The proficient musician played nearly every instrument on the upcoming album. The drums were handled by his A Perfect Circle band mate Josh Freese. Maynard James Keenan’s 11 year old son, Devo, added some gorgeous cello. With Howerdel providing such a rich and layered production style to the sessions, legendary engineer, Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails) was enlisted to mix the results. Fans of APC and bands like The Cure and Smashing Pumpkins will fall for the album’s alluring blend of rock bombast and dark atmospherics. The internet has been buzzing about the debut single “The Stone,” and rock and alternative radio has already added the song to their rotations. The album, Keep Telling Myself It’s All Right, will be released in March. In the meantime, Howerdel is putting a touring band together for a worldwide tour.
United States
2005
Stripped Away
ASHES dIVIDE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell myself it's OK cause you say you're finding me pretty
Enough
Stripped away
Something I'll never get back someday
I'm stuck in doubt, looking for the door that leads me out
I'm just a little child, you stripped away.
Something I'll never get back someday.
Who're you, enrage, as I bleed and still you know I'm late
To feel obscene,
Love to find but from a past,
You've heard but never seen,
You're so scared that I...
Refuse to lay down tonight,
And tolerate your words...
Stand up for myself if I'm on your knees
You're finding me pretty enough...
I finally see the light tonight
Have I been pathetic enough?
You will feel its hurting tight tonight
And all from this little child
All from a little child, who's finally turned away
All from a little child, who's finally turned away
Drift away...
Come back some day...
The lyrics of “Stripped Away” by ASHES dIVIDE depict the emotional struggle of an abused victim, trying to cope up with a deteriorating relationship. The song highlights the feelings of betrayal and vulnerability while the victim is trying to hold onto their self-worth. The lyrics, “Motivate to forget so I can endure your words” emphasize the victim's painful efforts to overcome the negative impacts of the abuser's words. Despite the abuser's manipulations, the victim tries to console themselves by believing the abuser still finds them pretty enough. The phrase “Stripped Away” is used as a metaphor for the victim losing important aspects of their personality and self-esteem while they're consumed by the toxic relationship.
The chorus amplifies the theme of helplessness as the singer is “stuck in doubt, looking for the door that leads me out.” The repetition of the phrase, “I'm just a little child, stripped away,” throws light on how the victim feels powerless and vulnerable, stripped of their basic rights, and struggling to escape the abusive relationship. The second verse conveys the victim's confusion; they're bleeding, enraging, and feeling obscene, but their abuser portrays an image of self-righteousness to the world. The victim is struggling to find a way out of the turbulent and traumatic relationship and finally realizes that they need to “Stand up for myself if I'm on your knees.” Despite the pain they've experienced, the victim still hopes the abuser will feel the pain's magnitude one day.
Line by Line Meaning
Motivate to forget so I can endure your words
I try to forget your hurtful words by convincing myself that they are okay.
Tell myself it's OK cause you say you're finding me pretty Enough
My self-worth relies on your approval of my appearance.
Stripped away
I have been emotionally stripped of my happiness and confidence.
Something I'll never get back someday
I fear that I may never be able to regain my lost sense of self.
I'm stuck in doubt, looking for the door that leads me out
My mind is clouded with uncertainty, and I am searching for a way to escape this pain.
I'm just a little child, stripped away
I feel helpless and vulnerable like a child who has been emotionally abused.
Who're you, enrage, as I bleed and still you know I'm late
You continue to inflict pain upon me relentlessly, despite the damage you've already caused.
To feel obscene, Love to find but from a past, You've heard but never seen, You're so scared that I...
I yearn to be loved but my traumatic experiences from the past, though you're aware of them, make you afraid to love me.
Refuse to lay down tonight, And tolerate your words...
I refuse to let you hurt me anymore; I won't tolerate your abusive behavior.
Stand up for myself if I'm on your knees
Even if I feel powerless and small in your presence, I will try to stand up for myself.
I finally see the light tonight
I have reached a moment of clarity and realization about the toxic nature of our relationship.
Have I been pathetic enough?
I question the depth of my own self-loathing and whether or not I have brought this suffering upon myself.
You will feel its hurting tight tonight
I hope that you will feel the pain that you have brought upon me.
And all from this little child
All of this pain and suffering has been inflicted upon me, a defenseless child at heart.
Who's finally turned away
I have finally found the strength to turn away from this abusive relationship.
Drift away...
I am slowly and deliberately moving further away from you and our toxic relationship.
Come back some day...
Perhaps one day in the future we can reconcile, but for now I need to distance myself from this pain.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WILLIAM L. HOWERDEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind