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.
Skipping Stone
Alexz Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never imagined that I would
Be feeling so misunderstood
I'm just following lines
You race in my mind like a car
You've beaten my heart so damn farther
And now I've been pacing the wall
'Cause you're under my hood
Never thought I could
Love you, no never
Never thought that I would
Ever try to be anything better
My heart's beating better alone
And if it is broke
Why let you know?
This heart's not your skipping stone
If I'm sinking water
Then why even bother?
Just leave it alone
Mm
This heart's not your skipping stone
So maybe I should settle down
And find a new man, let him
Throw my world around
All his blueberry lies
I know there isn't a rule
Was left in the dust never
Was taught in school
Mm now, I'm a lovesick fool
Never knew that you
Could just hold me hostage
I'm losing my cool
Through the pain somehow
Don't want you to stop it
My heart's beating better alone
And if it is broke
Why let you know?
This heart's not your skipping stone
If I'm sinking water
Then why even bother?
Just leave it alone
Hmm
'Cause this heart's not your skipping stone
All the time
I never let you in
Was a lie
I wasn't letting you win
And all the days
You let me cry
Was a lie
My heart's beating better alone
And if it is broke
Why let you know?
This heart's not your skipping stone
If I'm sinking water
Why even bother?
Just leave it alone
If it is broke
Why let you know?
This heart's not your skipping stone
If I'm sinking water
Why even bother?
Just leave me alone
This heart's not your skipping stone
Skipping Stone is a song that explores the complicated emotions that come with trying to move on from a toxic relationship. The lyrics convey a sense of feeling trapped and misunderstood, unsure if the pain of the current situation is worth it or if it's time to let go and start anew. The singer contemplates settling for someone new, but ultimately realizes that they deserve better than to be someone's "skipping stone" - someone who is used and discarded as a means to move forward.
The metaphor of a skipping stone is used throughout the song to show how the singer feels used and tossed aside by their partner. They use the metaphor to show that they are not going to be used anymore in a relationship that is not fulfilling or loving. The lyrics also showcase the complex feelings of someone trying to move on. The singer is conflicted about whether or not to end the relationship because they are unsure if they will ever find someone else who will love them the same way.
The song has a melancholic tone in the verses but takes on an empowering feeling in the chorus which gives the listener a feeling of hope that they too can overcome their toxic relationships. Johnson’s vocal performance is stunning and she delivers the emotions of the song with both vulnerability and strength making the listener feel the pain and strength of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I took in the most that I could
I have tried to understand everything that you are and everything in my mind.
I never imagined that I would
I never thought that I would feel this way about anyone.
Be feeling so misunderstood
Even though I have tried to comprehend everything about you, I still cannot comprehend what you want from me.
I'm just following lines
I'm just trying to follow what I think I should do.
You race in my mind like a car
You are constantly in my thoughts just like a speeding car.
You've beaten my heart so damn farther
You've made my heart beat faster and harder than ever before.
And now I've been pacing the wall
I'm feeling restless and anxious because I cannot figure out what you want from me.
'Cause you're under my hood
You have power over me and I cannot control my feelings towards you.
Never thought I could
I never thought that I could love someone this much.
Love you, no never
I never thought that I would fall in love with you.
Never thought that I would
I never imagined that I would feel this way about anyone.
Ever try to be anything better
I never thought that I could be a better person for you.
My heart's beating better alone
I'm better off without you because my heart is happier alone.
And if it is broke
My heart may be damaged and hurt from my love for you.
Why let you know?
I don't want to tell you how hurt I am because of what you have done to me.
This heart's not your skipping stone
My heart is not a game that you can play with and throw away when you want to.
If I'm sinking water
If I'm drowning in my love for you.
Then why even bother?
Why should I even bother telling you how I feel if you don't care?
Just leave it alone
I just need to let go of my love for you and move on.
Mm
Expressing a soft humming sound.
So maybe I should settle down
Maybe I should stop trying to find love and just settle for someone who makes me happy.
And find a new man, let him
I need to move on and find someone else to love.
Throw my world around
Someone who will shake up my world and make me feel alive again.
All his blueberry lies
All the sweet lies that he tells me to make me feel better.
I know there isn't a rule
I know that there is no set way to approach my love life.
Was left in the dust never
I was never taught the rules of love and relationships.
Was taught in school
I didn't learn about love and relationships in school.
Mm now, I'm a lovesick fool
Now, I'm just someone who is blinded by love and cannot think straight because of it.
Never knew that you
I never realized that you had this much power over me.
Could just hold me hostage
You have the power to keep me in love with you even if it is not good for me.
I'm losing my cool
You are affecting me in ways that I cannot control.
Through the pain somehow
Even though I'm hurting because of you, I still love you.
Don't want you to stop it
I want to continue loving you even though it is hurting me.
All the time
Throughout our entire relationship
I never let you in
I never let you see the real me because I was scared of getting hurt.
Was a lie
That was a lie and I realize that now.
I wasn't letting you win
I was trying to hold all of the power in our relationship.
And all the days
Every day that we were together
You let me cry
You hurt me emotionally and made me cry.
My heart's beating better alone
I'm happier alone because my heart is at peace.
If it is broke
If my heart is damaged from loving you.
This heart's not your skipping stone
I won't let my heart be played with like a toy.
If I'm sinking water
If I'm struggling with my love for you
Why even bother?
Why should I continue to try and make this relationship work if it is not meant to be?
Just leave me alone
I need to be left alone to heal and move on from this relationship.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: Alexz Johnson, Jimmy Robbins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Whitney Leeana
Could someone tell me why she isn't as popular as this kind of talent really should be? No sarcasm. Genuinely can't understand. She's so magical.
Tammie Page
Well if she has the passion for it it shouldn’t be about being famous and I love her and everything and I love her music but when you really generally love something you do then you shouldn’t necessarily do it for the same size I think she has it easier because I like other celebrities you know they can’t walk down the street will be mobbed or criticize whatever those may be a little easier like that I mean I’m a huge fan but she might have it easy to worry about cameras being replaced 24 hours a day for people harassing her and all that stuff all the time and plus like my boyfriend always says nowadays when I think I tried to sing from the heart it’s like that music industry doesn’t want them the fans would want them but she won’t and Alex Johnson sings from the heart
Maria Velazco
because the new generation likes shit
Richard J Stuart
Amazing actress too. She blows away the other woman they had playing Saturn Girl.
Tosha Rose
She wants to do it herself so that she has full control of her music. She had a record deal at one time but chose to do it on her own.
xoTrustandBelievexo
Because talent like hers is true and genuine. If she was mega popular then she would lose some of that spark. She would get lost in the pop masses.
Tana C
She honestly has one of the purest & strongest voices I have heard
needlik1
So so many gems with such an empowering perspective. Thank you so much Mrs. Johnson💗
infiniteominous2
One my all time favorite songs!!!
Connie Córdova
You have one song for any moment in my life, your songs are exactly what I need. Thanks for saying what I can't, with you I can find the perfect amount of words I have to say, even if I don't.