bigger issues in this world, that my friends and family should come first than my own well-being. I've always had anxiety and depression, self cutting and drinking would numb the pain away. I stayed in an abusive relationship for 3 years and was sexually assaulted by my best friend. Yet this entire time I blamed myself for everything, I felt like if I didn't stand up for myself then that no one would believe me now. When I finally voiced it, no one understood. They said it was my fault and questioned my role in it. I believed that I caused all this. I just got back from a 4 day music festival and I was surrounded by thousands of people. I was next to 3 of my friends. Yet none of them realized that behind my sunglasses and bandanna that I was crying during the show. I never felt so alone ... and all I could think of was this song.
"I brought down the sky for you but all you did was shrug
You gave my emptiness a name" it gets me everytime
This and "Savior" are my favorite songs from Rise Against.
Tim McIlrath! kills it!!
"Synchronizing watches to the seconds that we lost" Rise Against has a great habit of just combining a bunch of profound phrases and sentiments and putting them all together in a song.
I wanted to share something with you guys:
in october 2009, i lived in a city, my school only had idiots who wanted nothing (if they went into a supermarket and stayed there the rest of my life was already good). I've always been a dreamer. I downloaded this complete album on the internet from pirate sites, and this song marked me in a way because I always remember that time in high school. This song the initial Riff chills me and fills my eye with water, but it is a good memory, guys. Things have changed and continue to change. A save the Rock crowd of all generations
"But we ran awaaaaaay
Now all my friends are gone ... "
Cheers from Brazil
This is one of those songs where the meaning of the video was completely different than what I thought the song was about. I've listened to it for years and have always thought it was more about growing apart, how fast life moves, and how eventually you end up in the world alone. And even though you feel alone, "show of hands from those in this audience of one" always spoke to me in the way like we're all in this shit together. and even though it seems like we're all alone, a lot of other people are alone, too. "Run away, what are we running from?" I always thought of in the way like no one really knows what the fuck we're doing with our lives. The most important thing lyrically, to me, is how the first two choruses say "'You' ran away", as if to blame everyone else, and then it shifts to the final chorus saying "'We' ran away" as if to say we're all to blame for losing this race to life and it's nobody's fault. I wish I never watched this video cuz they clearly have a different message for this song haha
That's basically what I thought too.... i like that meaning better
I still think you nailed it. Music videos very frequently don't match the lyrics.
good musik
This is why I love them. They sing about shit that matters. Not partying and drugs and getting wasted. They've got brains and opinions and whatnot.
This song isn't about the military, it's about society. If we do not exercise our rights as citizens to instigate reform, then we will end up with a totalitarian government, and lose our rights to act. It's about the fact that everything seems fine now, but we won't act until it's not.
And by then it will be too late.
The video suggests otherwise.....
Actually it's about a relationship. You're reading into it too much.
Also Sonic is shit.
Mightiest Ewok you're stupid and this is not about a relationship
I don't think there's right and wrong when it comes to what you think songs are about, especially if they're kind of vague. If you think it's about a relationship because that's a topic that's bothering you, then that's fine, even if that's not what the band was thinking when they wrote it.
Ramo It is about both the poeple and the military
Realizing that I should have never left home 2 years ago, I'm sorry mom. Hope I can be the successful son you've wanted. Fuck I'm 18 almost, time flys and I wasn't even having fun.
3:44 look the ears of this guy, he have a reason to be mad lol
No you haven't
Highly doubt you will see this, but you guys in Rise Against are my inspiration in music. So much so that I started to try and make music my career in 4 years. I only started listening to your music around this year March, and that one song was, "From Heads Unworthy" which was my favorite song for so long. Please don't stop making amazing music, you guys are my idols.
Still one of the best bands ever. Over a decade and this song is still the best and hits right in the feels.
I'm here in 2024 😊
Personally I think people get confused into thinking it's political because of the music video but I think that the song has a completely different meaning.
So the song is about friendships and the toll loneliness takes on a person. I think the song tells the story of someone who's friendship group has disbanded reminiscing about the good times when they had fun and good times with their friends but eventually the group started to grow apart and the person is left friendless and alone. The song talks about how they feel and the toll loneliness takes on them 'we're all okay until the day we're not, the surface shines while the inside rots.'. The Audience of One is the person.
I think the music video shows the how the government childishly sees the world as a playset. The video stars the president's son which is why the boy has a room in the white house and has a man (his father the president) come up to him with other men (his aides and bodyguards) and present him with his birthday presents and cakes. The boy plays with soldiers and tanks while ignoring things like education (the school bus being replaced by a tank), healthcare (the hospital) and people in trouble (the person on the roof calling for help). They only take other issues into concern when something happens and they don't like it. Which is why the boy changes one of the husbands to the bride as because same sex marriage wasn't legalised in all fifty states until 2015 (Appeal to Reason was released in 2008) and when the band starts playing music that opposes the governments decisions the child gets angry and smashes the band silencing them for daring to disagree.
At least that's what I got from this
Songs can mean multiple of things. That’s what I like about Rise Against. You can listen to one of their songs again and again and it makes you think of something different or something new that you can relate to.
