After a solo tour in the fall of 2003, Alexakis decided to continue with Everclear, organizing a new band that made its debut in March of 2004. The new lineup consisted of bass player Sam Hudson, guitarist Dave French, and drummer Eric Bretl. In the summer of 2004, the band added keyboard player Josh Crawley, and swapped Bretl for former Everclear drum tech Brett Snyder. The new lineup released its first recording, a cover of Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land, that summer. A self-released EP of performances recorded for XM Satellite Radio called Closure was given out at shows in the fall of 2004.
Free of a major label, Alexakis spent the ensuing year and half slowly recording material for a new Everclear release. He admitted that the time after the breakup of the original lineup served as a "wake up call", during which he suffered his third divorce and a filing for bankruptcy. Alexakis announced the completion of the album in early 2006,titled Welcome To The Drama Club. The new band is now on Eleven Seven Music.
In August of 2008, drummer Brett Snyder left the band after four years. He was then replaced by Tommy Stewart, who previously played in bands Fuel and Godsmack.
Malevolent
Everclear Lyrics
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Angel turns away pulls her dress back down slowly washes her face
Takes the bus to her job downtown
She said, "I'm OK don't worry about me"
Now she thinks for herself, "Hey what happened to me?"
I told him that I thought it was over told him that I wanted to leave
I never dreamed he would hit me I never dreamed he would hold me down
She said, "Don't worry about me I won't worry about you"
"I don't want to be friends", she said, "I'm OK"
Just leave me alone, just leave me alone
She said, "Don't worry about me I won't worry about you"
She said, "I'm ok don't worry about me"
I don't want to be friends
Just leave me alone, just leave me alone
Don't worry about me, don't worry about me
The song Malevolent by Everclear is an emotionally charged piece that highlights the pain and trauma inflicted upon women by men. The lyrics suggest a woman who has been physically abused by her partner and is trying to move on from the relationship. She tells him that she wants to leave and end things, but he persists in trying to maintain contact with her. The woman acknowledges the danger and distance she has created to protect herself and emphasizes that she does not wish to be friends with him.
The first verse of the song describes the woman's struggle to cope with the emotional trauma of her experiences. She feels she may have gone too far, while explaining how she goes crazy when her partner says no. The second verse is more direct as she talks about her experience with physical abuse, explaining how her partner used to touch her nicely and how she never thought he would turn violent.
The chorus highlights the woman's desire for space and independence while emphasizing her refusal to be a victim. She wants to move on from the relationship and not be friends with her abuser. The song's themes are particularly relevant in the modern era as they address the issue of victims of abusive relationships and the prevalence of this problem in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I went too far this time I just go crazy when she says no
The singer may have gone too far with his behavior towards a woman he is interested in. He gets overwhelmed when she rejects him or says no to him.
Angel turns away pulls her dress back down slowly washes her face Takes the bus to her job downtown
The woman he is interested in, who he refers to as 'Angel', turns away from him and tries to present herself professionally. She ignores his advances and goes to work instead.
She said, "I'm OK don't worry about me"
Now she thinks for herself, "Hey what happened to me?"
The woman tells the singer that she is okay, but she later realizes that she is not okay with being treated badly. She begins to question why she let him treat her that way in the first place.
I told him that I thought it was over told him that I wanted to leave
He used to touch me so nice when we first met
I never dreamed he would hit me I never dreamed he would hold me down
The woman tells the artist that she wants to end their relationship because he has become abusive towards her. She remembers how sweet he used to be, but now he physically hurts her and she never expected him to do that to her.
She said, "Don't worry about me I won't worry about you"
"I don't want to be friends", she said, "I'm OK"
Just leave me alone, just leave me alone
She said, "Don't worry about me I won't worry about you"
She said, "I'm ok don't worry about me"
The woman tells the artist that she does not want to associate with him anymore and wants him to leave her alone. She tries to reassure him that she is okay, but she does not want to worry about him either.
I don't want to be friends
Just leave me alone, just leave me alone
Don't worry about me, don't worry about me
The woman is clear in her message to the singer that she does not want to be friends or have any involvement with him. She wants him to stop worrying about her and to leave her alone for good.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ART ALEXAKIS, CRAIG MONTOYA, RALPH SCOTT CUTHBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind