"YES, we did write 'Alone'"
Sadly, most people believe that one of the … Read Full Bio ↴"YES, we did write 'Alone'"
Sadly, most people believe that one of the most popular songs by Downface, Alone, is both written and performed by Alice in Chains or Pearl Jam.

The members of Downface all played in different bands before joining together in February of 1997. They met in Madison, WI through an ad placed in a local music store. With almost identical tastes in music the chemistry was there from the start. Due to the difficulty of establishing a foothold in the music industry from Wisconsin, the band balanced their time over the next year by performing covers as well as writing their own material. In May of '98, they went into Capital Studios in Madison, Wisconsin to record their first CD, Confidence. The disk was released in July of that year. Since then, the band has been playing clubs in Madison, Milwaukee, and several other cities in southern Wisconsin.

ALBUMS:
- Confidence (1998)
- Within (2002)

BAND MEMBERS:
Tim Anderson - Rhythm, Lead Guitars and Lead Vocals
Rob Hammond - Rhythm Guitar
Joe Violetto - Bass
Russ Gray - Drums

Cold And Overcome
Downface Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Stuck within Again
I fought it out quickly
Floating on this shard,
my one, and my true only
Pray …I remain strong and
Cry … out to my Lord
Strain … to hear someone
Try … to … stay… A… Wake…

Stuck within Again
I am so…
Cold…Look inside
I am so cold
Stuck within Again
Life passes before me
As I shiver
knives piercing my skin
too numb to notice it
Pray….to stay conscious
Cry…to feel some warmth
Strain….to see someone
Try… to… stay…A…Wake…
Stuck within again
I'm so…
Cold…Look inside
I am so cold
Stuck within again
I am stuck within but I do not worry
I'll soon be warm, just Stay awake
I am too far but,
I see forever
Faith covers me and
blankets away the cold
I see you
You don't see me
I'm right in front of you
Once you left me in the dark, and I'm seeing now that it was
not as it appeared to be for you were with me all along and
you carried me, it was the travelling man who asked you once if you had
taken it for granted that you had all you could have ever asked for and you would
never have to beg
Pray, he'll take you there
Cry, out for mercy
Strain, to follow him
Try, to be like him

and
Try to stay awake

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Downface's song "Cold And Overcome" describe a person who is struggling with feeling cold and alone in the world. The opening lines set the tone, with the singer feeling stuck and fighting to overcome the feelings of isolation. The imagery of floating on a shard suggests a sense of fragility and instability, as if the person is barely holding on. The repeated phrases Pray, Cry, Strain, and Try all signify a desperate attempt to connect with something or someone to help them through their struggle.

The second verse takes a slightly different tone, describing a physical sensation of knives piercing the skin. Despite the pain, the person is so numb that they can't even feel it, and must focus on trying to remain conscious. Once again, the repeated phrases indicate a longing for connection and warmth. The final verse introduces the idea of faith, which helps to blanket away the cold. The person sees forever and has faith that they will soon be warm. The final lines seem to suggest that the person has found some solace in this faith, perhaps through following a spiritual leader or role model. Overall, the song expresses a deep sense of longing and struggle, but ends on a hopeful note.

Line by Line Meaning

Stuck within Again
Feeling trapped and limited once more

I fought it out quickly
I quickly battled my situation without giving up

Floating on this shard, my one, and my true only
Drifting on a fragment, my sole comfort and refuge

Pray …I remain strong and
Hope that I don't give in to weakness

Cry … out to my Lord
Seeking divine intervention to ease suffering

Strain … to hear someone
Trying hard to listen to anyone who can help me

Try … to … stay… A… Wake…
Making an effort to remain conscious and aware

I am so… Cold…Look inside
I feel extremely cold and empty within

Life passes before me
My existence is slipping away

As I shiver knives piercing my skin too numb to notice it
Feeling numb from pain that is cutting deep within me

Pray….to stay conscious
Praying to stay aware of my surroundings and situation

Cry…to feel some warmth
Longing for warmth and comfort amidst the coldness

Strain….to see someone
Making an effort to find someone who can provide support

I am stuck within but I do not worry
Although trapped by circumstance, I'm not afraid

I'll soon be warm, just Stay awake
I will soon feel better, so don't give up

I see forever
I believe in eternity

Faith covers me and blankets away the cold
My faith helps me cope with the coldness of life

You don't see me
You don't perceive my true essence

Once you left me in the dark, and I'm seeing now that it was not as it appeared to be for you were with me all along and you carried me, it was the travelling man who asked you once if you had taken it for granted that you had all you could have ever asked for and you would never have to beg
You seemed aloof when I was struggling, but now I realize you were there for me all along. A wise stranger asked if you appreciated what you had and that you'd never have to beg for anything

Pray, he'll take you there
Asking for guidance to reach a better place

Cry, out for mercy
Asking for compassion and understanding

Strain, to follow him
Making an effort to emulate a good example

Try, to be like him
Making an effort to become more like a role model

and Try to stay awake
And continue to remain conscious and mindful

Contributed by Tristan T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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