After recording private albums, the band signed to Wind-up Records and released their first full-length album, Fallen, in 2003, which sold more than 15 million copies worldwide and helped the band win two Grammy Awards. A year later, they released their first live album, Anywhere But Home, which sold more than one million copies worldwide. In 2006, they then released their second studio album, The Open Door, which sold more than five million copies. They released their third and latest studio album, Evanescence in 2011.
The band currently consists of Amy Lee (lead vocals, piano, keyboards), Terry Balsamo (guitars), and Tim McCord (bass). Former members include David Hodges (piano, keyboards, backing vocals; left in 2002), Ben Moody (guitars; left in 2003), William Boyd (bass; left in 2006), John LeCompt (guitars, backing vocals; fired in 2007), and Rocky Gray (drums; left in 2007). Session members include Troy McLawhorn (guitars) and Will Hunt (drums), both are from Dark New Day, they were "borrowed" to replace LeCompt and Gray during 2007 tours.
Amy Lee and Ben Moody met in 1994 at a youth camp in Little Rock, where Moody heard Lee playing I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) by Meat Loaf on the piano. Their first songs were Solitude and Give Unto Me, written by Lee, and Understanding and My Immortal, written by Moody.
Two of Lee and Moody's songs found playtime on local radio stations, raising local awareness of the group and demand for a show. The band eventually appeared live, and became one of the most popular acts in the area. After experimenting with band names, such as Childish Intentions and Stricken, they decided on Evanescence, which means "disappearance" or "fading away" (from the word evanesce, which means "to disappear"). Lee has stated she loves the name because "it is mysterious and dark, and places a picture in the listeners' mind.".
Their first full-length demo CD, Origin (released in 2000), is relatively unknown. The band also released two EPs. First, the self-titled Evanescence EP (1998) of which about 100 copies were made, and second the Sound Asleep EP, also known as the Whisper EP (1999), limited to 50 copies. Origin and the EPs contain demo versions of some of the songs on their debut album, Fallen. For example, the recording of My Immortal found on Fallen can also be found on Origin, minus a handful of additional string accompaniments. Only 2,500 copies of this record were produced; in response, Lee and Moody encouraged fans to download the band's older songs from the Internet.
In several interviews Amy has said that 'Origin' was not an album, it was merely meant to be a demo. While appearing to be an official CD, it was never meant to be officially released. According to Amy Lee "Origin is not an album. Should I say that clearer? 'Origin' is not an album. We recorded its demos, we recorded it a long time ago, in Ben's apartment or in my parent's attic with an 8-track recorder that cost $300. It sounds like crap. Don't feel bad that you don't have it, just download it. It looks kind of like an album because we had an artist make us this cool album cover because we were shopping it to record labels. We put everything we had on there, and some songs that are on there are on 'Fallen', just done right". The video of this interview can be seen here.
The band sent 'Origin' to several record labels, and eventually Wind-Up Records signed them. The band then recorded a large collection of demos throughout 2001 and 2002. Afterwards, the band began work on their second full-length album. However, after the album had been finished, Hodges left the band in December of 2002.
The album, entitled 'Fallen', was then released in March 2003. It brought the band international fame, selling 14 millions of copies worldwide. 'Fallen' has since gone 6 times platinum in the United States and has sold more than 15 million copies altogether worldwide.
However, shortly after, Moody left the band on October 22 of 2003 due to internal struggles with the band members. He was then replaced by guitarist Terry Balsamo from the band Cold. Before Moody's departure, Gray, LeCompt, and Boyd had been session members, but afterwards they became full-time members.
At the 2004 Grammy Awards, Evanescence won Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance for their single Bring Me to Life, known worldwide from the Daredevil soundtrack. That same year, the band released a live CD/DVD entitled 'Anywhere But Home', which also sold 1 million of copies worldwide and has since gone platinum in the United States.
