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.
This Is Life
In Flames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's more the actual knife
Pretending the picture is perfect
I cut myself to sleep
I close my eyes for a second
And curse my fragile soul
I scream to hide that I'm lonely
The echo calls my name
If I ever
If I never
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see
Make me be
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
The rain drops just beg to hit me
What now hasn't rained for days
No time to play hide-and-seek
I call on you to take me on
Break me down to pieces
Put me back, do it right this time
Struggling to fill this empty shell
Burn all my efforts
In the end it means nothing
If I ever
If I never
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see
Make me be
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
These thoughts burn a hole in my heart
These thoughts will keep me feeling
These thoughts burn a hole in my heart
These thoughts will keep me feeling
If I ever
If I never
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see
Make me be
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
The lyrics to In Flames's song "Take This Life" portray a raw, emotional struggle with loneliness and despair. The first verse starts with a reflection on how physical pain is secondary to the overwhelming mental agony that the singer feels. They cut themselves to numb their emotions and escape from the harsh reality they are living in. The second verse reveals the singer's desperation for someone to understand them and their thoughts, someone who would support and comfort them. They feel like an empty shell, trying to fill their void with their efforts, but in the end, it seems futile.
The chorus makes a plea for someone to take the singer's life and stay with them for a while. This could be interpreted as a cry for help or a desire for companionship. The bridge further delves into the singer's mind, describing how their thoughts are burning a hole in their heart and keeping them trapped in their distress. Overall, the song represents the overwhelming feelings of loneliness and despair that can be felt by individuals struggling with mental health issues.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not so much the pain
The pain itself is not the problem
It's more the actual knife
It's the instrument causing the pain
Pretending the picture is perfect
Faking that everything is fine
I cut myself to sleep
Injuring oneself to cope with the pain and fall asleep
I close my eyes for a second
Taking a brief moment to rest
And curse my fragile soul
Blaming oneself for weakness
I scream to hide that I'm lonely
Yelling to mask feelings of loneliness
The echo calls my name
The sound reverberates and amplifies the loneliness
If I ever
If at any point
If I never
If I never get the chance
Make me understand the thought whatever
Help me grasp whatever idea is being conveyed
Make me see
Make me comprehend
Make me be
Help me become the person I should be
Make me understand you're there for me
Help me know you will be there for me
Take this life
Take my existence
I'm right here
I am present and waiting
Stay a while and breathe me in
Spend some time and take in everything about me
The rain drops just beg to hit me
Feeling like a target for bad things
What now hasn't rained for days
The situation has been bad for an extended period of time
No time to play hide-and-seek
No time to avoid problems or responsibilities
I call on you to take me on
Asking for someone's help in facing the difficulties
Break me down to pieces
Tear me apart
Put me back, do it right this time
Help me rebuild myself in a better way
Struggling to fill this empty shell
Fighting to feel whole on the inside
Burn all my efforts
Get rid of everything I have worked for
In the end it means nothing
It was all for nothing in the end
These thoughts burn a hole in my heart
These thoughts hurt deeply
These thoughts will keep me feeling
These thoughts will persist and continue to affect me
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDERS PAR FRIDEN, BJOERN INGVAR GELOTTE, JESPER CLAES HAAKAN STROEMBLAD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheawesomeLumpas
Lyrics of
In Flames - In This Life
Breathing the dead
Underneath a sky that used to be blue
Each day living just enough
While the world is coming down
I can't focus, I can't control
Close to expired with a broken soul
The rage has left a hole
So strong I can't ignore
Waiting to cave in
Who am I and what and why
In life, in life
Searching for something
I can't find a smile that is mine
In this life, in life
Born to pretend
Anything to stay alive
But walls are closing in
And I'm prepared for the downfall
Wear your wounds with pride
But I have no more space and my body is heavy
