The follow-up was Darkest Days. Despite several strong singles including Save Yourself, It failed to sell as well as its predecessor, although it attracted attention in Canada and Australia, and the band was dropped from Columbia Records. They signed to Koch Records, issuing Stabbing Westward, which was a considerably more commercial effort than previous albums, but failed to make any impact on the mainstream charts. Before a fifth LP could be recorded, Stabbing Westward broke up in late 2002.
Since then, lead singer Hall has formed The Dreaming.
In 2019, the band reformed and began to release new (and archival) materials on COP International Productions intending to release a full-length album in 2022.
Save Yourself
Stabbing Westward Lyrics
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And you hate to face this world alone
So you're searching for an angel
Someone who can make you whole
I cannot save you
I can't even save myself
So just save yourself
I know that you've been damaged
Your soul has suffered such abuse
But I am not your savior
I am just as fucked as you (I am just as fucked as you)
I cannot save you
I can't even save myself
So just save yourself
Please don't take pity on me
Please don't take pity on me
Please don't take pity on me
Please don't take pity on me
My life has been a nightmare
My soul is fractured to the bone
And if I must be lonely
I think I'd rather be alone (I think I'd rather be alone)
You cannot save me
You can't even save yourself
I cannot save you
I can't even save myself
Save yourself
So just save yourself
The lyrics of Stabbing Westward's "Save Yourself" convey a sense of desperation and hopelessness, as the singer acknowledges the harsh reality of their own brokenness and inability to provide salvation for anyone else. The opening lines describe the loneliness and emptiness of the listener's life, and the desire to find someone who can heal their wounds and provide a sense of purpose or meaning. However, the singer quickly recognizes their own limitations, acknowledging that they cannot even save themselves, let alone rescue someone else from their own struggles.
The repeated refrain of "save yourself" emphasizes the need for self-reliance and self-preservation, highlighting the idea that while human connection and support can be helpful, ultimately it is up to each individual to take responsibility for their own wellbeing. The middle section of the song addresses the idea that both the singer and the listener have been damaged by life's hardships, and that the singer is not in a position to offer any kind of salvation or redemption.
Overall, the lyrics of "Save Yourself" speak to the universal human experience of pain, struggle and the quest for meaning and connection, while ultimately emphasizing the importance of self-reliance and agency in the face of life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
I know your life is empty
I understand that you feel like your life has no meaning
And you hate to face this world alone
You are scared of facing the world by yourself
So you're searching for an angel
You are looking for someone to help you through your struggles
Someone who can make you whole
Someone who can fix the broken parts of you
I cannot save you
I cannot fix your problems for you
I can't even save myself
I am struggling just as much as you are
So just save yourself
You need to find the strength to save yourself
I know that you've been damaged
I am aware that you have been hurt
Your soul has suffered such abuse
Your very being has been deeply affected by what you have been through
But I am not your savior
I am not the solution to your problems
I am just as fucked as you (I am just as fucked as you)
I am struggling just as much as you are (reiterated for emphasis)
Please don't take pity on me
Please don't feel sorry for me
Please don't take pity on me
Please don't feel sorry for me
Please don't take pity on me
Please don't feel sorry for me
Please don't take pity on me
Please don't feel sorry for me
My life has been a nightmare
My life has been a living hell
My soul is fractured to the bone
My very being has been deeply hurt
And if I must be lonely
If the only way for me to heal and move forward is to be alone
I think I'd rather be alone (I think I'd rather be alone)
Then I think it's what I need to do (reiterated for emphasis)
You cannot save me
You cannot fix my problems for me
You can't even save yourself
You are struggling just as much as I am
Save yourself
You need to find the strength to save yourself
I cannot save you
I cannot fix your problems for you
I can't even save myself
I am struggling just as much as you are
Save yourself
You need to find the strength to save yourself
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Andy Kubiszewski, Christopher Hall, James Eric Sellers, Marcus Eliopulos, Walter Flakus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind