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)
Inside Out
Anthrax Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've eaten from the insane root that imprisons reason
It's in my stomach like fire
It's in my stomach like cancer
It's in my stomach like a knife, I've been gunshot
I gotta let it go, yeah
Goddamn no where place to be
Dying deep inside of me
Can't break a hear so strong with pride
It's more than just being alive
I broke the rule with you I'm out
My only antidote to mental suffering is physical pain
The lyrics to Anthrax's song Inside Out describe a feeling of inner turmoil and the struggle to let go of the negative emotions stirring inside. The first two lines suggest that the writer of the song had believed he understood what it meant to be provoked or pushed to the brink, but the following lines elaborate on a deeper, darker understanding. Eating from the "insane root that imprisons reason" implies that the writer has consumed something that has caused a break from rational thought, leaving him feeling trapped and helpless. The next few lines compare the feeling to fire, cancer, and being shot, emphasizing the intensity of the sensation.
The chorus focuses on a feeling of being trapped on the inside looking out, unable to escape from the pain and distress. Breaking a heart with such strength and pride suggests that the bond or connection with the person who caused the pain was very significant, and the last two lines suggest a self-destructive tendency in trying to alleviate mental suffering through physical pain.
The song as a whole seems to describe a moment of extreme emotional turmoil that is difficult to overcome. The writer is grappling with emotions that feel out of control, and despite wishing to let go, feels stuck in a cycle of pain and suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought I knew what provocation was
I believed I understood what it meant to be provoked
I've eaten from the insane root that imprisons reason
I have consumed something that takes away my common sense and logical thinking
It's in my stomach like fire
The feeling is burning inside of me
It's in my stomach like cancer
This sensation is like a disease growing inside of me
It's in my stomach like a knife, I've been gunshot
It's like a sharp object piercing me, even worse than being shot
I gotta let it go, yeah
I need to release this feeling inside of me
Goddamn no where place to be
I'm in a terrible situation with no escape
Dying deep inside of me
I'm slowly losing myself and my will to live
Always standing on the inside looking out
I'm constantly trapped within my own thoughts and unable to escape
Can't break a hear so strong with pride
I can't bring myself to admit I was wrong due to my strong sense of pride
It's more than just being alive
Living is not enough, there is more to life
I broke the rule with you I'm out
I broke the boundaries we set, now I'm leaving
My only antidote to mental suffering is physical pain
The only way I can relieve my emotional pain is by inflicting physical pain on myself
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLIE L. BENANTE, FRANK JOSEPH BELLO, JOHN ROBERT BUSH, SCOTT IAN ROSENFELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Single Malt Whisky Enthusiast
I thought I knew what provocation was
I thought I knew what provocation was
I've eaten from the insane root
That imprisons reason
It's in my stomach like fire, like cancer
And like a knife, I've been gunshot
It's in my stomach like fire, like cancer
And like a knife, I've been gunshot
Gotta let it go, gotta let it go
Gotta let it go
It's in my stomach like fire
In my stomach like cancer
In my stomach like a knife
I've been gunshot
Goddamn, nowhere place to be
Dying deep inside of me
Always standing on the inside
Looking out
Can't break a heart so strong with pride
It's more than just being alive
I broke the rule with you
I'm out
My only antidote to mental suffering
Is physical pain
I've eaten from the insane root
That imprisons reason
I've eaten from the insane root
That imprisons reason
It's in my stomach like fire, like cancer
And like a knife, I've been gunshot
It's in my stomach like fire, like cancer
And like a knife, I've been gunshot
Gotta let it go, gotta let it go
Gotta let it go
It's in my stomach like fire
In my stomach like cancer
In my stomach like a knife
I've been gunshot
Goddamn, nowhere place to be
Dying deep inside of me
Always standing on the inside
Looking out
Can't break a heart so strong with pride
It's more than just being alive
I broke the rule with you
I'm out
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Lyrics:
I thought I knew what provocation was
I thought I knew what provocation was
I've eaten from the insane root that imprisons reason
It's in my stomach like fire, like cancer
And like a knife, I've been gunshot
It's in my stomach like fire, like cancer
And like a knife, I've been gunshot
Gotta let it go, gotta let it go, gotta let it go, yeah
It's in my stomach like fire
In my stomach like cancer
In my stomach like a knife, I've been gunshot
Goddamn, nowhere place to be
Dying deep inside of me
Always standing on the inside looking out
Can't break a heart so strong with pride
It's more than just being alive
I broke the rule with you, I'm out
My only antidote to mental suffering
Is physical pain
I've eaten from the insane root that imprisons reason
I've eaten from the insane root that imprisons reason
It's in my stomach like fire, like cancer
And like a knife, I've been gunshot
It's in my stomach like fire, like cancer
And like a knife, I've been gunshot
Gotta let it go, gotta let it go, gotta let it go, yeah
It's in my stomach like fire
In my stomach like cancer
In my stomach like a knife, I've been gunshot
Goddamn, nowhere place to be
Dying deep inside of me
Always standing on the inside looking out
Can't break a heart so strong with pride
It's more than just being alive
I broke the rule with you, I'm out
Goddamn, nowhere place to be
Dying deep inside of me
Always standing on the inside looking out
Can't break a heart so strong with pride
It's more than just being alive
I broke the rule with you, I'm out, out, out
Goddamn, nowhere place to be
Dying deep inside of me
Always standing on the inside looking out
Can't break a heart so strong with pride
It's more than just being alive
I broke the rule with you, I'm out, yeah
Goddamn, nowhere place to be
Dying deep inside of me
Always standing on the inside looking out
Can't break a heart so strong with pride
It's more than just being alive
I broke the rule with you, I'm out, out, out, out, out
chicapercebe
I thought I knew what provocation was
I've eaten from the insane root that imprisons reason
It's in my stomach like fire
It's in my stomach like cancer
It's in my stomach like a knife, I've been gunshot
I gotta let it go, yeah
Goddamn no where place to be
Dying deep inside of me
Always standing on the inside looking out
Can't break a hear so strong with pride
It's more than just being alive
I broke the rule with you I'm out
My only antidote to mental suffering is physical pain
AHDBW
Real cool that Dime always hung out with these guys and worked with them. Rest in peace Dime. We miss you
RupturedAorta
That Guitar Guy I always see you on comments man even for Testament songs lmao you are a legend
BrOwN3yer0$eBUD
Liar.
David Turney297
Dime was the man
Antibullshit
Dime was good friends with Scott.
madtown99980
This song is so damn good.. such a metal hidden gem 🤟
Rolando Gonzales
Too bad they got the short end of the stick with this album. A total hidden metal gem!
daywilliam 291
Rolando Gonzales i concur
Joshua Synot
Totally agree mate album was so overlooked
Baldr 🏴
Fr, I’m new to anthrax but so far this is my favorite