To date, Overkill has released nineteen studio albums, an album of cover songs, two EPs, one demo tape and three live albums. They were one of the first thrash metal bands to sign to a major label (having signed to Atlantic Records in 1986), and rose to fame as part of the genre's movement of the mid-to-late 1980s, along with the "Big Four" (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax) as well as Exodus and Testament. Overkill achieved their first mainstream success with its second studio album and Atlantic debut, Taking Over (1987), which peaked at number 191 on the Billboard 200. The band's next five studio albums—Under the Influence (1988), The Years of Decay (1989), Horrorscope (1991), I Hear Black (1993) and W.F.O. (1994)—were also successful on the Billboard charts, with the latter two cracking the top ten on the Top Heatseekers chart. Following their split from Atlantic in 1995, Overkill went through some label changes, but continued to enjoy moderate underground success, particularly in Europe and Japan. The band experienced a resurgence of popularity in the U.S. during the 2010s, with three of their studio albums released that decade—The Electric Age (2012), White Devil Armory (2014) and The Grinding Wheel (2017)—reaching the top 100 on the charts. Overkill has sold over 16 million records worldwide; they are also estimated to have sold more than 625,000 records in the United States since the beginning of the SoundScan era.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overkill_(band)
Studio albums
Feel the Fire (1985)
Taking Over (1987)
Under the Influence (1988)
The Years of Decay (1989)
Horrorscope (1991)
I Hear Black (1993)
W.F.O. (1994)
The Killing Kind (1996)
From the Underground and Below (1997)
Necroshine (1999)
Bloodletting (2000)
Killbox 13 (2003)
ReliXIV (2005)
Immortalis (2007)
Ironbound (2010)
The Electric Age (2012)
White Devil Armory (2014)
The Grinding Wheel (2017)
The Wings of War (2019)
Scorched (2023)
What I'm Missin'
Overkill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somewhere next to mine
There's a line between what is and what should be
A line you'll never find
It takes me far away from me, it keeps me where I've been
In the blackout, rage-filled, kill the sanity
No I never win
Take me far away from me safe within your heart
Keep me close Don't let me go
Teach me what I need to know
Take the time & show me once again
What I'm missin'
[CH]
There's a little somethin' eats away at me
Deep inside my soul
Behind the wall of pure insanity
Where my dark unfolds
it takes me far away from me to a darker place
In the chaos I kill sanity, it's me I cannot face
[CH]
[BR]
WAKE
Let the sleeping lie, let 'em drop, let 'em lay
Just let 'em die
FALL
To a brand-new high, where I drop, where I lay
Where my inner dies
TAKE
What I need inside, for the long-haul vision
For the long hard ride
WALL
That I hit head on, it's the cost, the payment
It's gone
The lyrics of Overkill's song "What I'm Missin'" seem to describe a mental state of turmoil and confusion that the singer is experiencing. They mention a "wiped-out section of your sanity" which suggests that they have been struggling for some time. There's a "line between what is and what should be" that the singer cannot find. They seem to be lost in their own mind, struggling with the darkness that is tearing at their soul. They mention a "blackout, rage-filled" state which leads them to "kill the sanity" and lose their sense of self. But they want to be taken away from themselves, to where they cannot "fall apart" and be safe. They need someone to teach them what they need to know, to show them once again what they're missing.
The song seems to be exploring themes of mental illness, self-doubt and uncertainty, and the search for some kind of anchor or stability in life. The lyrics are filled with metaphors that suggest a kind of destruction and confusion that is happening inside the singer's mind. At the same time, there is a sense of longing for a place of safety and comfort, and a need for someone else to guide them through the darkness.
Overall, "What I'm Missin'" is a powerful song that speaks to the struggles that many people face with their mental health. The lyrics are haunting and evocative, and the music has a raw intensity that captures the emotional weight of the song's message.
Line by Line Meaning
In a wiped-out section of your sanity
Deep within one's mind, there exists a part that has been devastated and obliterated by past experiences and traumas.
Somewhere next to mine
This section exists somewhere near the singer's own damaged psyche.
There's a line between what is and what should be
There is a clear demarcation between ideal reality and the imperfect world we actually inhabit.
A line you'll never find
Unfortunately, this line cannot be located, as our expectations and reality will always clash.
It takes me far away from me, it keeps me where I've been
This part of the artist's mind acts as a hindrance, constantly dragging them back into their past and impeding personal growth.
In the blackout, rage-filled, kill the sanity
During intense emotional moments, the singer feels as if they are on the brink of losing any sense of reason and control they possess.
No I never win
Despite fighting to retain some sense of control, the singer always seems to come up short.
Take me far away from me safe within your heart
The artist is seeking refuge and safety in the heart of another person, hoping that this will help them escape their own personal demons.
Take me where I cannot fall apart
The artist is begging to be taken to a place where they will be emotionally secure and stable, free from the fear of breaking down.
Keep me close Don't let me go
The artist is pleading with their loved one to stay by their side and not leave them alone in their struggles.
Teach me what I need to know
The singer is willing to learn from their partner and gain the emotional knowledge needed to overcome their issues.
Take the time & show me once again
The artist asks their partner to be patient with them and teach them the lessons they need to learn, repeatedly if necessary.
What I'm missin'
The singer is seeking the emotional knowledge and stability that they feel is missing in their life.
There's a little somethin' eats away at me
The singer has a persistent feeling of unease that is eroding their emotional state.
Deep inside my soul
This feeling is not just on the surface, it runs deep within the singer's being.
Behind the wall of pure insanity
This unease is concealed behind a protective layer of madness and irrationality.
Where my dark unfolds
The artist's hidden darkness is revealed in these moments of emotional unease.
It takes me far away from me to a darker place
These intense emotional episodes lead the singer to a place of despair and inner turmoil.
In the chaos I kill sanity, it's me I cannot face
The singer feels as if they are complicit in their own mental destruction, and cannot confront the aspect of themselves that is driving them towards insanity.
WAKE
This line acts as a call to action, urging the artist to face their issues head-on and escape their negative spiral.
Let the sleeping lie, let 'em drop, let 'em lay
The artist must overcome their own sense of apathy towards their issues and actively work to change their situation.
Just let 'em die
The artist must let go of the unhealthy aspects of their personality that are preventing them from achieving true emotional stability.
FALL
This line represents the idea of falling into a better, more positive state of being.
To a brand-new high, where I drop, where I lay
The artist envisions a better version of themselves that they hope to attain, where they are emotionally fulfilled and at peace with themselves.
Where my inner dies
This new state of being will be characterized by the death of the negative aspects of the singer's psyche that have been dragging them down.
TAKE
This line reiterates the idea of actively seizing control of one's emotional state and taking steps towards positivity.
What I need inside, for the long-haul vision
The singer knows that emotional healing is not a quick fix, but rather a long-term process that requires self-reflection and diligence.
For the long hard ride
The road to emotional stability will be a difficult and arduous journey, but one that the artist is willing to undertake.
WALL
This line represents the final obstacle that the artist must overcome in order to heal and attain emotional stability.
That I hit head on, it's the cost, the payment
The singer knows that this final obstacle will come at great personal cost, but that confronting it is necessary in order to move forward and heal.
It's gone
The singer finally gains the strength to overcome their inner turmoil and emerge from the other side healthy and at peace.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CARLO VERNI, ROBERT ELLSWORTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tom Joad
Awesome beyond reproach.
And one of my favorite, most personal, tunes from the great old 'Kill.
Meneocus Kill
... in the chaos I kill sanity, it's me I cannot face.
2:16 .... the pure awesome
PowerMadHeadBanger
Each one of your videos is the same thing I stay speechless with the quality of the Overkill's song and speechless with the quality of the video editing. You did set a new standard for lyric video on the internet.
Living For The Kill
At first glance, I thought you were saying every video I make is a copycat of the one before it. While I am trying to keep them "alike" enough so that they replay well with each other.. I am also trying to give each one their own distinct character. Glad you enjoy them, and I hope to see other lyric videos out there more engaging...
chroscielewski
Best lyrics from "Bloodletting". Overkill is my fav thrash band...when most thrash metal bands bowed down to mainstream metal Overkill always stayed loyal to real thrash, aggression, intensity of emotions and great lyrics. As a long term fan I growed up & matured with Overkill.
SecondGoogleAccount
Best song off Bloodletting.
rawkit rawn
WOW...overkill reminds me daily that who i am and what i have put myself through to get here is spiritually badass enough to become everything i ever wanted to be...and i am GOODKILL !!! (thanks dude)
Raphael Digger
Living For The Kill :
Your videos are so fucking awesome!
I enjoy it a lot!
Living For The Kill
@Raphael Digger Thanks. I try and improve with each one I do. Just got to find the time in my hectic schedule to get this project complete.
Living For The Kill
No prob. Glad someone else out there connects with them strongly on a personal level as I do. I've always felt that Overkill is so underrated and it's always irked me that they don't get the attention I feel they deserve. I don't want to go bashing "the big 4" or anything because they and a lot of other high-profile bands do have a lot of great stuff... I just feel the power, message and consistency of Overkill has been overlooked far too long.