Rise against killed it in london ONT fckin love em
Maybe we’ve outgrown all the things that we once loved.. I don’t I have ever heard that lyric and not cried a little bit.
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gotta hear this one :) !!!
I feel you man. I come back to this song every once in a while and it actually physically hurts in my chest to listen to it. Reminds me of all the times I’ve had that are now lost. All the friends I had growing up that I no longer talk to. All the things I found joy in as a kid. All gone now. Makes me regret not making the most of being a kid and a teenager. I was too focused on growing up that I didn’t stop to realize I was in some of the best years of my life. I’ve since grown up, and my life is a mess. Plans didn’t work out like I thought they would. Shit sucks.
...a song definitely in my divorce playlist! Helped me get through some very sad court days. Please remember music, not revenge and you will make it through to better days 🙂
Wait... Is the video saying that Bush is a child? Jesus it took me so long to get that
if you're an albino blue squirrel you are a white squirrel so why mention the blue part
now I that you say that It seems so obvious.
+William Reiland Because if the species in question is "Blue Squirrel", just because the squirrel's an albino (and thus, as you stated, white), doesn't mean that the squirrel is no longer part of the species it was born to. Genetically it's the same as all other members of the "Blue Squirrel" species, aside from the one genetic mutation that made it albino.
Not just Bush but all political figures, the parents are the elites funding them.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS SONG FOR 10 YEARS. HOLY SHIT... THIS IS IT!!!!
We did it reddit
This music video is more relevant today than it has ever been.
Damn this song makes me depressed. It already made me sad about friends who drifted apart when I was younger, but now that I'm 20 and I'm not in school anymore, it hits so much harder. I miss seeing my friends every day and I miss not having to worry so much about my future and slaving away at shitty jobs that try to erase individuality. Friends who I thought would stay in my life? I haven't talked to many of them in years. As a matter of fact, I actually barely talked to some of them while they were still around because I was too shy and scared to approach them. Seriously, don't take your friends from school for granted or say "I'll try tomorrow" because time will slap you in the face and all these friends you love will fade out of your life. Some of these friends have managed to fade back in and I've actually become better friends with a few of them, but still.
Growing up sucks.
The loss of friends gets worse. Then you turn 50 years old and have no friends.
This song describes the feeling of growing up so well. I'm so glad I found it.
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gotta hear this one :) !!!
Me and my late bestfriend used to listen to this band a lot.
Especially in his 2 years.
I just blasted this and shed some tears.
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I love the fact that there are still bands that care and take the time to educate in a way that entertains. I can think if no other band that exemplifies the power of music like Rise Against.
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gotta hear this one :) !!!
Religion doesn't make people bad, religion + government makes people bad, at the heart of every religion is suppost too be a good message of moral value and people seem too ignore that
My favorite intro ever ♥
Was 13 when this came out time flys
i was 11 or 12, fucking scary bro. yeeeeehawwwwwww
I swear this song is a love letter from the U.S. to the USSR and the Axis in ww2...
Within a matter of days this has become the song I skip on my ipod to the song I always play on my ipod
Rise Against. You will never read this. But I think I speak for most of your Fans when I say this.
You help us rise against our problems. you increase awareness of problems not just already known, but problems we all overlook because we dont want to see what we are doing to people, this earth, and animals. And in all of this, you do it with making great entertaining music.
You are Epic.
Who else remembers when all these videos were on Vevo?
The song that could accurately describes the things I could not put into words
I bet without the video noone would have thought that the song is about the military.
Exactly
+Max Power the clues are there, but it's more obvious in the context of the rest of the album.
Christopher McClellan You're right Sir.
Yup. I for sure thought that
Idk a lot of their songs are political
years later this song still resonates with me and I find myself humming it everysooften
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I still remember seeing Rise Against perform at Lollapalooza in maybe 2009 right as they were starting to get big. They were so so excited to get to play at Lolla, especially in Chicago, and did not disappoint!
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For all of you people who say things like "how can you dislike this song?" It's a matter of opinion. Everybody has their own opinion and there's nothing you can do about it. I personally think this son is awesome, but don't yell at people who don't. Just shut up and listen to the music.
30 years old now, still love some Rise Against. Ahead of their time.
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gotta hear this one :) !!! :)
Timeless
Ikr, you'd have thought they wrote the song this year.
those are some anatomically accurate miniatures :o
Don't let anyone tell you a definitive meaning for a Rise Against song. Frequently, Tim states that his songs are often written as love/personal songs that are given a political twist, or vise versa, and they can carry both intended meanings coherently. Another prime example would be Bridges - political or love song? Both.
Still jamming to this since it first released…..
Boy. I am NOT used to being in a comment section that argues about something OTHER than anime lol.
+Alex Ingram Yep, it is still arguing tho, which is never good.
Kid = George W. Bush
I don't listen to Punk Rock anymore, cause I switched to EDM and stuff, but this will be my favorite song of all time.
Saabkyle04 always turns the radio on at the prefect moment.
You know you've found a good band when every new song you hear makes you feel a little bit better about yourself.
Sound of Rise Against:
1998 = 100%
2008 (this Song) = 100%
2021% (listen to Broken Dreams inc.) = 100%
They dind't have changed a bit!
They are still to 100% in their roots!