The band has released four EPs and two albums, titled Never Happy, Ever After, which was released by Fearless Records on 20 of April 2015 in Europe and on 21 April 2015 in the US. and okay., which was released on 20 January 2017.
As It Is has been described as a pop punk band with a "melodic, earnest, emo-inspired" sound, compared to the early material of Taking Back Sunday and The Starting Line. Their album Never Happy, Ever After has been described as emo and pop punk, while their album okay. takes a slightly heavier turn, while still keeping with their roots.
In October 2017, it was announced that Andy Westhead was no longer a member of As It Is, and the band would continue as a fourpiece into the future.
In 2018 the band released the emo and post-hardcore inspired album 'The Great Depression'.
Ronnie Ish joined As It Is as touring guitarist for Warped Tour but was eventually made a permanent member
As of January of 2021 both Ben Biss and Patrick Foley have stepped down as members.
In August of 2022, bassist Alistair Testo also left the band
Austen
As It Is Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They spoke of your golden heart
Now the air in the room is cold
As your memories fall apart
(You fear the silence)
So I keep the words coming
(You only remember that)
(We might expect it)
But my heart's still filled with dread
And words I never said
(Words I never said)
Give me strength to see you weak
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
I know you're tired, but please don't sleep
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
You've been claimed by your suffering
Sinking deeper in your pain
If you made a recovery
Could you ever be the same?
(You fear the silence)
So I keep the words coming
(You only remember that)
Once all the clocks stop running
(We might expect it)
But my heart's still filled with dread
And words I never said
(Words I never said)
Give me strength to see you weak
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
I know you're tired, but please don't sleep
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
I tower over your hospital bed
Like you used to with me
I tower over your hospital bed
Like you used to
Strength to see you weak
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
Give me strength to see you weak
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
I know you're tired, but please don't sleep
'Cause I can't bear to let you, bear to let you leave
The lyrics of "Austen" by As It Is convey a deeply emotional and heartbreaking message about a loved one's deteriorating health. The singer reflects on the stories and memories shared by their father, which highlighted the golden heart of the person in question. However, as time passes, the air in the room becomes cold, symbolizing the growing distance and loss of connection. The memories start to fall apart, indicating the effect of the loved one's declining health on their ability to remember and engage with the world.
The chorus reveals the singer's fear of silence, as they try to keep conversation flowing in order to distract from the inevitable. They can't bear the thought of the loved one leaving and desperately wish to hold on. The verses continue this theme, expressing the singer's plea for strength to witness their loved one's weakness, as they can't bear to let them go. The suffering and pain they experience, coupled with the uncertainty of whether a recovery will bring them back to their former self, adds to the emotional weight of the song.
Towards the end, the lyrics illustrate the role reversal between the singer and their loved one. They now stand by the hospital bed, metaphorically "towering over" them, echoing the care and protection the loved one once provided. The repeated plea for strength to witness their weakness reaffirms the singer's struggle to accept the impending departure.
Overall, "Austen" portrays the emotional turmoil and anguish of witnessing a loved one's deteriorating health, and the intense desire to hold onto their presence, even if it means facing their pain and suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
All the stories my father told
The singer recalls the stories their father shared, which portrayed the person they are addressing as having a kind and compassionate nature.
They spoke of your golden heart
The stories emphasized the person's warm and loving personality.
Now the air in the room is cold
The atmosphere has become tense and distant, indicating a change in the relationship.
As your memories fall apart
The person's memories are deteriorating, causing distress and sadness.
(You fear the silence)
The person is afraid of silence and its implications.
So I keep the words coming
To ease their fear of silence, the singer constantly speaks.
(You only remember that)
Despite the singer's efforts, the person only recalls the negative aspects or difficult times.
(We might expect it)
The artist acknowledges that this outcome was somewhat anticipated.
But my heart's still filled with dread
Despite anticipating the outcome, the artist's heart is still heavy with worry and anxiety.
And words I never said
The artist regrets not expressing certain things to the person before their memory began to fade.
Give me strength to see you weak
The singer asks for strength to witness the person in a vulnerable state.
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
The artist is unwilling to let go of the person, even if it means they are suffering.
I know you're tired, but please don't sleep
Even though the person is exhausted, the singer pleads with them to stay awake and hold on.
You've been claimed by your suffering
The person has become consumed by their pain and struggles.
Sinking deeper in your pain
Their pain continues to intensify, causing them to mentally and emotionally decline.
If you made a recovery
If the person were to improve or overcome their suffering
Could you ever be the same?
The artist questions if the person would return to their previous self even after recovering.
