When Instant Star wrapped after four seasons (2005-2008), Alexz endured her share of off-camera drama in her music career, when both Capitol and Epic, respectively, ended up shelving her records due to internal conflicts . "It’s been tough,” she says, “but something always keeps me going. Even with no money in my pocket, things land where they land and you keep moving.” Johnson had completed a full length record entitled Weight in 2008, and was set to release it in September the next year.
Alexz independently released her debut album, Voodoo in 2010 and remixed it in 2011 as Reloaded. She released a compilation of unheard demos in the form of The Basement Recordings (2011), while prepping to release her first EP, Skipping Stone in January 2012. She has also released one live album, Live from the Skipping Stone Tour in December 2012. Johnson later continued to release two more demo compilations, The Basement Recordings 2 and The Basement Recordings 3 in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
Finding success and a loyal fanbase through her independent releases, Johnson's 2014 EP, Heart and sophomore album Let 'Em Eat Cake were both funded through the crowdfunding service Pledgemusic. Heart and Let 'Em Eat Cake both showcase a different side of Johnson, tackling subjects such as heartbreak and loss. The two releases include tracks produced by David Kahne, who has worked with Lana Del Rey, Kelly Clarkson, Regina Spektor, and other artists.
Darkness Round The Sun
Alexz Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somewhere there's an airplane lost, beyond the sky
So fly yourself above the clouds
Live your life where you are now
In the darkness round the sun
There's life behind your eyes
When you've lost the will to run
When the rain falls down so hard
And you don't know where to start
Ohh drowning in the sun
Somewhere someone thinks they've found the perfect love
And you think you've found the answer to all of this
So hang on, sometimes it's real...I'll be your perfect ace
In the darkness round the sun
There's life behind your eyes
When you've lost the will to run
You can feel it start to shine
When the rain falls down so hard
And you don't know where to start
Ohh drowning in the sun
In the darkness round the sun
There's life behind your eyes
When you've lost the will to run
You can feel it start to shine
When the rain falls down so hard
And you don't know where to start
Ohh drowning in the sun
The lyrics to Alexz Johnson's song "Darkness Round the Sun" are reflective in nature and speak to the theme of hope in the midst of difficult circumstances. The opening lines, "Somewhere there's a sea that has no other side/Somewhere there's an airplane lost, beyond the sky," create a sense of mystery and intrigue. The sea with no other side and the lost airplane beyond the sky speak to the idea that there is a vastness and depth to life that cannot always be comprehended or understood.
The chorus, "In the darkness round the sun/There's life behind your eyes/When you've lost the will to run/You can feel it start to shine/When the rain falls down so hard/And you don't know where to start/Ohh drowning in the sun" speaks to the idea that even in the midst of darkness and difficulty, there is still life and light within. The metaphor of the rain falling down so hard and drowning in the sun speaks to the idea of being overwhelmed and lost in life, but still holding on to hope and finding the strength to move forward. The verse, "Somewhere someone thinks they've found the perfect love/And you think you've found the answer to all of this/So hang on, sometimes it's real...I'll be your perfect ace" speaks to the comfort and support that can be found in relationships, particularly during times of struggle.
Overall, the lyrics to "Darkness Round the Sun" speak to the idea that life is complex and full of challenges, but there is always hope and beauty to be found within it. It is a reminder to hold on to the light within oneself, even when the world feels dark and overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere there's a sea that has no other side
There is a vast and endless unknown beyond what we can see or comprehend.
Somewhere there's an airplane lost, beyond the sky
There are things beyond our reach and understanding, unreachable and lost in the infinite beyond.
So fly yourself above the clouds
Don't just settle for what you see, reach higher, beyond what is known and expected.
Live your life where you are now
While keeping our head in the clouds is important, we must also live our lives where we are currently at.
In the darkness round the sun
Even in the darkest of times, there is still light to be found, though it may be difficult to see.
There's life behind your eyes
Life is not just as it appears, there is always more to be seen and experienced.
When you've lost the will to run
When we feel like we can no longer go on, we must still try to press forward.
You can feel it start to shine
Hope can still be found in the midst of darkness and despair.
When the rain falls down so hard
When life is hard and everything feels like a struggle, keep moving forward and don't lose hope.
And you don't know where to start
When life feels overwhelming, it's okay to not know how to proceed.
Ohh drowning in the sun
Even in the brightest of moments, we can still feel overwhelmed and like we're drowning.
Somewhere someone thinks they've found the perfect love
Regardless of how others may appear on the surface, we can never truly know what is going on in their lives.
And you think you've found the answer to all of this
When we think we have everything figured out, life has a way of throwing us curveballs.
So hang on, sometimes it's real...I'll be your perfect ace
Even when things are difficult, hold on and know that help is always available in some way or form.
Contributed by Charlie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Raquel Eras
chills. i get chills every time i hear this.
lupevensie
Thanks so much! I love this version!
Meagan Heyes
i love this song so effin much!!!! its amazing, thanks for uploading!! :). (L)
ElderGodBrandon
i remember her best from the disney series So Wierd
JAiEM_M
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