Afterwards, the band began work on their next release. Many things set the release back, including the health problems of Terry. He was unfortunately affected by a stroke, but is recovering successfully. Amy also fired their old manager which they had relations with during 'Fallen', and brought him to court. In 2006, they finished recording their second album, titled 'The Open Door', as well as shooting a video for the single Call Me When You're Sober. On July 13th, 2006, Lee announced through Evanescence's online message board that bassist Boyd has decided to leave the band in order to make time for his personal life and family. Tim McCord was announced as Will Boyd's replacement in August 2006.
'The Open Door' debuted at number 1 in Australia, United States, Greece, Germany, and Switzerland. It sold over 1 million copies worldwide within the first week of its release.
The second single of 'The Open Door' was Lithium. A video was shot for the single - directed by Paul Fedor (who has worked with Marilyn Manson, Seether, and Deftones). It took 2 days to film, October 31 and November 1, 2006.
The third single off 'The Open Door' was Sweet Sacrifice. The label, Wind-Up, had originally chosen All That I'm Living For to be the third single, but was met with opposition from the fans. The video was shot on March 9th and 10th, 2007. Directed by Paul Brown.
On May 4, 2007, John LeCompt announced that he had been fired from Evanescence, and also stated that drummer Rocky Gray had decided to quit as well. Both musicians posted on their personal MySpace pages to confirm the news report, however, neither elaborated about the circumstances surrounding their departures, and no official statement has yet been released by the band or label.
On his MySpace blog, LeCompt stated that Lee called his cellphone to fire him, and that no warning had previously been given nor were any negotiations made available. No replacements have been named as of yet, but Evanescence says they will continue touring and producing music.
Lee revealed during the taping of MuchMusic's January 9, 2007 episode of Live @ Much that she had become engaged the previous evening. She later confirmed on EvThreads.com that she was proposed to by Josh Hartzler, a 29-year-old therapist and long time friend. She noted in an interview that the songs Good Enough and Bring Me To Life were inspired by him. The couple were married on May 6, 2007, and honeymooned near The Bahamas. She has posted on EvThreads that she is "now officially Mrs. Amy Hartzler."
Recently Lee and Evanescence (with temporary members) headlined a one off show in Sao Paulo, Brazil for a music festival. A couple of weeks before, Lee posted on her Twitter that the band need to practice and was going to play a secret show in NYC's The Palace.
Lee confirmed that a third album was on the way and was set to release late 2010. A short video surfaced on one members Twitter account showing the band practicing and recording.
On 22 January, 2010, Amy posted on her Twitter that the b-side Together Again would be a gift to all who donate just the minimum amount to the Relief Effort over in Haiti.
In a MTV interview Amy Lee announced that the new album would be named 'Evanescence'. This was released October 11th, 2011. It is the first of their albums to have a deluxe version with 4 extra songs and an accompanying DVD.
Lost Whispers is a compilation album and was released on December 9, 2016, by The Bicycle Music Company. The album is a career-spanning collection of B-sides and two new recordings: "Lost Whispers", the intro from the band's 2009 tour and a new version of "Even in Death", originally on their 2000 demo album, Origin.
Their fourth Studio album, Synthesis, was released in November 2017. The album debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200, and has reached number 23 in the UK, 5 in Germany, and 6 in Australia.
