Anthrax's lineup has changed numerous times over their career, leaving Ian as the only constant member of the band. The band has had a revolving cast of singers and lead guitarists, including Neil Turbin, John Bush, Dan Spitz and Rob Caggiano. Since 2013, the band has consisted of Ian, drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello, vocalist Joey Belladonna and lead guitarist Jonathan Donais. Ian and Benante (who replaced one-time drummer Greg D'Angelo in 1983) are the only two members to appear on every album, while Bello has been a member of Anthrax since 1984, replacing original bassist Dan Lilker. After two stints in Anthrax, from 1984 to 1992 and again from 2005 to 2007, Belladonna returned to the band in 2010.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthrax_(American_band)
Studio albums
Fistful of Metal (1984)
Spreading the Disease (1985)
Among the Living (1987)
State of Euphoria (1988)
Persistence of Time (1990)
Sound of White Noise (1993)
Stomp 442 (1995)
Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998)
We've Come for You All (2003)
Worship Music (2011)
For All Kings (2016)
I'm Alive
Anthrax Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An empty smile
And you're hypnotized
Selling lies, my enterprise
The sheep just get in line
Capitulate so easily
The power of fear
That I'm trafficking
I made the bed your in
As I lead the child to war again
Heaven lives in every gun
I damn you
I'm alive to be the demon
I'm alive to be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Hell it lives in everyone
When your world has slipped away
And all you have is me to pay
Once so proud you beg for more
And spread you legs like some dirty whore
As I lead the child to war again
Heaven lives in every gun
I damn you
I'm alive to be the demon
I'm alive to be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Hell it lives in everyone
I'm alive to be the demon
I'm alive to be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Hell it lives in everyone
I'm invited in
One nation under me
As I lead the child to war again
As I lead the child to war
As I lead the child to war
Heaven lives in every gun
I'm alive to be the demon
I'm alive to be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Hell it lives in everyone
I'm alive to be the demon
I'm alive to be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Hell it lives in everyone
I'm alive to be the demon
I'm alive to be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Hell it lives in everyone
The lyrics of "I'm Alive" by Anthrax is a commentary on the power of fear and how it can be used to control people. The song is sung from the perspective of a manipulative individual who uses fear to manipulate and control those around him. The opening lines, "Look in my holy eyes, An empty smile, And you're hypnotized" suggest that the singer is charismatic and convincing.
The lyrics "Years of sleep have made you blind, I made the bed you're in" speak to the idea that people have become complacent and are willing to accept whatever they are told without question. This complacency allows the singer to lead them to war again and again, with the line "Heaven lives in every gun" suggesting that there is some sort of twisted righteousness in going to war.
The chorus, with lines like "I'm alive to be the demon, I'm alive to be the one" suggests that the singer revels in his power over others, and is even proud of the fear he instills. The final lines, "One nation under me, As I lead the child to war again" suggest that the singer's influence is vast and far-reaching.
Line by Line Meaning
Look in my holy eyes
I am portraying myself as a deity and commanding you to look into my eyes.
An empty smile
My smile is insincere and only serves to further manipulate you.
And you're hypnotized
You are under my control, unable to resist my power and influence.
Selling lies, my enterprise
I profit from deceiving and misleading others.
The sheep just get in line
People blindly follow my lead without questioning my motives or actions.
Capitulate so easily
Others surrender to my authority without resistance, further fueling my ego.
The power of fear
My control over others is fueled by their fear of me and the consequences of opposing me.
That I'm trafficking
I am using fear to manipulate and control others for my own gain.
Years of sleep have made you blind
Years of complacency and inaction have made it easy for me to gain control over you.
I made the bed your in
I am responsible for creating the situation you are currently in and use it to maintain control over you.
Heaven lives in every gun
My violent actions and the destruction I cause are justified by religious dogma and ideology.
I damn you
I curse you for resisting my control and threaten you with punishment.
I'm alive to be the demon
I revel in being evil and causing harm to others.
Hell it lives in everyone
All people have the capacity for evil and violence, and I am just exploiting it for my own gain.
When your world has slipped away
When everything else has failed and you are left with nothing, I will still be here to exploit you.
And all you have is me to pay
I am the only option left for you and will take advantage of your desperation.
Once so proud you beg for more
I will make you submit to me and beg for my mercy, even if you were once strong and independent.
And spread you legs like some dirty whore
I will use your vulnerability and desperation to exploit you sexually and emotionally.
I'm invited in
I am welcomed and encouraged by society to abuse my power and control others.
One nation under me
I seek to control and dominate an entire nation, reducing its people to mere subjects under my rule.
As I lead the child to war again
I am willing to lead young and innocent people into violence and conflict to further my own goals.
Hell it lives in everyone
All people have the potential for evil and violence, and I am just exploiting it for my own gain.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANK BELLO, CHARLIE BENANTE, SCOTT ROSENFELD, JOSEPH BELLARDINI, DANIEL NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joeblo4016
Anthrax has been the soundtrack if my life. I was thrashing to them as an 8 yr. Old, still my favorite at 43. Thanks for all the years of metal!
@josephgodinez70
Still listening at 51.
@rsalp
@@josephgodinez70 me too. 51 and metal driven!
@markflores4876
Cool bro! I've been listening to metal since i was 7 years old thanks to my older brother! First started with Motley Crue! I'm 47 now!
@klausdebunker9176
Youngster... Welcome aboard.
@adityapathak4895
Best single of 'Worship Music' album!
Yeah!
@professorworm3426
Really was. I'm old school thrash. DRI, Suicidal Tendencies, all that...
I love that this album was a re-awakening of sorts for the band, going back to their roots but with the experience under their belts to carry it. This song wasn't that... But it was good on a level that I dunno if even they fully realize. Otherwise it would have been track 1 or 2.
Side note, I almost got to see them on this tour. My older brother's band was supposed to open for them here in Seattle. Right up until Metal Church stepped in and said they wanted that spot instead. I mean, how are they gonna say no to that? But... Aww heck.
@kirkwilson6864
What else can I add? What I needed at this point in my life. I'm 50 to and this like most metal and hard Rock still kick ASS
@MrA5htaroth
The first thrash metal I ever heard was Anthrax singing "It's a Madhouse" live on Radio 1's Friday Rock Show. I guess I must have been about 12 and was a confirmed metalhead mostly into the English scene, like Motorhead and Iron Maiden. I had a little radio with just a single mono earpiece, but what I heard changed the way I looked at music for ever. I love the Bush era, especially WHCFYA, but it's great to hear Joey back in the band, right?
@michaelorberg7040
This song grabs you from the beginning and gets inside you. I haven't been able to stop listening to it for some time now. I love the intensity of Anthrax.