Unlike his work with Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society, here Zakk Wylde shows a different side to his music; an introspective and mostly acoustic style recalling many of the lighter moments from his previous project, Pride & Glory as well as classic folk rock artists such as Neil Young.
Promotional singles were released for "Between Heaven and Hell" and "Way Beyond Empty", the latter of which also had an accompanying music video.
"Throwin' It All Away" was written about the death of Shannon Hoon from the band Blind Melon. Shannon and Zakk had lived together and become close friends a few months before he died of a drug overdose.
Between Heaven and Hell
Zakk Wylde Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Living to die
Ain't no hellos here
Nothing but goodbye
It's like singing a song that cannot be sung
It's like having to end child,
What's yet to love begun
[Chorus]
Hey, hey, hey now
Where I am at times I just can't tell
Hey, hey, hey, now
I'm lost somewhere between heaven and hell
All that you know and all that you knew
In the end child,
Tell me what's it all mean to you?
Don't forget just who and where you are
You can spread your wings son
But don't you spread yourself too far
Hey, hey, hey now
Where I am at times I just can't tell
Hey, hey, hey, now
I'm lost somewhere between heaven and hell
The lyrics to Zakk Wylde's song "Between Heaven and Hell" portray a theme of existentialism, where the singer seems to be contemplating the nature of life and death. The first two lines, "Dying to live/Living to die," set the tone for the rest of the song, indicating that life may be an endless cycle where we are always on the precipice of death, trying to cling to life. The third and fourth lines, "Ain't no hellos here/Nothing but goodbye," suggests a sense of resignation, as if the singer has come to terms with the finality of life and the inevitability of death.
The singer then uses a musical metaphor, "It's like singing a song that cannot be sung," to express the idea that life may be an intricate art form that is impossible to fully comprehend or perform perfectly. The line "It's like having to end child, What's yet to love begun" suggests a sense of regret and longing, as if the singer wishes they had more time to experience the joys of life.
The chorus, "Hey, hey, hey now/Where I am at times I just can't tell/Hey, hey, hey, now/I'm lost somewhere between heaven and hell," reinforces the idea of uncertainty and confusion, as if the singer is caught between two opposing forces - heaven and hell - and doesn't know where they belong. The final verse, "All that you know and all that you knew/In the end child, Tell me what's it all mean to you?/Don't forget just who and where you are/You can spread your wings son/But don't you spread yourself too far," suggest that the singer urges the audience to reflect on the meaning of life, urging them not to lose sight of who they are, and to strike a balance between ambition and contentment.
Line by Line Meaning
Dying to live
Desiring to fully experience life and all it has to offer.
Living to die
Acknowledging that death is an inevitable part of life and living each day to the fullest.
Ain't no hellos here
In this situation or state, there are no welcoming greetings or friendly faces.
Nothing but goodbye
The only thing to expect is farewells or partings.
It's like singing a song that cannot be sung
Feeling like expressing oneself is impossible, like trying to sing a song that cannot be sung.
It's like having to end child, What's yet to love begun
Being forced to bring an end to something, before it has even had the chance to flourish and grow.
Hey, hey, hey now Where I am at times I just can't tell
Feeling lost and uncertain about one's current location and circumstances.
I'm lost somewhere between heaven and hell
Being in a state of limbo or confusion, torn between two opposite or conflicting emotions or situations.
All that you know and all that you knew In the end child, Tell me what's it all mean to you?
Asking the listener to reflect on the meaning of their life experiences and how they have shaped them.
Don't forget just who and where you are You can spread your wings son But don't you spread yourself too far
Encouraging listeners to embrace their identity and remember their roots, while also pursuing their dreams and ambitions without overextending themselves.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ZAKK WYLDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marti
on Lost Prayer
It's pretty obvious to me that the video to this song is about the corruption of this young boy. He falls into an evil trap of sex addiction and is controlled by demonic thoughts, represented by the red-masked demon. This lifestyle is unsatisfying and in the end he is chewed up and thrown away, so to speak, by those he used and who used him. He also deprived himself of real love from the girl/young woman/angel because of his inner demons and continued bad choices.