There are three bands who share the name Riverside. 1) Riverside is a progr… Read Full Bio ↴There are three bands who share the name Riverside. 1) Riverside is a progressive rock band from Warsaw, Poland, founded in 2001 by Mariusz Duda (bass guitar, vocal), the late Piotr Grudziński (electric guitar) and Piotr Kozieradzki (drums), who shared a love for progressive rock and heavy metal. Up to 2003 Jacek Mielnicki was playing keyboard in the band, but some conflicts led him to leave the band, and in the same year the new keyboardist Michał Łapaj joined. Following their 2003 debut Out of Myself, the band were signed by major prog label InsideOut, releasing Second Life Syndrome in 2005. Riverside's music has been described as a mix between, Pink Floyd, Anathema, Opeth, and Dream Theater, containing long, ethereal keyboard-laden passages and heavy, crunchy metal riffs. Rapid Eye Movement was leaked on the internet in August 2007, and was released in the end of September in Europe, October 09 in the US. In the summer of 2007 Riverside supported Dream Theater in the European leg of their tour.

In 2009 they released their album Anno Domini High Definition. Mariusz Duda had the following to say about the album on January 27, 2009: "We have gone from Warsaw, we have changed the studio and the producer. We care deeply about creating a coherent record and that is why most probably there are only going to be five songs on it. The material will be energetic, multifarious, and - I hope so - very good for live performances. It will be a story about liquid modernity, life in a constant hurry, stress and anxiety about the future. A picture of our times in 1920 x 1080 definition."
In 2011 they released a mini album (only available at the 10th anniversary tour gigs), entitled Memories in My Head, and contains 3 new songs.

In January 2013, Riverside released their fifth full-length album, Shrine of New Generation Slaves, which was followed by Love, Fear and the Time Machine in 2015, Wasteland in 2018, ID.Entity in 2023.

Official site

2) Riverside is a Canadian Alternative Pop Punk band from London, Ontario. The band released two full length albums, and were signed to Bullion Records in Japan.

3) Riverside is a Jangle Pop band from Philadelphia, USA. Riverside consisted of: Keith Kochanowicz (vocals, guitar, organ), Kenneth Jackson (guitar), Glenn Kochanowicz (bass, vocals), Jonathan Liney (drums) and Geoff Verne (drums)
They released two albums, One in 1992 and Taste in 1994.

After
Riverside Lyrics

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I can't take anymore
I can't breathe
I'm sick of this goddamn darkness,
Sick of sadness and tears I throw it all up every single day
Together with last night's dinner

I have lost myself completely
I have convinced myself I am someone else

For God's sake,
I need to be real
I need touch
I need people

I have to turn my life around

But I will still be myself, won't I?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Riverside's song "After" delve into themes of intense emotional turmoil and the need for connection and authenticity in life. The opening lines of "I can't take anymore, I can't breathe" immediately paint a picture of somebody who feels overwhelmed and trapped by their situation. The repetition of "sick of" also emphasizes the depth of their frustration and the sense of being stuck in a rut.

The imagery of throwing up last night's dinner is particularly powerful, as it suggests a physical manifestation of the emotional turmoil that the singer is experiencing. It's clear that they are at a breaking point and are desperate for a way out.

The following lines about losing oneself and convincing oneself to be someone else tap into a common theme in mental health struggles: the feeling of disconnect between one's true identity and the person that they are presenting to the world. This is a particularly painful experience, as it can create feelings of alienation and loneliness.

The final lines express a desire for change and a fear of losing oneself in the process. The question "But I will still be myself, won't I?" highlights the difficulty of trying to change one's life while maintaining a sense of identity and self.

Overall, "After" is a complex and emotionally charged exploration of the struggle for authenticity and connection in the face of intense emotional pain.

Line by Line Meaning

I can't take anymore
I am overwhelmed and unable to handle any more hardship or pain

I can't breathe
I feel suffocated and trapped, both physically and emotionally

I'm sick of this goddamn darkness,
I am tired and fed up with feeling stuck in a negative and depressing state of mind

Sick of sadness and tears
I am exhausted from constantly experiencing and expressing emotions of sorrow and grief

I throw it all up every single day
I release my emotional pain through physical purging, despite the physical consequences

Together with last night's dinner
I vomit both my emotional weight and physical sustenance from the previous night

I have lost myself completely
I feel like I have completely lost my sense of self and identity

I have convinced myself I am someone else
I have tried to change myself drastically in order to escape my problems, to the point where I no longer recognize myself

For God's sake,
I plead with a higher power for help, as a last resort

I need to be real
I desire to be truthful and genuine with myself and others

I need touch
I crave human contact, comfort, and affection

I need people
I am aware that I cannot overcome my struggles alone and need support from those around me

I have to turn my life around
I recognize the need for significant change in my life in order to improve my mental and emotional wellbeing

But I will still be myself, won't I?
I question if it's possible to change for the better without losing my sense of self and individuality

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Y, MICHAEL WOODROW SR. JACKSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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