Backtrack was a hardcore band from Long Island, NY. The band was active bet… Read Full Bio ↴Backtrack was a hardcore band from Long Island, NY. The band was active between 2008 and 2019. The first blip on the radar was their 2008 Demo tape, which got them picked up by 6131 records where they would go on to release another EP called Deal With the Devil in 2009.

Their debut album Darker Half was then released in 2011 through Reaper Records. The two following full-length albums Lost in Life (2014) and Bad to My World would then be released by Bridge Nine Records, a household name in the US Hardcore scene. The band announced their breakup in 2019, signing off with a final tour through North America, Asia and Australia. They played their last show on November 30, 2019 in Amityville, NY.

Stylistically, the band played a modernized version of the NYHC style pioneered by bands such as Sick Of It All or Madball.

At the time of the breakup, the band consisted of James Vitalo (vocals), Ricky Singh (guitar), Chris Smith (guitar), Danny Smith (bass), and John T. Lopez (drums).

Guilty Conscience
Backtrack Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Conscience drifting towards the darkness and the light
The thoughts attack me
Won′t let me sleep
When will I rest in peace?
Closed off
I never did their crimes
Still I'm living with a guilty conscience
I never did their crimes

So why am I still burning inside?
I never did their crimes
My thoughts eating me alive
Closed off
I never did their crimes
Still I′m living with a guilty conscience
The thoughts attack me
Still I'm guilty

I never did their crimes
Still I'm guilty

Overall Meaning

In Backtrack's song Guilty Conscience, the lyrics describe the internal struggle of a person who is dealing with a guilty conscience. The singer admits that they never committed the crimes that are weighing heavily on their mind, yet they still feel the weight of guilt and shame as if they are responsible. The lyrics demonstrate the mental and emotional turmoil the person is going through as they try to deal with their thoughts, which attack them relentlessly and prevent them from finding peace and rest. The singer acknowledges that their thoughts are 'eating them alive' and they are struggling to come to terms with the idea of living with a guilty conscience.

The lyrics suggest that this person may be struggling with feelings of responsibility for the actions of others, either due to a personal connection to those involved or a sense of societal responsibility for the wrongs that have been committed. The repeated line "I never did their crimes" highlights the disconnect between the singer's own actions and the weight of guilt they are carrying. The song ultimately stands as a testament to the importance of acknowledging and dealing with feelings of guilt, even when they feel overwhelming and unjustified.

Line by Line Meaning

Conscience drifting towards the darkness and the light
My conscience is conflicted and I am torn between doing what is right and what is wrong

The thoughts attack me
My guilt is overwhelming and it consumes me

Won't let me sleep
My guilty conscience keeps me awake at night

When will I rest in peace?
I long to find peace and be free from my guilt

Closed off
I feel isolated and alone with my thoughts

I never did their crimes
I did not commit the wrongdoing that is troubling me

Still I'm living with a guilty conscience
Despite my innocence, my guilt still burdens me

So why am I still burning inside?
I cannot understand why I am still consumed by guilt even though I did not do anything wrong

My thoughts eating me alive
My guilt is causing me great distress and torment

Still I'm guilty
Even though I did not commit any crimes, I still feel responsible and guilty

Writer(s): Singh Ronak

Contributed by Austin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.