During the band's early years, In Flames had a varying group of musicians recording with them, including many session musicians. By the release of Colony (1999), the group had established a stable lineup. Their sixth studio album Reroute to Remain (2002) showed the band moving toward a newer style of music that moved further away from melodic death metal and closer to alternative metal. This decision was criticized by fans of the group's heavier metal sound; however, it increased the band's mainstream audience and bolstered their album sales. As of 2008, In Flames has sold over two million records worldwide.
Since the band's inception, In Flames have released thirteen studio albums, three EPs, and two live DVDs, their latest release being their thirteenth studio album I, the Mask in 2019. In Flames has been nominated for three Grammis Awards. They won two of these nominations; one for Soundtrack to Your Escape (2004) in the "Hard Rock/Metal of the Year" category, and one nomination for their following album Come Clarity (2006) in the same category.
Battles
In Flames Lyrics
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You're not my friend and I despise you
Friend
You are my pain and I adore you
What are you waiting for, I'm here
Let's consume it all
Before they take it all away
I hear them from the other side
As I sit and let the day go by
Trying to see if the world is still alive
Let the day go by
Insane
To be caged, when you're to blame
Blame
Break free from insanity to praise you
What are you waiting for, I'm here
Let's consume it all
Before they take it all away
I hear them from the other side
As I sit and let the day go by
Trying to see if the world is still alive
Let the day go by
What are you waiting for, I'm here
Let's consume it all (let's consume it all)
Before they take it all away
I hear them from the other side (other side)
As I sit and let the day go by (day go by)
Trying to see if the world is still alive
Before they take it all away
I hear them from the other side (other side)
As I sit and let the day go by (day go by)
Trying to see if the world is still alive
Let the day go by
The lyrics to In Flames's song "Battles" are quite ambiguous and can be interpreted in various ways. The opening lines, "Pain, you're not my friend and I despise you / Friend, you are my pain and I adore you," can be seen as contradictory statements. It could represent the internal struggle of the singer who has a love-hate relationship with pain. The singer despises pain but at the same time, they adore it because they believe pain is necessary to feel alive. The following lines, "Insane, to be caged when you're to blame / Blame, break free from insanity to praise you," reinforce this struggle, suggesting that the singer is trapped in their own mental turmoil and is searching for a way to break free.
The chorus of the song, "What are you waiting for, I'm here / Let's consume it all / Before they take it all away," seems to suggest a sense of urgency. The singer is inviting pain to consume everything in their life before it's all taken away. The repetition of the phrase "before they take it all away" only reinforces this sense of urgency. The bridge, "I hear them from the other side / As I sit and let the day go by / Trying to see if the world is still alive / Let the day go by," suggests the singer is removed from the world, observing it from a distance, as they try to make sense of their own pain.
Overall, "Battles" is a complex song that explores the emotional and mental struggles associated with pain and the desire to break free from it. It reinforces the idea that pain can be both destructive and necessary for self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
Pain
The feeling of pain is not a friend and is despised.
You're not my friend and I despise you
The pain being experienced is unwelcome and disliked.
Friend
The feeling of pain is so constant that it takes on the role of a friend.
You are my pain and I adore you
The pain being experienced is so familiar that it is almost embraced and loved.
What are you waiting for, I'm here
There is no need to hesitate or wait, as the artist is present.
Let's consume it all
Let's experience everything, both good and bad.
Before they take it all away
Before the outside world takes away the things we enjoy or value.
I hear them from the other side
The artist is aware of the sounds and happenings outside of their own personal experience.
As I sit and let the day go by
The artist is observing and taking in the world around them.
Trying to see if the world is still alive
The artist is attempting to gauge the current state of the world.
Insane
Being confined or trapped is crazy when you are responsible for it.
To be caged, when you're to blame
The feeling of being trapped is made worse by the knowledge that it was caused by one's own actions.
Blame
Breaking free from insanity means giving praise and accepting responsibility for one's actions.
Before they take it all away
There is a sense of urgency to experience all that we can before it is no longer possible.
Let the day go by
Take time to observe and reflect on the world around us without interruption.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Anders Friden, Bjorn Gelotte, Howard Benson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind