Alpha, their second album, also had a couple of hits ("Don't Cry" and "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes") but its follow-up, Astra, was a flop. The group disbanded in 1985, only to reunite in 1990 without John Wetton; John Payne took his place. After churning out a couple of new songs for a greatest-hits collection, the band hit the road, including two sold-out dates in front of 20,000 fans in Moscow. Thereafter, they toured sporadically and released Aqua (1992), Aria (1994), Arena (1996), Aura (2001), and Silent Nation (2004). The band's lineup reverted to its original form featuring Wetton, Palmer, Howe, and Downes for Phoenix (2008) and Omega (2010). In 2012, the original Asia lineup returned with the studio album XXX, featuring the single "Face on the Bridge." The following year, Howe announced his amicable departure from the group to pursue other projects, and in 2014 Asia released the album Gravitas, featuring new guitarist Sam Coulson. In January 2017, a month and a half before the scheduled beginning of an extensive U.S. tour by the band, John Wetton died from colon cancer at the age of 67.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
There is another band with the same name:
2) Asia was an excellent hard rock band with a drive for epic, pomp-filled rock tunes. The band was from Rapid City, South Dakota and should not be confused with the famous U.K. one, which sadly outshone them and ended up rendering the U.S. group highly obscure despite the U.S. one's critical support. Going for a loose instrumental energy similar to Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, their eventual line-up was made up of Michael English (vocals, bass, percussion), Larry Galbraith (vocals, guitars, mandolin), Mike Coates (guitars, mandolin, mellotron, piano, harpsichord, vocals), and Doug Johnson (percussion). They released two albums: 'Asia' (1979) and 'Armed to the Teeth' (1980).
Forgive Me
Asia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Washing out the lie
Living inside me
Life's not hard
Now I'm on t.v.
This sudden twist of fate
I am direct salvation
I can promise that you'll be saved
Forgive me, world
I'm just a man who's lost his way
Forgive me, these two words I pray
It's time to make a change
Yesterday was a different day
Thought I knew the answer
A vision in my mind
Search my soul
And then you will find
A shelter for my pain
The truth is in the open
And now my heart has spoken
Hoping maybe you'll hear my cry
Forgive me, world
I'm just a man who's lost his way
Forgive me, these two words I pray
It's time to make a change
Forgive me, world
I'm just a man who sins today
Forgive me, these two words I pray
My faith is still the same
Maybe I can't change the past
Maybe love can bring us back
Maybe we can try and start again.
Forgive me, world
The first verse of the song "Forgive Me" by Asia talks about a change in the singer's life. They feel like a wave is washing away an internal lie they have been living with, and all of a sudden, they find themselves on television as a direct salvation for people who just need to send in a donation to be saved. The singer asks the world for forgiveness because they are lost and unsure of the direction their life is taking. They admit that they don't have an answer to everything and are struggling to find their way.
In the second verse, the singer reflects on how yesterday seemed different, and they thought they had an answer. However, the vision they had in their mind didn't turn out to be true, and they are left searching their soul for a shelter from the pain. They acknowledge that the truth is now out in the open, and they hope that the world will hear their plea for forgiveness. The singer prays for the world to forgive them, knowing that they have sinned.
Overall, "Forgive Me" is a song about the difficulties of life, especially when things don't go as planned. The singer acknowledges their own mistakes and is seeking redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Silent wave coming down on me
I'm feeling overwhelmed by a strong emotion that's washing over me like a wave, without any sound or warning.
Washing out the lie
This emotion is helping me see the truth and wash away the lies that were inside of me.
Living inside me
These lies were a part of me, and I was living with them until now.
Life's not hard
With this new clarity, life doesn't seem as hard anymore.
Now I'm on t.v.
My life has taken a sudden turn, and I'm now on TV as a result of it.
This sudden twist of fate
This turn of events is unexpected and could be seen as fate or destiny.
I am direct salvation
I can offer a direct and simple solution to people's problems.
