Empathy Test released a double A-side single, Demons | Seeing Stars on September the 9th, 2016, which featured featured remixes by Sidewalks And Skeletons and MNYNMS, before embarking on a European tour on 16th September. Empathy Test recruited live drummer Christina Lopez and keyboard player Jacob Ferguson Lobo to accompanying Isaac on the tour. They continued to perform with Isaac until April 2017, when Jacob was replaced by Sam Winter-Quick. The band then released another single, By My Side with b-side Vampire Town and remixes by New Portals and Papertwin on February 17th, 2017. A third single, Bare My Soul was released 21st April, 2017, to coincide with a second European tour.
Empathy Test are currently crowd funding two debut albums plus a final single via PledgeMusic: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/empathy-test-album/. They are slated for release on 17th November. The first album, Losing Touch, will feature all the original 2014 EP tracks plus Demons and two previously unreleased tracks, Siamese and Sleep. Safe From Harm will feature all the singles (minus Demons) plus new tracks Safe From Harm, All It Takes, Trampoline, Everything Will Work Out and Burroughs & Bukowski. The band previously stated that Safe From Harm, the album title track, would be the final single. However, it is now looking like the final single will be Everything Will Work Out.
By My Side
Empathy Test Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Faithful to moulds in which we're cast.
Hand me down dysfunction, recidivist desire watch me
Throw another lover on the fire.
There's a great white elephant, hidden in the room
Maybe you didn't see him in the gloom.
You say that I am empty, emotionally devoid
Blame it on whatever, happened to the boy.
And maybe it's better we don't talk about it all
Maybe it's better we don't talk at all but
Don't you want to be by my side?
I only want to be by your side.
Don't you want to be by my side?
I only want to be by your side.
The boy in the photograph made me want to cry
When I saw the emotion in his eyes.
Is it any wonder I'm struggling to cope?
Is it any wonder we're giving up hope?
And maybe it's better we don't talk about it all
Maybe it's better we don't talk at all but
Don't you want to be by my side?
I only want to be by your side.
Don't you want to be by my side?
I only want to be by your side.
Don't you want to be by my side?
I only want to be by your side.
Don't you want to be by my side?
I only want to be by your side.
The lyrics of Empathy Test's song "By My Side" speak to the emotional struggle imposed on individuals by their past experiences and the molds and patterns into which they've been cast. They carry with them the traumas of the past and are faithful to these molds, leading to a hand-me-down dysfunction and recidivist desire that fuels a need to throw "another lover on the fire." There's a metaphorical "great white elephant" in the room, an issue that both parties are aware of yet choose to ignore.
The singer's emotional emptiness is blamed on what happened to the boy, pointing to childhood traumas that have left emotional voids. Despite the emotional turmoil, the singer still wants the other person to be by their side. The reference to the boy in the photograph evokes a sense of nostalgia and pain, causing the singer to struggle to cope and give up hope.
It's a song deeply rooted in the pain of the past and the struggle to move beyond it while still seeking connection with others. The repetitive chorus of "Don't you want to be by my side? I only want to be by your side." emphasizes this desire for connection despite the emotional baggage.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh how we carry with us, traumas of the past
We bear the burden of our past traumas with us always.
Faithful to molds in which we're cast.
We are limited by the expectations and stereotypes placed upon us.
Hand me down dysfunction, recidivist desire watch me
Inherited emotional issues and patterns of behavior persist even as we try to change them.
Throw another lover on the fire.
Trying to replace one romantic partner with another is a futile attempt to escape emotional pain.
There's a great white elephant, hidden in the room
There is an unspoken issue between us that both of us are ignoring.
Maybe you didn't see him in the gloom.
Perhaps you are unaware of the elephant in the room.
You say that I am empty, emotionally devoid
You accuse me of lacking in emotional depth and connection.
Blame it on whatever, happened to the boy.
My emotional detachment can be traced back to some traumatic experience in my childhood.
And maybe it's better we don't talk about it all
Perhaps it's best to avoid discussing our emotional issues altogether.
Maybe it's better we don't talk at all but
Perhaps the silence between us is more peaceful than attempting to communicate.
Don't you want to be by my side?
Do you desire emotional closeness with me?
I only want to be by your side.
I desire emotional closeness with you.
The boy in the photograph made me want to cry
The sight of a vulnerable child in a picture elicits sadness in me.
When I saw the emotion in his eyes.
The child's facial expression conveyed strong feelings.
Is it any wonder I'm struggling to cope?
Is it surprising that I am finding it difficult to deal with my emotional issues?
Is it any wonder we're giving up hope?
Is it surprising that both of us are losing faith in our ability to be emotionally close?
Contributed by Kaitlyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Venus Martínez
Love everything about this song... what it makes me feel is just amazing! ❤️ (Love from Dominican Republic 🇩🇴💖). I’m just thankful I discovered all these masterpieces.
•Jesús•
Wow, alguien de la comunidad hispana escuchando esta hermosa banda!!!!
Mis respetos 😎👌
Stephanie T
you sing what I wish I could. Deepest lyrics ever.
Empathy Test
Stephanie Correll Thanks Stephanie - someone on SoundCloud said I'd lost the pain and anguish in my voice, I was like...have you heard what I'm singing?! 😂❤️
Stephanie T
Empathy Test No way! If you listen you hear the pain; the longing.
Pillar of Autumn
Empathy Test if your latest music didn't have emotion, it wouldn't have the ability to bring out the emotion in the listener... I can tell you right now it has that ability... Keep up the amazing work. Wish you guys could come to Arkansas.
Stephanie T
BigWeed479 well said.
•Jesús•
Wow, his music is so AMAZING!!!! I really don't understand why you are not so well known, you guys are amazing :(
Loren Poole
Love the lyrics on this one. Nice job.
PopArtPaul Vs E.S.P. Music
keep it going!! Love this band every song is amazing