I tower over your hospital bed
The singer takes on a position of authority and strength while watching over the person's sickbed.
Like you used to with me
Recalling how the person would take care of and protect the singer in the past.
Strength to see you weak
Once again, the artist asks for strength to witness the person in a vulnerable state.
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
The artist refuses to let go of the person, even in their weakened state.
Give me strength to see you weak
Continuing to request the emotional strength to witness the person's vulnerability.
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
Persisting in their reluctance to let go of the person, regardless of the circumstances.
I know you're tired, but please don't sleep
The artist begs the person not to give in to their exhaustion and pass away.
'Cause I can't bear to let you, bear to let you leave
The singer desperately holds on to the person, unwilling to let them go.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: ALISTAIR IAN TESTO, ANDREW FLETCHER WESTHEAD, BENJAMIN IZZY BISS, MICHAEL JOSEPH GREEN, PATRICK MICHAEL FOLEY, PATRICK THOMAS WALTERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BASHEDET two BASHEDET
All the stories my father told
They spoke of your golden heart
Now the air in the room is cold
As your memories fall apart
(You fear the silence)
So I keep the words coming
(You only remember that)
Once all the clocks stop running
(We might expect it)
But my heart's still filled with dread
And words I never said
(Words I never said)
Give me strength to see you weak
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
I know you're tired, but please don't sleep
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
You've been claimed by your suffering
Sinking deeper in your pain
If you made a recovery
Could you ever be the same?
(You fear the silence)
So I keep the words coming
(You only remember that)
Once all the clocks stop running
(We might expect it)
But my heart's still filled with dread
And words I never said
(Words I never said)
Give me strength to see you weak
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
I know you're tired, but please don't sleep
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
I tower over your hospital bed
Like you used to with me
I tower over your hospital bed
Like you used to...
Strength to see you weak
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
Give me strength to see you weak
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
I know you're tired, but please don't sleep
'Cause I can't bear to let you, bear to let you leave
BASHEDET two BASHEDET
All the stories my father told
They spoke of your golden heart
Now the air in the room is cold
As your memories fall apart
(You fear the silence)
So I keep the words coming
(You only remember that)
Once all the clocks stop running
(We might expect it)
But my heart's still filled with dread
And words I never said
(Words I never said)
Give me strength to see you weak
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
I know you're tired, but please don't sleep
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
You've been claimed by your suffering
Sinking deeper in your pain
If you made a recovery
Could you ever be the same?
(You fear the silence)
So I keep the words coming
(You only remember that)
Once all the clocks stop running
(We might expect it)
But my heart's still filled with dread
And words I never said
(Words I never said)
Give me strength to see you weak
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
I know you're tired, but please don't sleep
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
I tower over your hospital bed
Like you used to with me
I tower over your hospital bed
Like you used to...
Strength to see you weak
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
Give me strength to see you weak
'Cause I can't bear to let you leave
I know you're tired, but please don't sleep
'Cause I can't bear to let you, bear to let you leave
Ecza
No worries, it happens!
Lolrus
Yeah, Ecza is right, otherwise it'd mean I can't strip you naked to let you leave or something which is pretty weird 😂
Ecza
No, he used the right spelling. It's "bear" in this context.
Lolrus
Alex Bashedet It sort of sounds like "you won't remember that" to me, but I may be wrong.
Thy Art Is Vlogging
"Give me strength to see you weak, cause I can't bare to let you leave." Visiting my papa who is dying of Alzheimers and I am gonna sing this to him. he loves it when I sing.
zestymoonbeam
The truth behind the lyrics is incredible. It's a sad song, but very accurate.
zestymoonbeam
+TøxicFreak Thanks for reposting that. I was going to direct TheRichRoom to genius .com myself if I had seen the reply sooner. +TheRichRoom If you go to genius .com and search for this song, all the lyrics are up already with the quote that TøxicFreak shared. Personally, I think the song is written in a way that many people can identify with the message even though Ben's grandfather didn't pass away; it still has a lot of the emotion felt by people who actually do lose those loved ones.
Universo Zero - DBS
As It Is rhythm guitarist Benjamin Langford-Biss shared with Rock Sound:
"Austen is my grandfather’s name. When I left for the studio the last thing I did was visit him in hospital and honestly I didn’t like seeing him in the pain he was in.
There was this fear inside me that it might have been the last time I saw him. The song is not about him dying (because he is still going strong) but those moments when you really fear the inevitable."
TheRichRoom
zestymoonbeam Can you explain what the song is deeply about. I wanted to see all the lyrics in the description but I can't find them.