Just send in your donation
All I need is a donation from you, and I'll provide the solution you're looking for.
I can promise that you'll be saved
I'm making a promise that my solution will save you.
Forgive me, world
I'm asking for forgiveness from the world.
I'm just a man who's lost his way
I'm admitting that I've made mistakes and gone astray from the right path.
These two words I pray
All I can do is pray for forgiveness and hope these two words can help me achieve it.
It's time to make a change
I'm aware that change is necessary and it's time for me to take action.
Yesterday was a different day
In the past, I thought I knew the answer to everything, but today is different.
Thought I knew the answer
I used to believe that I had all the answers to life's questions.
A vision in my mind
But now I see things differently, I have a new vision in my mind.
Search my soul
I need to look deep inside myself to find the answers I'm seeking.
And then you will find
Only then will I be able to find the answers I'm looking for.
A shelter for my pain
I'm hoping to find a place of comfort to ease my pain.
The truth is in the open
I've finally found the truth, and it's out in the open for all to see.
And now my heart has spoken
I'm speaking from my heart and being true to myself.
Hoping maybe you'll hear my cry
I'm hoping that others will be able to hear my plea and offer their support.
I'm just a man who sins today
I'm only human, and I still make mistakes and have flaws.
My faith is still the same
But my faith and beliefs remain unchanged despite my mistakes.
Maybe I can't change the past
I'm accepting that I can't change what's already happened.
Maybe love can bring us back
But I still believe that love can heal and bring people together.
Maybe we can try and start again.
And maybe, just maybe, we can try to rebuild and start anew.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY SANTIS, GEOFF DOWNES, JOHN PAYNE, RICHARD TANCREDI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Per-Ivar Sandbæk
What a great album this is!!! I've always been a fan of Asia ever since the beginning and I'm not afraid to say that I love both Asia eras. This idiotic everlasting argument on who's best of Wetton or Payne is just plain stupid. Okey I like Wetton but that isn't the same as I'm gonna put Payne down. John Payne has brought so much to the table and Asia released many really good albums with Payne on vocals. Different styles but both of them are extremely talented and gifted.
TheBimmerfan
Per-Ivar Sandbæk Great feetback, can't be said better. The same here. Asia with Payne has some very good albums. No need to compare.
John Williams
+Per-Ivar Sandbæk : Agree, but John Wetton is a better singer. With that being said, John Payne is good with his own music. The albums recorded with Payne on vocals are not bad at all and enjoyable. He is actually terrible doing any of the classic Asia songs. He really needs to drop the Asia name and find his own niche, and NEVER play any classic Asia.
Happywarrior
+John Williams
It'd be hard to tell the man to drop the name of a band he has a claim to. This is a never-ending argument and both sides are right in their own way. Personally, I think Payne did more than his share to keep the band alive and relevant long after Wetton himself and MTV had given up on Asia. Payne co-wrote, played and sang in five great albums and had the business savvy to buy most shares of the name Asia. No one can ask a man to give that up.
John Williams
+philosopher2king : You're right, Well said. At least both bands really don't have the same name, one is Asia and the other is Asia Featuring John Payne. I still stand behind what I said a few months back that John Payne should not sing the classic Asia songs where John Wetton sang, for one, he isn't doing the songs justice at all and second, Geoffry Downes is no longer partnered with Payne where at the time it was acceptable in doing so as Downes was an original member and co-writer to those songs. I can't figure why Payne sings his songs so good, yet can't sing the classic songs good. It isn't because I am used to the classic songs sung a certain way, it's just Payne can't pull it off for me.
Ruben Saenz
philosopher2king sad thing is that they need to give John Payne a chance to come back and do some shows with Asia and record another studio album.
Claude B.
great song! Asia made a few awesome albums but this one is the best!
Moises Aranda Angel
I love this soul, it has something magic
Moises Aranda Angel
Que buena rola, m8 album favorito de asia, Aura
Silva 2015
Rapaz, parabéns pela postagem do video ... Sou fan do Ásia... Valeu