Athenaeum was an alternative pop rock four-piece band from Greensboro, Nort… Read Full Bio ↴Athenaeum was an alternative pop rock four-piece band from Greensboro, North Carolina, USA formed in 1990 at an eighth grade dance by Nic Brown and Mark Kano.

After several personnel changes, Kano and Brown recorded an eight song EP in 1995 with bassist Alex McKinney and lead guitarist Grey Brewster. The "Green Album," as it is widely known, sold about 10,000 copies.

In 1996 the band was signed by Atlantic Records. They released their major label debut, Radiance, in 1998. The first single, "What I Didn't Know," was a minor hit. During the recording phase for their next album, Brown left the band to attend college. He was replaced by Jeremy Vogt, who performed with the likes of Tonic and The Connells. Brewster also dissolved his membership with the group and was replaced by Mike Garrigan, the lead singer and songwriter of Collapsis.

This new line up played their first show on March 31, 2001, at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The new set included Garrigan's Collapsis anthem, "October". [correction they actually played their first show with this lineup in Boone, NC]

Athenaeum's sophomore album Athenaeum was released on September 18, 2001. However, it received little promotion in the wake of the September 11th attacks.

Athenaeum was eventually dropped by Atlantic Records. They toured for an additional three years and released their final record, Hourglass, a collection of rare outtakes and demos, before performing their last show at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on December 28, 2004.

Kano and Garrigan subsequently formed the band mg4 (with Alex McKinney, the original bassist for Athenaeum and Jeremy Vogt), who released an EP in the summer of 2004 titled Gravity Affects Me. "mg4" continues touring to date and information on shows can be found at Mike Garrigan's official website.

Discography and stand-out tracks :
- Radiance (1998): "What I Didnt know", "Flat Tire", "Radiance"
- Athenaeum (2001) : "Comfort", "Frozen in time", "Suddenly"
- Hourglass (2002) : "On Her Way", "Family Tree", "One Day at a time"

Walk Away
Athenaeum Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I need a quick solution
I need some good advice
I'm broken on tradition of empty hearts and sacrifice

And I'll need you to remind me
And I'll need one more day
Without you somewhere out there
I could not find my way

I was waiting for the right time (whoa)
To give you what you need (whoa)
But there was something I could not find (whoa)
So walk away from me

This love has one condition
This love will not suffice
Some say the superstition will bear the blame that love denies

So tell me who keeps the secrets
As words fall cold in my grave
Save me from ever believing that we could find our way

I was waiting for the right time (whoa)
To give you what you need (whoa)
But there was something I could not find (whoa)
So walk away from me

You keep rubbing it the wrong way (whoa)
You can slap me up in my face (whoa)

You can beat me until I break (whoa)
Just walk away from me

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Athenaeum's "Walk Away" describe the singer's need for guidance and a "quick solution" as they are "broken on tradition of empty hearts and sacrifice." The song is essentially a contemplation of a failing relationship, with the chorus inviting the partner to "walk away." The singer is trying to find ways to fix the relationship but questions if that's even possible. The verses mention that their love has "one condition" and that it won't "suffice." There's a sense of blame being shifted around, with the lyric "Some say the superstition will bear the blame that love denies." The singer is also asking for help in understanding where things went wrong: "So tell me who keeps the secrets, As words fall cold in my grave" before reiterating the chorus.

The song is about the pain and confusion that come with the end of a relationship. The singer knows that they should fix things with their lover, but they don't know how. They are searching for answers and trying to figure out who is responsible for the relationship's failure. Ultimately, they realize that the best thing to do is to let go and invite the partner to "walk away."

Line by Line Meaning

I need a quick solution
I require an immediate resolution to my concerns

I need some good advice
I am seeking knowledgeable guidance

I'm broken on tradition of empty hearts and sacrifice
I am disheartened by outdated customs that prioritize sacrifice over love

And I'll need you to remind me
I will require your assistance in remembering

And I'll need one more day
I will require an additional day to sort out my thoughts

Without you somewhere out there
I would be lost without you in the world

I could not find my way
I would be directionless and uncertain

I was waiting for the right time (whoa)
I was waiting for the opportune moment

To give you what you need (whoa)
To provide you with what you require

But there was something I could not find (whoa)
However, there was something I was unable to locate

So walk away from me
So please abandon me