Candlebox is a rock band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in December 1991,… Read Full Bio ↴Candlebox is a rock band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in December 1991, they originally named the band Uncle Duke and later changed it as a tribute to a song by Midnight Oil. They were sometimes looked down upon by grunge fans for their style, which was considered by many to be a derivative version of true grunge, and their commercial success suffered as a result. Despite this, the band played the Seattle club circuit during the early 1990s to the many of the same fans who had supported many of the bands that had come immediately before them. The members did not consider Candlebox to be a grunge band however; they viewed themselves as a rock and roll band more than anything. Nevertheless, Candlebox had sold more than 4 million copies of their self-titled debut which, after many months of gaining momentum, peaked at number 7 on Billboard's album charts. Their follow up album, Lucy, was certified as platinum. Their third and last album was Happy Pills, which was released in 1998. Candlebox was the first successful act on Madonna's Maverick Records, which went on to sign Alanis Morissette, Deftones, and Prodigy.

Candlebox was known for an explosive live show and throughout their 8 year career, they toured with such bands as Living Colour, The Flaming Lips, Our Lady Peace, Rush, Henry Rollins, and Metallica. They were also a featured band on the main-stage at Woodstock '94 and made repeat live performances on the David Letterman show.

They are best known for the singles "Change", "You", "Far Behind" and "Simple Lessons". "Far Behind" entered Billboard's Top 20 in July of 1993 and didn't drop off the charts until January of 1994. The videos for "Far Behind" and "You" were in seemingly perpetual rotation on MTV and became two of the most requested videos of 1993.

Drummer Scott Mercado left the band in 1997 and was replaced by former Pearl Jam member Dave Krusen. Krusen later left the band in 1999 and was replaced by Shannon Larkin of Ugly Kid Joe. Bardi Martin also left the band that year, and was replaced by Rob Reddick (formerly of Dig). The band split in year 2000.

As of 2005, singer Kevin Martin is currently recording and performing as the leader of The Hiwatts. Peter Klett is currently recording and performing as the leader of redlightmusic.

In 2006, Candlebox has reunited with their original line-up. They went on a three-month North American tour beginning on July 1st of the same year. This marks their first collaboration since 1996.

In 2008, Candlebox released their fourth studio album called "Into the sun". This meant their return since 1998's Happy Pills. Also, they released a Live album called "Alive in Seattle" which includes tracks from all their past albums.

In 2009, Kevin Martin (along with Sean Hennesy, Candlebox's guitarist) helped form the super-group The Gracious Few with three of the members of the band LIVE. Functioning as lead singer, the band went on to release a self-titled album which accompanied an extensive tour. Though LIVE has reformed with a new lead singer, more material from The Gracious Few is said to be released in the future

Step Back
Candlebox Lyrics

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How can you say we're not together?
How can you say it's all the same in someone else's eyes?
How can you say it gives you pleasure?
That someone's pulling you aside

But now I want to find out
How you're living outside yourself
And how you feel like the one that's held it all in place

How you don't feel the shame

You'll never know, you'll never know now
How to let go the hate or how to hold on
You'll never know, never know now now
Where it all can lead to

Leave it all in the past and move on
You might find your way home
Leave it all in the past and roll on
You might find your way home

How can you stray from your direction?
How can you wait outside the door that's opened up for you?
How can you only see rejection,
When I've offered all I have to you?

Are you ever gonna find out
You'll never know, never know now now
Where it can all lead to
Leave it all in the past and move on

You might find your way home
Leave it all in the past and roll on
You might find your way home
Step back

Take a closer look
Step back
Find out where it leads you to
Step back step back step back

Leave it all in the past and move on
You might find your way home
Leave it all in the past and roll on
You might find your way home

Leave it all in the past and move on
You might find your way home

Leave it all in the past and roll on
You might find your way home

Overall Meaning

In "Step Back," Candlebox seems to be addressing someone who is in denial about their situation. The singer asks how this person can deny that they are together or that they are the same in someone else's eyes. It seems that this person is being pulled away by someone or something, leading them to lose sight of their true direction. The singer asks this person to step back and take a closer look at their situation. The chorus advises that it is time to leave the past behind, and move forward in order to find one's way home.

The lyrics in "Step Back" reflect a sense of desperation or urgency, as the singer seems to be trying to help someone who may be lost or stuck in a difficult situation. The call to "step back" and "take a closer look" suggests that this person may be ignoring warning signs or failing to see the bigger picture. By urging this person to move on and leave the past behind, the singer is offering the possibility of a new approach or fresh start.

Line by Line Meaning

How can you say we're not together?
Why do you deny our connection and act like we don't belong together?

How can you say it's all the same in someone else's eyes?
Why do you believe that our relationship looks the same as others' and has no value?

How can you say it gives you pleasure?
Why do you claim that it makes you happy to be pulled away by someone else?

That someone's pulling you aside
You let someone interfere with our relationship and take you away from me.

But now I want to find out
But now, I want to ask you some questions and get to the bottom of things.

How you're living outside yourself
How are you living in a way that's untrue to who you really are?

And how you feel like the one that's held it all in place
How do you feel like you're the one who has kept everything from falling apart?

How you don't feel the shame
How do you not feel the guilt and embarrassment for causing our relationship to suffer?

You'll never know, you'll never know now
You'll never understand or find out because you refuse to see the truth.

How to let go the hate or how to hold on
You don't know how to let go of your negative emotions or how to keep a good thing going.

Where it all can lead to
You're unaware of where all of this can potentially take us.

Leave it all in the past and move on
Let's forget the past and move forward with our lives without dwelling on it.

You might find your way home
By doing this, you might rediscover your way back to me and our relationship.

How can you stray from your direction?
How can you lose sight of your goals and aspirations and go off course?

How can you wait outside the door that's opened up for you?
Why are you hesitant to take opportunities that come your way and fear moving forward?

How can you only see rejection,
Why do you only focus on the negative aspects and ignore the positives in life?

When I've offered all I have to you?
Despite this, I've given you everything I have to offer in our relationship.

Are you ever gonna find out
Will you ever realize or understand the true nature of our relationship and how your actions affect it?

Step back
Take a moment to reevaluate the situation.

Take a closer look
Take a deeper, more introspective look at yourself and the relationship.

Find out where it leads you to
Discover what your choices and actions might lead you towards.

Step back step back step back
Repeat this process of reflection and evaluation multiple times and keep reassessing.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARDI DAVID MARTIN, DAVID KRUSEN, KEVIN COLIN MARTIN, PETER ANDREW KLETT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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