As a band they wrote enough material to record a five song EP entitled "Sleep Comes In Interludes," which was recorded in Oneonta and produced by TJ Foster who was their former bandmate in The Cast Before The Break.
After releasing the EP, Athletics continued to write more material, until a cohesive group of songs were ready to record a full length record. The band recorded their debut full length record in Oneonta, NY over the course of a few months in the winter and spring of 2010. The tracks were produced by Moving Mountains' Greg Dunn, and later released on Deep Elm records as the album "Why Aren't I Home?" on October 26, 2010.
See You On The Other Side
Athletics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm only asking so I can be all knowing on my own,
and free of wondering what all of us could be.
Am I alone, or are you searching for my face?
Without a name, without a place to call my own.
I'm fading into space,
where I'll be lost before the day is gone.
Bring me back before I'm gone.
Bring me back before I'm gone.
I've been standing right here all along.
Bring me back before I've gone away.
The lyrics of Athletics' song "See You On the Other Side" suggest a sense of disconnection and uncertainty between two individuals. The opening line, "Am I a ghost or are you walking through my knowingly?" reflects the confusion and distrust one feels when they are unsure of the intentions of the other person. The singer is seeking clarity and understanding, but they do not want to rely on the other person for answers. By stating, "I'm only asking so I can be all knowing on my own, and free of wondering what all of us could be," they want to avoid the pain of relying on someone else for answers or closure.
In the next lines, "Am I alone, or are you searching for my face? Without a name, without a place to call my own," the singer feels lost and adrift, and they question whether the other person even notices or cares about them. They are struggling to define themselves and find a place to belong. The final lines, "Bring me back before I'm gone. Bring me back before I'm gone. I've been standing right here all along. Bring me back before I've gone away," express the fear of being forgotten or left behind entirely.
The song's overall theme speaks to the universal human experience of loneliness, uncertainty, and the quest for connection and understanding. It highlights the emotional struggle that occurs when two people cannot find common ground or feel a sense of belonging with one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I a ghost or are you walking through my knowingly?
I'm unsure if I'm being ignored or not, so can you confirm that you are in fact aware of my presence?
I'm only asking so I can be all knowing on my own,
I need to be sure if I am alone here so that I can accept it and move on.
and free of wondering what all of us could be.
This uncertainty of not knowing is holding me back and I need to move on without it.
Am I alone, or are you searching for my face?
It feels like I'm alone, but I need to know if you're actually trying to find me right now.
Without a name, without a place to call my own.
I feel lost and out of place, like I don't belong anywhere in this world.
I'm fading into space,
I'm disappearing into nothingness, fading away from reality.
where I'll be lost before the day is gone.
If I don't find my way soon, I know I'll be lost beyond recovery before the end of the day.
Bring me back before I'm gone.
Please, someone, help me find my way back before I'm completely lost forever.
I've been standing right here all along.
I've been here, waiting for someone to notice me, but nobody has.
Bring me back before I've gone away.
Please don't let me become lost and forgotten forever, I need someone to help me find my way back.
Contributed by Isaac F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.