Discography
1998: Evanescence EP
1999: Sound Asleep EP
2000: Origin
2003: Mystary EP and Fallen (first official studio album)
2004: Anywhere But Home
2006: The Open Door
2011: Evanescence
2016: Lost Whispers
2017: Synthesis
2021: The Bitter Truth
Official site: www.evanescence.com
Understanding
Evanescence Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Consciously, you've forgotten it
That's the way the human mind works
Whenever something is too unpleasant
Too shameful for us to entertain, we reject it
We erase it from our memory
But the imprint is always there''
The fear that binds you
Releases life in me
In our mutual shame we hide our eyes
To blind them from the truth that finds a way for who we are
Please don't be afraid
When the darkness fades away
The dawn will break the silence screaming at our hearts
My love for you still grows
This I do for you
Before I try to fight the truth my final time
We're supposed to try to be real
We feel alone when we're not together and that is real
Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away
Lying beside you
Listening to you breathe
The life that flows inside of you
Burns inside of me
Hold and speak to me
Of love without a sound
Tell me you will live through this
And I will die for you
Cast me not away
Say you'll be with me
For I know I cannot bear it all alone
You're not alone, honey
Never, never
Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
It just won't fade away
Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away
Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
Move it all away
Move it all away
But the imprint is always there
Nothing is ever really forgotten
God, please don't hate me
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
The lyrics in Evanescence's "Understanding" touch on a person's ability to forget and repress memories that are too painful or shameful to confront. The key message is that these memories never truly disappear, but rather leave an imprint on a person's mind that can continue affecting them throughout their life. The song's narrator insists that it is vital to face and acknowledge these memories instead of trying to deny or forget them. The pain and fear that has been overlooked can be destructive and debilitating, not just for the individual but for those around them. The lyrics also address the idea of mutual shame and the masks that we sometimes wear to avoid revealing our true selves to others. The singer implores their loved one not to be afraid, promising that the truth will ultimately reveal itself and that they will not be alone in facing it.
Throughout the song, Amy Lee's vocals convey a sense of desperation and urgency, with the chorus of "Can't wash it all away, can't cry it all away" heightening the emotional intensity. The final lines of the song - "God, please don't hate me / Because I'll die if you do" - add weight to the idea that we are all vulnerable and in need of understanding and compassion, and that true connection with others can be a matter of life and death.
Line by Line Meaning
You hold the answer 'deep within your own mind
Deep down, you know the answer to your problems lies within yourself
Consciously, you've forgotten it
But you have pushed it out of your mind because it is too painful to confront
That's the way the human mind works
This is a common defense mechanism of the mind
Whenever something is too unpleasant
When something is too hard to bear
Too shameful for us to entertain, we reject it
When it is difficult to face, we tend to avoid it and move on
We erase it from our memory
Consequently, we try to forget it as if it never happened
But the imprint is always there
However, nothing is ever truly forgotten, it will always be a part of us
The pain that grips you
The agony that holds you
The fear that binds you
The terror that confines you
Releases life in me
Helps me to release my emotions
In our mutual shame we hide our eyes
In our shared embarrassment, we look away from one another
To blind them from the truth that finds a way for who we are
To hide from the harsh reality of who we have become
Please don't be afraid
Don't be scared to face the truth
When the darkness fades away
When the hard times are over
The dawn will break the silence screaming at our hearts
A new beginning will come, as our hearts stop crying out in pain
My love for you still grows
My affection for you hasn't waned
This I do for you
I do this because of my love for you
Before I try to fight the truth my final time
Before I attempt to reject reality once again
We're supposed to try to be real
We need to be honest with ourselves and others
We feel alone when we're not together and that is real
We feel lonely even when with others, and it's a genuine feeling
Can't wash it all away
We can't just make the pain disappear
Can't wish it all away
We can't make it go away by simply wishing
Can't cry it all away
We can't cry enough to make it go away
Can't scratch it all away
We can't scratch it off as if it were a physical wound
Lying beside you
Being next to you
Listening to you breathe
Hearing you inhale and exhale
The life that flows inside of you
The energy that courses within you
Burns inside of me
Ignites a passion within me
Hold and speak to me
Embrace me and articulate your love
Of love without a sound
Express your love without uttering a word
Tell me you will live through this
Promise me you'll survive this
And I will die for you
I'll sacrifice myself for you
Cast me not away
Don't push me away
Say you'll be with me
Promise you'll stay by my side
For I know I cannot bear it all alone
I can't handle it all by myself
You're not alone, honey
You have my support and love
Never, never
Always and forever
Can't fight it all away
We can't just fight our way out of this
Can't hope it all away
We can't make it go away by simply hoping it will
Can't scream it all away
We can't scream loud enough to make it vanish
It just won't fade away
It won't disappear on its own
Move it all away
We have to move past it and accept it for what it is
God, please don't hate me
God, please don't judge me
Because I'll die if you do
Because I can't handle the guilt and condemnation
Because I'll die if you do
Because it would be too much for me to bear
Because I'll die if you do
Because your love and forgiveness means everything to me
Because I'll die if you do
Because I need your acceptance to survive
Contributed by Ethan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kainenburgess64
A very good interpretation of the song. "The pain that grips you ...
