A pioneer of the progressive metal movement, Fates Warning has been referred to as one of the "Big Three" of the genre, creating and popularizing the style along with Queensrÿche and Dream Theater. Their early work, influenced by the new wave of British heavy metal, is also important in the development of American power metal. Fates Warning has released thirteen studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, one VHS cassette, three DVDs (each featuring live concerts) and four demo tapes. The band experienced its first commercial success with the 1986 release of their third studio album, Awaken the Guardian, which peaked at No. 191 on the Billboard 200 and became the first album released on Metal Blade to enter that chart. Their next three albums—No Exit (1988), Perfect Symmetry (1989) and Parallels (1991)—were also successful; the first two peaked at No. 111 and No. 141 on the Billboard 200, respectively. By 2001, Fates Warning had sold over a million albums worldwide. Their thirteenth studio album, Long Day Good Night, was released on November 6, 2020.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fates_Warning
Studio albums
Night on Bröcken (1984)
The Spectre Within (1985)
Awaken the Guardian (1986)
No Exit (1988)
Perfect Symmetry (1989)
Parallels (1991)
Inside Out (1994)
A Pleasant Shade of Gray (1997)
Disconnected (2000)
FWX (2004)
Darkness in a Different Light (2013)
Theories of Flight (2016)
Long Day Good Night (2020)
Outside Looking In
Fates Warning Lyrics
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Outside looking in
Peeling away this fragile shell
To face the fear within
And the man in the mirror looks on
As the cuts begin
Getting over my fears and under my skin
Tearing myself apart to feel whole again
Outside looking in
Running, tired, tortured and torn
Outside looking in
Clawing away these open scars
To heal the wounds within
And the man in the mirror looks out
As he reaches in
Outside looking in
Getting over my fears and under my skin
Tearing myself apart to feel whole again
Outside looking in
Outside looking in
Getting over my fears and under my skin
Tearing myself apart to feel whole again
Outside looking in
Too many things left undone, too late to turn back
I could change course before the end
But when all is said and done
All I really want is a chance to start again
Staring, silent, naked and cold
Outside looking in
Feeling my way through this wilderness
For a place to begin
And the man in the mirror reaches out
To the man within
Outside looking in
Getting over my fears and under my skin
Tearing myself apart to feel whole again
Outside looking in
Outside looking in
Getting over my fears and under my skin
Tearing myself apart to feel whole again
Outside looking in
The lyrics to Fates Warning's "Outside Looking In" speak of a journey of self-discovery, of peeling away one's exterior and confronting the fears that lie within. The singer of the song begins by acknowledging their own vulnerability and isolation, feeling like an outsider looking in on the world. They then begin to consciously dismantle their own emotional barriers, painfully tearing away the layers of defense that shield their innermost self. The man in the mirror is both a reflection of the singer's physical form as well as a metaphor for the persona they present to the world. Over the course of the song, the man in the mirror becomes a more active participant in the singer's psychological transformation, reaching out to the man within and helping to bridge the gap between the two selves.
The chorus of the song repeats the refrain "Getting over my fears and under my skin / Tearing myself apart to feel whole again / Outside looking in," emphasizing the idea that true wholeness can only be achieved by fully embracing and confronting one's darkest fears and insecurities. The final verse of the song speaks of regret and the desire to start anew, suggesting that the singer has finally overcome the obstacles of self-doubt and self-loathing and is ready to begin a new chapter in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Staring, silent, naked and cold
Feeling vulnerable and exposed, emotionless, and alone
Outside looking in
Being on the outside, observing but not fully participating in one's own life
Peeling away this fragile shell
Breaking down one's own walls and defenses
To face the fear within
Confronting one's own inner anxieties
And the man in the mirror looks on
Observing oneself from an outside perspective
As the cuts begin
As the self-destructive behaviors begin
Getting over my fears and under my skin
Confronting and overcoming one's own anxieties
Tearing myself apart to feel whole again
Breaking oneself down in order to rebuild and start anew
Running, tired, tortured and torn
Feeling exhausted, tormented, and emotionally drained
Clawing away these open scars
Trying to heal old emotional wounds
To heal the wounds within
Addressing and overcoming one's inner pain
And the man in the mirror looks out
Looking inward and reflecting on oneself
As he reaches in
As he tries to address and heal his own pain
Too many things left undone, too late to turn back
Feeling regretful and unable to change the past
I could change course before the end
Recognizing that there is still time to make positive changes
All I really want is a chance to start again
Longing for an opportunity to start fresh
Feeling my way through this wilderness
Navigating through an uncertain and difficult time
For a place to begin
Searching for a new starting point or direction
And the man in the mirror reaches out
Taking action and actively trying to make changes in his life
To the man within
Addressing and trying to heal his own inner turmoil and pain
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIM MATHEOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind