From Zero was a nu-metal group formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1998. Their m… Read Full Bio ↴From Zero was a nu-metal group formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1998. Their music is distinguished from many earlier nu-metal groups with its greater focus on vocal harmonies, and correspondingly less elements of hip hop than groups like Limp Bizkit or Puya.

In 1999, the band independently released their self titled EP (referred to as "The Green Album"). At this time, they were also opening for bands such as Amen, Disturbed, Nickelback and Nothingface.

They later signed with Arista Records, where they released two major label albums in One Nation Under (which features many re-recorded songs from their self titled album) (2001) and My So-Called Life (2003). They had two music videos which are for their songs "Check Ya" and "Smack", both of which can be viewed over on You Tube. Before the recording of My So-Called Life, bassist Rob Ruccia left the band to do production work on other bands, leaving vocalist Jett to record the bass for the album. They later recruited Avi Kopernik to play bass for the group's live shows.

After being dropped by Arista less than a month after the release of My So-Called Life, they went to work preparing for their third album. As time went on, writing music became a chore and Jett with nothing to fall back on, needed to concentrate on a day job to support his family. Joe Pettinato, who already had a construction business, then left the band, and the rest of the group called it quits in 2005. Two songs from the intended album, "Middle of the Road" and "My Own Destiny", can still be streamed on their official PureVolume page.
Although they have not gained widespread popularity within the music community as a whole, they are well recognized both in the Chicago area and among nu metal fans.

Sold Out
From Zero Lyrics

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Well I ain't got much to show for
Can you guess the reasons why
'Cause we gave responsibility
To those who let it pass us by
Now your words don't mean that much to me
Got to get you off my back
I feel this weight upon my shoulders
That never thought would bring me down

I got this feeling I've been sold out and used
And I must make some changes in my life
'Cause I refuse to let people walk on me
I got this feeling I've been sold out and used
And I must make some changes in my life
'Cause I refuse to let it be

All the actions that I didn't take
Gonna try to put my life in place
We know that actions speak much louder
And we learn from our mistakes this time
And it isn't very comforting
To know that you can carry on so free
Got to get us off this one-way ride
Before our lives just pass us by

I got this feeling I've been sold out and used
And I must make some changes in my life
'Cause I refuse to let people walk on me
I got this feeling I've been sold out and used
And I must make some changes in my life
'Cause I refuse to let it be

Why don't you tell me
What I have to do and what to say
Why don't you do it
'cause you know it better anyway
I'm sick and tired of the games

You always seem to play
Just go away, just go away from me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to From Zero's song Sold Out speak about feeling neglected and used, and the desire to make changes in one's life. The opening lines "Well, I ain't got much to show for, can you guess the reasons why? 'Cause we gave responsibility to those who let it pass us by" suggest that the singer feels let down by those who were given authority, and as a result, the singer has little to show for their efforts. The frustration is clear in the line "Now your words don't mean that much to me, got to get you off my back" as the singer distances themselves from those who they feel have let them down.

However, the singer is not resigned to their fate, and instead sings about the desire to make changes in their life. The chorus "I got this feeling I've been sold out and used, and I must make some changes in my life 'cause I refuse to let people walk on me" is an anthem of empowerment, as the singer refuses to remain a victim and instead takes control of their life. The lines "All the actions that I didn't take, gonna try to put my life in place" suggest that the singer has taken responsibility for their own life and is determined to make the most of it.

The song also criticizes those who seek to control and manipulate others, with the lines "Why don't you tell me what I have to do and what to say, why don't you do it 'cause you know it better anyway, I'm sick and tired of the games you always seem to play." The singer is pushing back against those who try to control them, empowering themselves by rejecting the idea that others know what is best for them.

Overall, the lyrics to Sold Out is a message of empowerment and taking control of one's life, rejecting those who have let them down and standing up for oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I ain't got much to show for
I don't have much to show for my efforts so far.

Can you guess the reasons why
Can you guess why I am not successful?

'Cause we gave responsibility
We gave responsibility to others.

To those who let it pass us by
Those people let us down.

Now your words don't mean that much to me
Your words don't matter to me anymore.

Got to get you off my back
I have to get you to stop bothering me.

I feel this weight upon my shoulders
I feel burdened by something.

That never thought would bring me down
I never thought it would be this difficult.

All the actions that I didn't take
All the things I didn't do.

Gonna try to put my life in place
I am going to try to get my life together.

We know that actions speak much louder
We understand that actions are more important than words.