Stone was born in Chewelah, Washington, a small town about 45 minutes north of Spokane with a population of approximately 1,500 people. When Allen was 18, he moved from his home town to Spokane, Washington, where he attended community college for a semester followed by Bible School. Not long after, he moved to Seattle, Washington.
He has self-released two records, "Last To Speak" (2010) and the self-title sophomore release "Allen Stone" (2011).
On his self-titled sophomore album - an independent self-release which hit digital shelves October 4, Allen has pushed his sound and lyricism to a greater level of noted individuality. It touches upon a range of styles and themes. Integrating classic soul, catchy pop hooks, r&b beats and folk roots with lyrical matters of testimonial broken relationships, poisonous politics and the age-old topic of simple, pure celebration. Stone's music is notable for his finely crafted evocative songs and a fresh, smooth, soul-filled voice-one that certainly belies his age.
Allen Stone has shot up the R&B/Soul charts on iTunes, peaking at the number 2 spot, and hit #29 and #62 on the Billboard Heatseekers and R&B/Hip Hop Album charts, respectively, and has garnered national praise - USA Today called him a "pitch-perfect powerhouse" - all without any support of a label, publisher, or publicist.
Stone's soulful sound has been compared to Stevie Wonder and Prince.
What I've Seen
Allen Stone Lyrics
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And public opinion is either left or it's right, no, no, no
No progression, we just argue and fight
For centuries, we've been dig and devise
And every time I open my eyes
It seems my nightmare's come back to life
I'm singing, well, if you saw what I have seen
What is real and what's just a dream
I'm singin', well, if you saw what I have seen
The heart of man is just blackened with greed
Wanting more than he will ever need
Cancerous from the root to the seed
Gain a fortune, but your soul is the feed
And every time I open my eyes
It seems my nightmare's come back to life
I'm singing, well, if you saw what I have seen
You would get lost in between
What is real and what's just a dream
I'm singin', well, if you saw what I have seen, yeah
Well, if you saw what I have seen, yeah
You would get lost in between, ah
What is real and what's just a dream
I'm singin', well, if you saw what I have seen
What I have seen, yeah
What I have seen, yeah,Politicians manipulate minds
And public opinion is either left or it's right, no, no, no
No progression, we just argue and fight
For centuries, we've been dig and devise
And every time I open my eyes
It seems my nightmare's come back to life
I'm singing, well, if you saw what I have seen
You would get lost in between
What is real and what's just a dream
I'm singin', well, if you saw what I have seen
The heart of man is just blackened with greed
Wanting more than he will ever need
Cancerous from the root to the seed
Gain a fortune, but your soul is the feed
And every time I open my eyes
It seems my nightmare's come back to life
I'm singing, well, if you saw what I have seen
You would get lost in between
What is real and what's just a dream
I'm singin', well, if you saw what I have seen, yeah
Well, if you saw what I have seen, yeah
You would get lost in between, ah
What is real and what's just a dream
I'm singin', well, if you saw what I have seen
What I have seen, yeah
What I have seen, yeah
In Allen Stone's song "What I've Seen," he presents a scathing critique of the state of society, particularly the actions of politicians and the greed of humanity. Stone argues that politicians manipulate the public's opinion, leading to a stagnant lack of progress in society. He also describes the greed of humanity, which has led to the destruction of society from the root to the seed. Stone's lyrics paint a bleak picture of the state of society, presenting it as a nightmare that continually comes back to life.
Stone's repetition of the phrase "if you saw what I have seen" serves as a warning to listeners, urging them to open their eyes and see the harsh realities that he has witnessed. The lyrics also suggest that these problems are not new and that they have been present for centuries. However, Stone hopes for a change, and his use of the present tense implies that there is still an opportunity to fix things.
Overall, "What I've Seen" is a powerful song that highlights the need for change in society. Through his lyrics, Stone urges listeners to open their eyes, confront harsh realities, and work towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Politicians manipulate minds
Elected officials shape thoughts and opinions
And public opinion is either left or it's right, no, no, no
There's no room for ideas outside of the left or right political spectrum
No progression, we just argue and fight
Society fails to move forward as we just argue and fight
For centuries, we've been dig and devise
As a civilization, we've been continuously scheming and plotting
And every time I open my eyes
Every time I wake up and face reality
It seems my nightmare's come back to life
My fears and anxieties become very real
I'm singing, well, if you saw what I have seen
Expressing a wish for others to understand my point of view
You would get lost in between
You'd be confused trying to differentiate between reality and illusions
What is real and what's just a dream
The line between reality and fantasy is blurry
The heart of man is just blackened with greed
The innermost desires of a human being are consumed with self-centeredness
Wanting more than he will ever need
Endlessly chasing for what can never truly satisfy
Cancerous from the root to the seed
Completely corrupt and disease-ridden from the very beginning
Gain a fortune, but your soul is the feed
The wealth you've amassed comes at the cost of your soul
Well, if you saw what I have seen, yeah
Further emphasizing that others don't understand his perspective
You would get lost in between, ah
They would be just as confused trying to tell apart what's real and what's not
What is real and what's just a dream
The line between reality and fantasy is blurry
What I have seen, yeah
Reiterating the point that his experiences are unique and hard to understand
What I have seen, yeah
Reiterating the point that his experiences are unique and hard to understand
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: HEIDI LISSETT ROJAS, ALLEN NATHAN STONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind