The band maintained a comfortable line-up during 2009 which had them head to the studio to record their debut EP, This Is Retaliation, that brought forth a whole new attention to the band. After almost a year of promoting the EP, In Dying Arms then were signed to Matchless Records, which is owned and operated by former Chelsea Grin guitarist, Chris Kilbourne. The band then began work on their debut full-length album, Deprevation, which was released in 2010 through the label. They then recorded and released their self-titled follow-up LP the following year. By the release of that record, the band reached their contract requirements for Matchless and our now free agents. By 2012 the band released a promotional single for a song titled "The Core of My Existence".
As of 2012, things haven't looked up better for In Dying Arms. They were signed to Artery Recordings and released their third full-length album Boundaries on September 25, 2012.
Obsolete
In Dying Arms Lyrics
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Yet, I stand here a man;
Alone on knees
When did I find the will to disclose these wounds?
Another burnt display of affection, dead to the grave;
You were the only one I had;
Now who am I to confide in?
With these tears I will wash away my frustration
I will wash away my memories;
But you refuse to be let a stray
Who the fuck are you supposed to be to me?
Vividly I remember how things used to be
You said this would never change;
I am nothing but feeling, but I will not beg;
Every thought of you is another regret to be had;
And every thought is another feeling
But do I have what it takes to erase the past?
You said things would never change
The opening lines of In Dying Arms' "Obsolete" tell a powerful story of a man who was raised with the expectation that he be strong, but who now finds himself on his knees, alone and vulnerable. The lyrics suggest that this man has been through some kind of trauma or heartbreak, and is struggling to find the courage to confront his pain and reveal his wounds to someone else. The line "When did I find the will to disclose these wounds?" hints at the difficulty of opening up and being vulnerable, even to those closest to us.
As the song continues, we find out more about the source of the man's pain: it seems that someone he loved deeply has betrayed him or let him down. The images of "another burnt display of affection" and feeling "nothing but regret" paint a picture of someone who has been hurt deeply and is struggling to move on. The repeated question "Who the fuck are you supposed to be to me?" highlights the singer's frustration and anger towards whoever has caused him this pain. Ultimately, the song suggests that the man is torn between his desire to erase the past and move on, and his fear that he may not be strong enough to do so.
Overall, "Obsolete" is a powerful exploration of vulnerability, heartbreak, and the struggle to move on from painful experiences. Through its evocative lyrics and emotional vocals, the song paints a vivid picture of a man who is grappling with his own limits and trying to find a way forward.
Line by Line Meaning
I was raised to be strong
I was brought up to be tough
Yet, I stand here a man;
Despite that, I'm now grown up
Alone on knees
But I'm alone and vulnerable now
When did I find the will to disclose these wounds?
When did I get the courage to reveal my pain?
Another burnt display of affection, dead to the grave;
Another failed attempt at love, buried forever
You were the only one I had;
You were my only support
Now who am I to confide in?
Now I have no one to share my troubles with
With these tears I will wash away my frustration
I will use my tears to cleanse my anger
I will wash away my memories;
I'll try to forget everything we had
But you refuse to be let a stray
But you don't want to be ignored or forgotten
Who the fuck are you supposed to be to me?
Why should I care about you anymore?
Vividly I remember how things used to be
I clearly recall how things used to be
You said this would never change;
You promised that nothing would change
I am nothing but feeling, but I will not beg;
I am very emotional, but I won't plead
Every thought of you is another regret to be had;
Thinking about you only brings more remorse
And every thought is another feeling
Every thought of you evokes another emotion
But do I have what it takes to erase the past?
But can I really forget what happened between us?
You said things would never change
You promised that nothing would change
Contributed by Charlotte B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.