Their album, 'A Life Less Plagued', released on the prolific hardcore label, Bridge 9, is generally regarded as one of the finest hardcore albums of the millennium so far.
Members of Carry On went on to play in Terror,Internal Affairs, Go It Alone, Snake Eyes, The Adored, Betrayed, Stand & Fight, Nails, and Piece By Piece.
Off My Chest
Carry On Lyrics
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and never spoke my mind, as it boiled inside
so many words and questions
left to work out on my own
looked down upon for seeing different sides
i've got nothing to hide
you never listened to what i had on my mind
you just pushed me aside
so don't tell me how to think
all your reasons make me sick
when communication is where it begins
so what's left to say when you won't change?
we'll stand on different ground until the end
and that's the way it will always be
it's going to eat me alive until i get it off my chest
The lyrics of "Off My Chest" by Carry On are essentially about the difficulty that some people feel in expressing their thoughts and feelings to others. The song speaks to the idea that sometimes we keep a lot of what we're thinking and feeling inside, and it can eat away at us until we can't take it anymore. The singer in the song seems to have a lot of things they want to say and a lot of opinions that they feel are being ignored or overlooked.
Throughout the song, the singer laments the fact that they've been looked down upon or pushed aside for seeing things differently than the people around them. They feel like they've been silenced or ignored, even when they have important things to say. The singer expresses frustration that they've had to deal with these feelings on their own, and that no one seems to be willing to listen to them.
At the same time, the song also acknowledges the fact that sometimes people have differing opinions and thoughts that can put them at odds with each other. The singer knows that they'll always be standing on different ground than some of the people around them, and that they may never fully be able to communicate or understand each other. Despite this, the singer knows that they need to get their thoughts and feelings off their chest, or they'll "eat me alive." Overall, the song is a powerful message about the importance of speaking our minds and expressing ourselves, even when it's difficult.
Line by Line Meaning
so many times i stood around
I have been in many situations where I was present but stayed quiet and did not express my thoughts or opinions.
and never spoke my mind, as it boiled inside
I kept my thoughts bottled up and never expressed them, even though they were constantly on my mind and causing me turmoil.
so many words and questions
There were so many things I wanted to say and questions I wanted to ask, but I held back.
left to work out on my own
I was left to figure things out on my own since I didn't have the courage to voice my thoughts and seek help from others.
looked down upon for seeing different sides
I felt judged and criticized for having a different perspective on things and not conforming to the group's way of thinking.
i've got nothing to hide
I have nothing to hide and no ulterior motives; I simply want to express my thoughts and ideas honestly.
you never listened to what i had on my mind
You always ignored or dismissed my thoughts and opinions, which made me feel invalidated and unheard.
you just pushed me aside
You disregarded me and didn't take the time to understand my point of view, which made me feel ostracized and lonely.
you'll never know all the things i've seen
You have no idea of the experiences and challenges I have faced, so you can't judge or criticize my way of thinking.
so don't tell me how to think
Stop trying to impose your ideas and opinions on me since you have no right to tell me how to think or feel.
all your reasons make me sick
I find your justifications and explanations for your actions and thoughts repugnant and invalid, so I won't accept them.
when communication is where it begins
Communication is the foundation for understanding and connection, so we need to communicate honestly to resolve our conflicts and differences.
so what's left to say when you won't change?
There's no point in continuing the conversation when you refuse to alter your perspective or listen to mine.
we'll stand on different ground until the end
We have fundamentally different ways of seeing and understanding the world, and this will continue until the end of our relationship or interaction.
and that's the way it will always be
Our perspectives and viewpoints will likely always be different, which is okay as long as we can respect and understand each other.
it's going to eat me alive until i get it off my chest
I've been holding back my thoughts and feelings for too long, and it's starting to take a toll on my mental health and wellbeing. I need to express myself honestly and openly to feel better.
Contributed by Caroline M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.