... releases life in me"
-- One person has just revealed to his deepest, heartbreaking secrets to his partner. I'm sure many of you have felt this: when you and another person you love have a moment where your heart's desires are poured out for each other to see, it's unbelievably liberating*, and you're like "Oh my God, I'm not alone in this .. I never imagined I'd find someone to share this with." Sharing something mutual and so deep is like *freeing yourself from the bonds of the silence that you've set upon these secrets ("Releases life in me").
"In our mutual shame ...
... from who we are"
-- Both these two people deal with their problems by withdrawing from the outside world, because no-one else understands them.
(nb: This isn't always true; just because no-one around you doesn't understand you, doesn't mean there's NO-ONE in the whole world who isn't feeling exactly what you feel - it just takes the hand of fate to find each other. Like the song says, "You're never alone honey .. never." :) Anyway ..
"Please don't be afraid ...
... screaming at our hearts"
-- She is telling him (or him to her, if you want :P), "Don't be scared when the next day dawns, because now that we've shared everything, we can get through this together, and not fight the battle alone anymore." The line "The dawn will break the silence screaming at our hearts" means that by the time morning comes, what they shared the previous night would have truly sunken in, and they now realised how to fight their fears.
"The life that flows inside of you,
Burns inside of me"
-- The life that he's endured, though it seems normal and the only reality for him, seems so utterly cruel to her and burns her inside, makes her sad for her partner's despair. :(
This line is the most powerful one in the whole song to me.
"Hold and speak to me ...
... bear it all alone"
-- The couple are exchanging vows of mutual trust; basically "Promise me you'll get through this and I promise you that I'll be with you until the end. Don't reject me, because I can't live without you." This also ties in with "God, please don't leave me .. because I'll die if you do."
"Can't wash it all away ..." etcetera.
-- No matter how hard they try, neither of them can erase the past
@anakinsharksuerink7550
5:43-5:52
You can just feel and hear the pain in Amy's voice.
This is such a deep song.
Evanescence is my favourite band, I absolutely love their music, it touches my heart and soul so much.
I LOVE YOU AMY LYNN LEE😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
This band will always be apart of me and it will always have a VERY special place in my heart❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@madeleinep.828
This is probably the most hauntingly beautiful song I’ve ever heard.
@tawanahickey9234
High school is going to go over it and it is a good idea of what you want you can do it and it is a chance to look at my schedule to see what happens with your new job and best of luck to you have a lot of fun and you can do that but I'm not sure how to get to it this 🙌🙌🎉😎😎🙌😎🙌😎🎉😎🙌😎🙌😎🎉😎
@JoseHernandez-vw4qu
DA
@tawanahickey34
@@JoseHernandez-vw4qu S.A.
@tawanahickey34
Hi
@IAmWhatIAmMG
Perfect description 😍
@NickRyanBayon
I think the meaning of this song is we need to open our eyes to our pain, accept it, wether it be a dark past, a tragedy that haunts us, out own inner darkness whatever it is, look into it and when you do you can break this cycle, and you can end your suffering and really heal, even though the event still happened the event isn't what hurts us still but rather the act of rejecting it. You can't wash any of it away, can't wish any of it away, can't cry any of it all away or even try and rip any of it away because that's the pain the act of rejection causes it. Just accept it and you won't suffer anymore, be healed by accepting while also becoming stronger by embracing yourself how you are. Great song!
@cheriechicwanda
"The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive", Looking for Alaska
@methandtopology
great interpretation :)
to cookie: "To Forgive is to Suffer" -Death
@mexieskimo605
Cookie Cream I'm currently reading that book. It's amazing.