The song was inspired by Lee's loneliness during the band's tour in support of Fallen. She was inspired to write the chorus in Lisbon when she looked at the sky and she couldn't see the stars at night. Other inspiration came from the band Pantera. Guitars and piano provide its instrumentation, while Lee sings about "Lord Himself" as stated by Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone.
"A couple of years ago, I felt so alone that I was dreading going on tour. We had just arrived in Lisbon and I was in my room feeling jet-lagged, weird and tired. I had just been home where I could see the stars at night. But when I looked out the hotel window in Lisbon, I couldn't see anything because we were in this big city. That was the last straw. I felt so depressed, I just started singing this song."
On the Synthesis version of the song, Amy said:
Synthesis is said to merge orchestral elements and electronic elements- what is the weirdest instrument/ object that you used in the reimagining of the tracks?
Will was using a vintage Roland vocoder (SVC- 350) for some beat processing and it accidentally began picking up some distorted and very otherworldly sounding Mexican radio station’s frequency at the end of “Your Star”. It added a subtle level of authentic creepiness to the song that we couldn’t have if we had been trying to. Some mistakes are my favourite parts.
The song was chosen to be re-recorded for Synthesis while Amy was going through the band's catalogue "looking for the little things I wanted to accentuate", adding this was one of the songs that had "epic moments" she wanted to expand on, saying "Your Star has that very classically-inspired piano arpeggio that goes into this crazy place."
Your Star
Evanescence Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't see your star
Though I patiently waited bedside for the death of today
I can't see your star
The mechanical lights of Lisbon frightened it away
And I'm alone now
Me and all I stood for, we're wandering now
Holdin' parts and pieces, swim lonely
Find your own way out
I can't see your star
I can't see your star
How can the darkness feel so wrong?
And I'm alone now
Me and all I stood for, we're wandering now
We're holdin' parts and pieces, swim lonely
Find your own way out
So far away
It's growing colder without your love
Why can't you feel me calling your name?
Can't break the silence, it's breaking me
All my fears turn to rage
And I'm alone now
Me and all I stood for, we're wandering now
We're holdin' parts and pieces, swim lonely
Find your own way out now
Hey, and nothing worth fighting for
We're wandering now
Holdin' parts and pieces, swim lonely
Find your own way out
The lyrics of "Your Star" by Evanescence present an acute sense of loneliness and despair. The singer laments the absence of the person who used to be her guiding light ("I can't see your star"), lamenting that their light has been "frightened away" by the "mechanical lights of Lisbon." The absence of this person has left the singer feeling lost and alone, grasping at "parts and pieces" of her old life as she tries to find her way.
The chorus of the song highlights the darkness and emptiness the singer feels without this person - the line "How can the darkness feel so wrong?" illustrates the depth of despair she is experiencing. The second verse continues with the singer feeling increasingly alone, angry, and abandoned, as she realizes that nothing is left for her to fight for. The repeated refrain of "we're wandering now, holding parts and pieces, swim lonely, find your own way out" is a powerful statement of the singer's determination to keep going in the face of adversity and isolation.
Overall, "Your Star" is a deeply emotional song that portrays the pain of being alone and the search for meaning in the absence of the one you love. The lyrics are capable of touching hearts and echoing a sense of universality, as almost every human has experienced loneliness, isolation, and despair at some point in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't see your star
The singer cannot see a symbol of hope or guidance that they relied on in the past.
I can't see your star
The singer repeats this line to emphasize their loss and frustration at being unable to find direction.
Though I patiently waited bedside for the death of today
The singer waited for something unpleasant or overwhelming to end, hoping that they would be able to see their star again.
I can't see your star
The mechanical lights of Lisbon, representing the cold and impersonal aspects of the modern world, have obscured the star and made it unreachable.
And I'm alone now
The artist is isolated and disconnected from others.
Me and all I stood for, we're wandering now
The singer and their values are aimless and directionless without the star's guidance.
Holdin' parts and pieces, swim lonely
The singer is struggling to hold onto themselves as their identity and beliefs fall apart, and they feel isolated in their struggle.
Find your own way out
The artist is giving themselves advice to break free from their confusion and find their own path.
How can the darkness feel so wrong?
The artist is bewildered by their own lack of direction and purpose, and wonders how they can feel so lost and uncertain.
So far away
The star, and the comfort and guidance it represented, feels distant and unattainable.
It's growing colder without your love
The lack of a guiding influence has made the singer feel lonely and disconnected from the warmth they used to feel.
Why can't you feel me calling your name?
The artist is reaching out for something - perhaps someone who was once close to them - and feeling frustrated that they are not being heard.
Can't break the silence, it's breaking me
The singer is struggling to find a way to communicate their feelings, and feels like their inability to do so is harming them.
All my fears turn to rage
The singer's fear and anxiety have turned into anger and resentment, perhaps directed at themselves or others who they feel have let them down.
Hey, and nothing worth fighting for
The singer feels like they have lost their sense of purpose and value, and is struggling to find meaning in their struggles.
We're wandering now
The artist is still lost and uncertain, and feels like they are drifting without a clear direction.
Holdin' parts and pieces, swim lonely
The struggle to hold onto themselves and their values persists, and they feel like they are fighting their battle alone and unsupported.
Find your own way out now
The singer is reminding themselves that they need to take action to find their own way forward and create their own sense of purpose and meaning.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Terry Balsamo, Amy Lee
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marie McLellan-Hasty
on My Immortal
These wounds won't seem to heal, this pain is just too real. There's too much that time cannot erase...But you still have all of me
Marie McLellan-Hasty
on Bring Me to Life
Frozen inside without your touch, Without your love...All this time, I can't believe I couldn't see..you were there in front of me. Bring me to life, I've been living a lie, there's nothing left inside...Save me from the nothing I've become.