Nothing will change my mind
So I wave the world goodbye
The rage has left a hole
So strong I can't ignore
Waiting to cave in
Who am I and what and why
In life, in life
Searching for something
I can't find a smile that is mine
In this life, in life
I can't focus, I can't control
Close to expired with a broken soul
The rage has left a hole
So strong I can't ignore
Waiting to cave in
Who am I and what and why
In life, in life
Searching for something
I can't find a smile that is mine
In this life, in life
Just bat
"In This Life"
Breathing the dead
Underneath a sky that used to be blue
Each day living just enough
While the world is coming down
I can't focus, I can't control
Close to expired with a broken soul
The rage has left a hole
So strong I can't ignore
Waiting to cave in
Who am I and what and why
In life, in life
Searching for something
I can't find a smile that is mine
In this life, in life
Born to pretend
Anything to stay alive
But walls are closing in
And I'm prepared for the downfall
Wear your wounds with pride
But I have no more space and my body is heavy
Nothing will change my mind
So I wave the world goodbye
The rage has left a hole
So strong I can't ignore
Waiting to cave in
Who am I and what and why
In life, in life
Searching for something
I can't find a smile that is mine
In this life, in life
I can't focus, I can't control
Close to expired with a broken soul
The rage has left a hole
So strong I can't ignore
Waiting to cave in
Who am I and what and why
In life, in life
Searching for something
I can't find a smile that is mine
In this life, in life
Jess Death Promotion
*LYRICS*
Breathing the dead
Underneath a sky that used to be blue
Each day living just enough
While the world is coming down
I can't focus, I can't control
Close to expired with a broken soul
The rage has left a hole
So strong I can't ignore
Waiting to cave in
Who am I and what and why
In life, in life
Searching for something
I can't find a smile that is mine
In this life, in life
Born to pretend
Anything to stay alive
But walls are closing in
And I'm prepared for the downfall
Wear your wounds with pride
But I have no more space and my body is heavy
Nothing will change my mind
So I wave the world goodbye
The rage has left a hole
So strong I can't ignore
Waiting to cave in
Who am I and what and why
In life, in life
Searching for something
I can't find a smile that is mine
In this life, in life
I can't focus, I can't control
Close to expired with a broken soul
The rage has left a hole
So strong I can't ignore
Waiting to cave in
Who am I and what and why
In life, in life
Searching for something
I can't find a smile that is mine
In this life, in life
Nico Silva
This one really gets me in the feels...
Cory Washburn
Something intoxicating about this one. The lyrics are strung together very elegantly which took me off guard. I can see why people might not dig it, coming from IF, but you can't deny how well they executed it.
Ivan Carlos
100% agree, I've been a fan since Jester Race, they lost me a little after A Sense of Purpose but this album is awesome and I love how they did this song
ubermcLovin
im quite new to this band, only known them for a year or so, most of their songs are damn good,, but this is different, damn it blew my balls off:) happy song:) kickass
Kevin B
One of my favorite songs off the album. Gives me goose bumps every time and gives me that extra boost in the gym. Can't wait to see these lads on tour sometime in the near future. Stay safe out there jester-heads \m/
Nico Silva
This chorus is everything:
"Waiting to cave in
Who am I and what and why ".
TheawesomeLumpas
Lyrics of
In Flames - In This Life
Breathing the dead
Underneath a sky that used to be blue
Each day living just enough
While the world is coming down
I can't focus, I can't control
Close to expired with a broken soul
The rage has left a hole
So strong I can't ignore
Waiting to cave in
Who am I and what and why
In life, in life
Searching for something
I can't find a smile that is mine
In this life, in life
Born to pretend
Anything to stay alive
But walls are closing in
And I'm prepared for the downfall
Wear your wounds with pride
But I have no more space and my body is heavy
Nothing will change my mind
So I wave the world goodbye
The rage has left a hole
So strong I can't ignore
Waiting to cave in
Who am I and what and why
In life, in life
Searching for something
I can't find a smile that is mine
In this life, in life
I can't focus, I can't control
Close to expired with a broken soul
The rage has left a hole
So strong I can't ignore
Waiting to cave in
Who am I and what and why
In life, in life
Searching for something
I can't find a smile that is mine
In this life, in life
Born From The Embers
TheawesomeLumpas, Thank you!
TheawesomeLumpas
@Born From The Embers you´re welcome Jesterhead ;)
Kent Grotjohn
Thank you