The end of 2008 saw Grieves enlisting the help of friend and collaborator Budo to co-produce Together/Apart bringing his signature swiss-army knife, multi-instrumental backdrop to Grieves' hauntingly poignant narrative. The album began taking shape in New York as the two built off the success 88 Keys and Counting had generated and paired it with the intensity they developed from their live performances. The recording process began to shadow the theme of the album as it saw tracks recorded in Colorado and Washington in addition to New York, infusing it with a mixture of regional influences while still maintaining a cohesive sound. As the album neared completion the title took on a double meaning for Grieves as he explored new subject matter in the absence of trust, refuge in addiction, acceptance and honesty in self-reflection, and trying to find his place in the world without forgetting his roots.
Learning How to Fall
Grieves Lyrics
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Drag the brush over anything to change my wrongs
Pushed a whole lotta limits just to make my palms shake and pump to the rhythm when the monitor's on
I make hearts jump, defibrillator art pump
Fishing from the shore when the ship-in-a-jar sunk
Blind sided by the rhythm with a hard thump
Pointing in my little inner center when he starts up
There's no rest when you're born with your last phrase scribbled on your chest
You can sing over anything your soul in you let's
So, I guess I gotta let it all out
Break another little wall down
Let the music in me call out the brittle part of all doubt holding me down
I gotta learn how to fall
Spoke out of what you might call love
I'll send it with a sword tryin' to write with blood
The tip stuck under my tongue
I'm not leavin' 'til I'm, I'm not leavin' 'til I'm done
Spoke out of what you might call hate
Tattooed on the knuckles of the fist I face
Gotta play it 'til I get my grace
Not leavin' 'til I'm, not leavin' 'til I'm saved
I don't have a journal now, they can't make noise
Broke a whole lotta speakers just to hear my voice
Took a whole lotta needles just to poke those holes made for breathing when I make my choice
God, help us if it makes me
Slowing down the tape speed
Fate maker with a scrape and his fake teeth
Naysayer that will race what his brake feet and crash into the prison you've been planning on to break free
Escape from the pen, words held prisoner and incased in it's stem
Stationary, people signs bound from the place where a boss sets you free instead of cagin' you in
So, I guess I gotta let it all out
Break another little wall down
Let the music in me call out the little part of all doubt holding' me down
I gotta learn how to fall
Spoke out of what you might call love
I'll send it with a sword trying' to write with blood
The tip stuck under my tongue
I'm not leavin' 'til I'm, I'm not leavin' 'til I'm done
Spoke out of what you might call hate
Tattooed on the knuckles of the fist I face
Gotta play it 'til I get my grace
Not leavin' 'til I'm, not leavin' 'til I'm saved
Spoke out of what you might call love
I'll send it with a sword tryin' to write with blood
The tip stuck under my tongue
I'm not leavin' 'til I'm, I'm not leavin' 'til I'm done
Spoke out of what you might call hate
Tattooed on the knuckles of the fist I face
Gotta play it 'til I get my grace
Not leavin' 'til I'm, not leavin' 'til I'm saved
Grieves's song "Learning How to Fall" is about the struggles and challenges of being a musician and artist. The lyrics speak to the idea that sometimes you have to break down barriers and push limits in order to make great art, and that sometimes the hardest thing to do is to take a risk and let go of your fears. The song highlights the importance of perseverance and pushing through difficult times, and it encourages listeners to keep going even when things get tough.
The first half of the song focuses on the difficulties of being a musician and artist, and how it can be challenging to find the inspiration and motivation to create new music. Grieves talks about how he doesn't keep a journal or diary, but instead writes his emotions and experiences into his music. He discusses how he has pushed himself to the limit in order to make great art, and how it can be difficult to let go of fears and doubts in order to move forward.
The second half of the song is about the struggles of dealing with love and hate. Grieves explains how he has spoken out of both love and hate, and how it can be difficult to reconcile those conflicting emotions. He talks about how love and hate can be powerful emotions that can motivate us to push ourselves to the limit, but they can also hold us back if we don't learn how to deal with them properly. The song ends with an uplifting message about the importance of perseverance and pushing through difficult times, and it encourages listeners to keep going even when things get tough.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I don't have a diary, I sing my songs
I express myself through my music rather than writing in a diary
Drag the brush over anything to change my wrongs
I try to fix my mistakes in any way I can
Pushed a whole lotta limits just to make my palms shake and pump to the rhythm when the monitor's on
I've pushed myself to my limits to create music that makes people move
I make hearts jump, defibrillator art pump
My music has a powerful impact on people
Fishing from the shore when the ship-in-a-jar sunk
I try to salvage what's left when things don't work out
Blind sided by the rhythm with a hard thump
The music overwhelms me with its intensity
Pointing in my little inner center when he starts up
I focus on my inner self when starting to make music
There's no rest when you're born with your last phrase scribbled on your chest
I feel a constant pressure to create meaningful music
And the only way out of it is written in text
I find solace in writing down my thoughts and emotions
You can sing over anything your soul in you let's
The music comes from within and can be expressed in any way
So, I guess I gotta let it all out
I need to release all the emotions I've been holding in
Break another little wall down
I need to break down the barriers that are holding me back
Let the music in me call out the brittle part of all doubt holding me down
The music helps me overcome my doubts and fears
I gotta learn how to fall
I need to learn to embrace failure and use it as a stepping stone
Spoke out of what you might call love
I speak my truth with love
I'll send it with a sword tryin' to write with blood
I express myself with a sharp edge and intensity
The tip stuck under my tongue
I hold back my true feelings and thoughts
I'm not leavin' 'til I'm, I'm not leavin' 'til I'm done
I won't give up until I've expressed everything I need to
Tattooed on the knuckles of the fist I face
My struggles are a part of me and I confront them head-on
Gotta play it 'til I get my grace
I need to play through the difficult parts until I reach a state of peace
Not leavin' 'til I'm, not leavin' 'til I'm saved
I won't stop until I've found a sense of redemption
I don't have a journal now, they can't make noise
I don't need to write things down to express myself
Broke a whole lotta speakers just to hear my voice
I've used music to amplify my voice and make myself heard
Took a whole lotta needles just to poke those holes made for breathing when I make my choice
I've done what it takes to persevere and keep going
God, help us if it makes me slowing down the tape speed
If I slow down, it could have a negative impact on everything else
Fate maker with a scrape and his fake teeth
My destiny is not in my control and I face many obstacles
Naysayer that will race what his brake feet and crash into the prison you've been planning on to break free
I will challenge those who doubt me and break free from any limitations
Escape from the pen, words held prisoner and incased in it's stem
I need to escape from confinement in order to truly express myself
Stationary, people signs bound from the place where a boss sets you free instead of cagin' you in
I want to break free from the confines of society and be my own boss
Contributed by Austin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.