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.
Sober an irrelevant
In Flames Lyrics
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But now I tremble in fear
I am like everyone else
Alabary spell
Is this how it feels to reach black bottom
Want to know how it feels to be forgotten
I am the sober and irrelevant
I don't feel but in this
What is there to believe?
I'm not asking for much
Just a moment
A chance to pick up the pieces
Happiness please come home
What if it ends right here
How do I change it
Hoping to find the Savior
I lost my way
I become the distance
I am the sober and irrelevant
I don't feel but in this
What is there to believe?
Is this how it feels to reach black bottom
Want to know how it feels to be forgotten
Hoping to find the Savior
I've lost my way
I become the distance
I am the sober and irrelevant
I don't feel but in this
What is there to believe?
The lyrics to In Flames's song "Sober and Irrelevant" appear to describe a deep sense of confusion and resignation that has overtaken the singer. The lines "We used to be original / But now I tremble in fear" suggest a nostalgia for a bygone era when the singer and their friends were more unique and confident in their individuality. However, now the singer seems to feel trapped in a state of sameness with everyone else, as they lament that they have become "Alabary spell," a term that likely refers to a homogeneity that threatens to rob them of their identity.
The repeated refrain of "I become the distance / I am the sober and irrelevant / I don't feel but in this / What is there to believe?" is especially powerful in conveying the sense of isolation and despair felt by the singer. They seem to have lost their sense of purpose and direction, and are left with a profound sense of existential emptiness. The lines "What if it ends right here / How do I change it" suggest a desire to make a change and escape this feeling of numbness, but it's unclear whether the singer has the strength or will to do so.
Overall, the lyrics to "Sober and Irrelevant" paint a bleak picture of a person who is struggling to find their place in the world and to hold onto their sense of self. It's a song that captures the feeling of being lost and disconnected, and speaks to the universal human experience of feeling like we don't quite fit in.
Line by Line Meaning
We used to be original
We were unique and one-of-a-kind at some point in the past.
But now I tremble in fear
However, presently, I am scared and anxious.
I am like everyone else
I am just like any other person and nothing sets me apart.
Alabary spell
This might be a reference to a magical incantation or chant, the context of which is unclear.
Is this how it feels to reach black bottom
I wonder if this is what it's like when life hits rock bottom.
Want to know how it feels to be forgotten
I am curious about how it would feel if no one remembers or acknowledges my existence.
I become the distance
I isolate myself and push people away, creating a distance between myself and others.
I am the sober and irrelevant
I am not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, yet at the same time, I am not important or significant.
I don't feel but in this
I don't experience any emotions except in this particular moment.
What is there to believe?
I am uncertain about what to believe or how to have faith in anything.
I'm not asking for much
I have a simple request.
Just a moment
All I want is a brief moment of time.
A chance to pick up the pieces
I hope for an opportunity to fix the things that have fallen apart.
Happiness please come home
I want to feel happy and content once again.
What if it ends right here
I contemplate the possibility that things might come to an end at this very moment.
How do I change it
I wonder how I can alter or improve the situation.
Hoping to find the Savior
I am searching for someone or something that can rescue me from my current state of despair.
I lost my way
I feel lost or directionless and am unsure of my path forward.
Is this how it feels to reach black bottom
I reiterate my earlier question, questioning if this is what rock bottom feels like.
Want to know how it feels to be forgotten
I still have a desire to experience the feeling of being forgotten.
Hoping to find the Savior
I repeat my earlier desire to find some sort of salvation from my current state.
I've lost my way
I reassert my feeling of being lost or aimless.
I become the distance
The final line repeats the sentiment that I isolate myself and push people away.
I am the sober and irrelevant
I once again emphasize that I am not important or significant, and am not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
I don't feel but in this
The final line restates the idea that I don't experience emotions except in a specific moment.
What is there to believe?
I conclude with the same sense of uncertainty and questioning that I expressed earlier in the song.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Anders Friden, Bjorn Gelotte, Jesper Stromblad
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind