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
The Prey
ASHES dIVIDE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Caressing our souls away from us
And all of the world to keep us all in line
If we just fold our hands and smile
So many wasted
Promises rhapsodized
Promises to take us higher
Don't be afraid of their excommunication, you'll survive.
We'll have no shame cos you will stand the climb and you will rise.
So many wasted promises rhapsodized
So many wasted Sundays trying to avoid the fire
So many wasted
Promises to take you higher
They pretend to be the one we should be afraid of
Caressing our souls away
So many wasted promises rhapsodized
So many wasted Sundays trying to avoid the fire
I've seen the twisted ways
They push the guilt inside, and made you believe you have to try
To suffer live and die their way
But it doesn't have to be this way.
You don't have to be shaken and confused and
Hang onto anything you can find.
The lyrics to ASHES dIVIDE's song The Prey highlight the theme of oppression in modern society. The song highlights the manipulative tactics used by those in power to control and suppress the masses. The lyrics suggest that those in power are pretending to be the ones to be afraid of, and are caressing the souls of individuals away from them. The world is shown as being under the control of those in authority, with the masses being kept in line as long as they fold their hands and smile. The song suggests that there have been many promises that have been made to elevate individuals, but they have all turned out to be a waste.
The lyrics encourage individuals to not be afraid of their excommunication and to rise above the manipulation and control of those in authority. The song implies that there is no shame in standing up for oneself and not conforming to the expectations of others. The lyrics also elevate individuals who choose to stand against the status quo.
The song ends on a note of hope, stating that people don't have to be shaken and confused and can find their way out of oppression. The Prey is a powerful song that tackles head-on the oppression that is prevalent in modern society.
Line by Line Meaning
They pretend to be the ones to be afraid of
The ones in power pretend to be our enemies to keep control over us.
Caressing our souls away from us
They manipulate and sway our emotions to make us more compliant and easy to control.
And all of the world to keep us all in line
Their tactics extend beyond just us as individuals - they employ tactics on a global scale to maintain their power and control.
If we just fold our hands and smile
By being passive and not questioning their actions, they are able to maintain their manipulative hold over us.
So many wasted promises rhapsodized
They make grand promises that are never fulfilled or even intended to be fulfilled, just to keep us complacent and hopeful.
Promises to take us higher
The promises are made to give us a sense of hope and purpose, but ultimately they are empty and meaningless.
Don't be afraid of their excommunication, you'll survive.
Even if we are cast out or punished for questioning their control, we will still survive and find our own way.
We'll have no shame cos you will stand the climb and you will rise.
We should not let their shaming and guilt tactics hold us back from reaching our full potential and rising above their control.
So many wasted Sundays trying to avoid the fire
They use the threat of punishment and damnation to control us, leading to wasted time and energy trying to avoid their imagined consequences.
I've seen the twisted ways
The artist has personally witnessed and experienced their manipulative tactics.
They push the guilt inside, and made you believe you have to try
They use guilt to make us feel like we have to keep trying and striving to meet their impossible standards and expectations.
To suffer live and die their way
Their way of life is one of suffering, and they want us to accept and perpetuate that lifestyle to maintain their control.
But it doesn't have to be this way.
The singer is acknowledging that there is an alternative to their controlling ways and that change is possible.
You don't have to be shaken and confused and
We don't have to be lost and uncertain under their manipulative tactics.
Hang onto anything you can find.
We should not cling onto false promises or temporary solutions, but instead find our own way and create our own truth.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WILLIAM L. HOWERDEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind