- Lifelines in 2016, which reached #15 on the Billboard 200,
- Trauma in 2019, which became their most successful album yet - receiving both a Best Rock Album Grammy nomination, as well as a Best Metal Performance nomination for the album’s first single - „Bow Down”,
- True Power in 2022.
Four of I Prevail’s songs have landed on the top 10 of Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart, with 2019’s „Hurricane” reaching #1.
Lineup:
Brian Burkheiser – clean vocals
Eric Vanlerberghe – clean harsh vocals
Steve Menoian – lead guitar
Dylan Bowman – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Gabe Helguera – drums
Goodbye
I Prevail Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back of the bus when I first heard
Ma gave me the first word
Ambulance at the house, said she's concerned
She goes to the door to investigate
Said it doesn't look good, feel her hesitate
Medics worked and they tried to resuscitate
By the time they arrived it was too late
Was your breathing getting shallow?
Was the darkness getting darker?
While the demons that you hide from
Held you underneath the water
I'm at a loss for words but you know it
Did you make it out to Mount St. Joseph?
I keep open doors that need closing
It's done nothing but let the cold in
You know I wouldn't mind
Could've spent a little time
But I guess you made your mind up
Guess I'll never know the why
Or the pain you had inside
But it really fucks me up that
You never said goodbye
You never said goodbye
You never said goodbye
(You never said, you never said)
You never said goodbye
(You never said, you never said)
The lyrics to I Prevail's song "Goodbye" carry an emotional weight that speaks to the pain of losing a loved one without warning. The lyrics seem to be addressed to a person who has passed away, possibly through suicide, leaving behind a grieving friend or family member. The song starts with a recollection of the moment the news of the person's death was received; the ambulance at the house, and the hesitation of the medic when attempting to resuscitate the person. The lyrics ask if the person was aware of their deteriorating mental state, while they tried to hide their demons. The singer is left with unanswered questions regarding why the person took their own life, hence feeling muddled up and lost.
In the chorus, the singer expresses their grief and confusion over the loss, as there was no chance to say goodbye or resolve any lingering issues between the two. The lyrics hint at remorse over not having spent enough time together, not having been able to discuss their problems, and never understanding the full extent of the pain that led to the person's decision.
Line by Line Meaning
It was 2016, Pittsburgh
The song is reflecting on a moment in time, specifically in Pittsburgh, in the year 2016.
Back of the bus when I first heard
The singer was in the back of the bus when they heard the news they are reflecting on.
Ma gave me the first word
The mother of the singer was the one who informed them of the news.
Ambulance at the house, said she's concerned
The mother of the artist called an ambulance and expressed concern for the individual that the song is about.
She goes to the door to investigate
The mother of the artist goes to the door to check on the situation.
Said it doesn't look good, feel her hesitate
The mother of the singer hesitated to share the news with the singer because of how dire the situation seemed.
Medics worked and they tried to resuscitate
Emergency responders attempted to save the individual in question.
By the time they arrived it was too late
Despite the best efforts of the medics, the individual passed away before they could be saved.
Was your breathing getting shallow?
The artist is contemplating whether the individual was struggling to breathe before they passed.
Was the darkness getting darker?
The artist is reflecting on the emotional state of the individual who passed, wondering if things were getting worse before they died.
While the demons that you hide from
The singer believes that the individual who passed had inner demons that they struggled with.
Held you underneath the water
The artist uses a metaphor of being held underwater to represent the internal struggle the individual faced.
I'm at a loss for words but you know it
The singer doesn't know what to say about the situation, but hopes the individual knows how they feel.
Did you make it out to Mount St. Joseph?
The singer wonders if the individual got to experience something they had talked about previously.
I keep open doors that need closing
The singer acknowledges that they hold onto things that they should let go of.
It's done nothing but let the cold in
The artist feels that holding onto things has not been beneficial for them in the long run.
You know I wouldn't mind
The artist wants the individual to know that they would have been there for them if they needed help.
Could've spent a little time
The singer thinks that spending some time together could have made a difference.
But I guess you made your mind up
The individual who passed made a decision that ultimately led to their death, and the singer respects that choice.
Guess I'll never know the why
The artist may never fully understand why the individual made the choice they did.
Or the pain you had inside
The artist reflects on the fact that they may not have known the extent of the individual's struggles.
But it really fucks me up that
The artist is struggling with the fact that the individual passed away without saying goodbye.
You never said goodbye
The song's title and a repeated phrase in the chorus, emphasizing the fact that the individual who passed did not get to say a final goodbye before they died.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brian Burkheiser, Eric Vanlerberghe, Steve Menoian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind