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).
Obsession
Asia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deep inside I bleed from the blade within
Can I reach the burning, burning moon
Can I change this madness, lust consume
Breathing out and breathing in - begin
Suddenly I wake from a calling sweat
Blood red water on my head
What would another good sin reveal
Breathing out and breathing in
I can't fight the drug within
Feel the first hit to the heart
You're my shot, your my obsession
Hear the voices say
I can't turn and walk away - yeah
You're my shot, your my obsession
Hear the voices
Oh - how I need to hold onto fire to win
Pumping through my veins love's adrenalin
Can you hear those voices
Breathing out and breathing in
I can't fight the drug within
Feel the first hit to the heart
You're my shot, your my obsession
Hear the voices say
I can't turn and walk away - yeah
you're my shot, your my obsession
Hear the voices say
The lyrics of Obsession by Asia revolve around the idea of addiction and the uncontrollable desire for a person or a feeling. The opening lines of the song, "Can I feel your hair soft on wet skin, deep inside I bleed from the blade within" suggest a longing for physical intimacy and the pain that comes with it. The imagery of the burning moon and changing madness conveys a sense of desperation and an attempt to escape reality through lust and desire.
The second verse portrays a sense of confusion and uncertainty as the singer wakes up from a dream with blood red water on their head, questioning if it was all just a dream or if the "flesh was so real". The repeated lines "Breathing out and breathing in, I can't fight the drug within, feel the first hit to the heart" further emphasize the addictive nature of the desire and the inability to control it.
The chorus, "You're my shot, your my obsession, hear the voices say, I can't turn and walk away" highlights the idea that the object of the singer's desire has become their source of addiction, and they are unable to resist it. The final lines of the song, "Oh - how I need to hold onto fire to win, pumping through my veins love's adrenalin, can you hear those voices" portrays the intensity of the desire, and the need to hold onto it even though it may lead to destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Can I feel your hair soft on wet skin
I desire the intimacy of feeling your hair on my skin as we are both wet.
Deep inside I bleed from the blade within
I am hurting and my inner turmoil is causing me to suffer.
Can I reach the burning, burning moon
Can I attain something that seems impossible or out of reach, like touching the moon?
Can I change this madness, lust consume
I wonder if I can overcome my overpowering obsession with lust and be in control of my own psyche.
Breathing out and breathing in - begin
I am taking a deep breath, trying to start fresh and begin anew.
Suddenly I wake from a calling sweat
I wake up suddenly, perspiring and feeling anxious or distressed.
Blood red water on my head
I am feeling the pain of guilt and shame, with blood symbolizing the weight of my wrongdoings.
Was I only dreaming the flesh so real
I wonder if my sexual fantasies were just figments of my imagination or if they were actually real experiences.
What would another good sin reveal
I am contemplating the consequences of giving in to another temptation, wondering if it will lead to more pain or pleasure.
I can't fight the drug within
I am struggling to resist the overpowering hold that my obsession has over me, feeling like it is beyond my control.
Feel the first hit to the heart
I am feeling the initial rush of attraction and infatuation that is impacting my heart and my emotions.
You're my shot, your my obsession
You are the person or thing that I am addicted to or fixated on, as if you were a drug.
Hear the voices say
I am hearing the inner dialogue of my own thoughts, struggling to make sense of my feelings.
I can't turn and walk away - yeah
I feel like I am powerless to resist the pull of my obsession or to walk away from it.
Oh - how I need to hold onto fire to win
I feel like I need to take risks or embrace danger in order to get what I want or feel passionate about.
Pumping through my veins love's adrenalin
I am feeling the excitement and rush of adrenaline that comes with being in love or infatuated with someone or something.
Can you hear those voices
I am asking if others can hear the same inner voices that I am hearing, suggesting that these struggles with obsession and desire are common and relatable.
Contributed by London N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sam808tt2
God why isn't this song huge? It's amazing!!
@adrianbradley8513
I cant believe that this is a bonus track because the first time that I ever heard it on the Aqua album I loved it from the first note. I have to admit some of their albums were mediocre eg Arena but from their last more resurgence albums Phoenix and so one they have been excellent.
@daveg7896
Better song than most others from Aqua.
@trfesok
In my Asia playlist. Thanks for the upload!
@canadiensuperman6496
sad this song did not make it on Aqua, Aria and Aura.
@cedricknewsom2260
yan me But it did in a way it was the bonus track on Aqua deluxe if I remember correctly.
@JettTyler17
@Cedrick Newsom They originally put it out in one of the 1996 "Archavia" albums, then they put it on the Aqua CD reissue. Unfortunately vinyl doesn't have the track capacity of CDs...
@galtiebernard3571
I agree!
@galtiebernard3571
Very good track,why to find it in Archiva Asia ? It must be better than that !
@jamesphillips4009
Torgo, I've been following you for the Rifftrax but you also like Asia? Yay!