Alexz Johnson (Born on November 4th, 1986, in New Westminster, British Colu… Read Full Bio ↴Alexz Johnson (Born on November 4th, 1986, in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada) is never quite what you'd think: she is always, instead, a surprise. While she writes intimate, down-to-earth lyrics, they’re delivered with a larger-than-life, crystalline voice. “Growing up I was afraid of it,” she says, about realizing she could sing big as a small child- the sixth in a brood of ten-- in Vancouver. “I thought it would blow me away.” And while at first she might be able to blend into the sea of other fresh-faced, struggling artists on the streets of her current hometown of New York City, she’s actually an entertainment veteran with fifteen years in the industry and a Gemini Award under her belt.

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.

Fade To Black
Alexz Johnson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Three days, eight hours, fourteen minutes gone
You bend, I break like in every song
Maybe I'm too scared to call
Maybe I'm too tough to fall

[CHORUS:]
Everything you are
Everything reminds me of

Everything you are
Fades to black
Everytime I see your face (yeah)
Screaming the secrets wishin'
(oh-oh-oh) only fades to black

I crawl
I fall
Your warm embrace
Feel your tears fall upon my face
What makes me so bullet proof?
What makes me act so moved?

[CHORUS]

Overall Meaning

In Alexz Johnson's song "Fade To Black," there is a clear sense of pain and struggle in the lyrics. The opening lines suggest a sense of time slipping away, as if a relationship is slipping through the singer's fingers. Johnson sings about bending and breaking, highlighting the tension and struggle between two people. It's as if there is a power struggle, one in which the singer is trying to hold on, but ultimately feels helpless to the situation. Perhaps this is why they are too scared to call or too tough to fall. There's a sense of pride or stubbornness, even in the midst of heartbreak.

The chorus of "Fade To Black" is haunting, with Johnson singing about how everything reminds her of the person she's lost. The idea that everything fades to black when she sees their face suggests that there is a sense of finality to the end of the relationship. Even when she wishes to scream the secrets, they only fade away. This is a powerful image, one that suggests that even when two people have a deep connection, there may be things that can't be shared or understood.

Line by Line Meaning

Three days, eight hours, fourteen minutes gone
Time has passed since something happened, and it has been three days, eight hours, and fourteen minutes.

You bend, I break like in every song
In our relationship, you often manipulate me and I am always the one who ends up getting hurt.

Maybe I'm too scared to call
I am afraid to reach out to you because of how you may respond or what you might say.

Maybe I'm too tough to fall
I try to be strong so that I do not appear weak or vulnerable, even though I may be hurting inside.

Everything you are
All the qualities, traits, and actions that make up who you are as a person.

Everything reminds me of
Every experience or thing that I encounter brings up memories of you, whether good or bad.

Fades to black
The memories of you gradually become less vivid and faded over time.

Every time I see your face (yeah)
Whenever I come across an image of you, whether in person, in a photo, or in my mind's eye.

Screaming the secrets wishin'
Feeling a desire to share my deepest thoughts and emotions with you, but also wanting to keep them hidden and suppressed.

(oh-oh-oh) only fades to black
As much as I try to keep these memories and emotions alive, they eventually dissipate and become less significant over time.

I crawl
I am moving forward, but it feels like it is taking a lot of effort and that I am barely making any progress.

I fall
There are times when I stumble and lose my footing, and things feel like they are falling apart around me.

Your warm embrace
The way that you used to hold me close and show me affection and tenderness.

Feel your tears fall upon my face
The feeling of you crying and your tears landing on my skin or being near me during a vulnerable moment.

What makes me so bullet proof?
Why am I able to endure so much pain and still keep going?

What makes me act so moved?
Why do I react so emotionally to things, even though I try to be tough and not show my feelings?

[CHORUS]
This is the repeated refrain of the song that brings together the themes of fading memories and difficult emotions.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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