Several individual completed songs have also been included on various compilations. These include I Can Tell There Was An Accident Here Earlier on a compilation album entitled Music on the Brain, Volume 1, Bury Your Head on the Atticus compilation Atticus: Dragging the Lake 3, Mookie's Last Christmas from the A Santa Cause: It's a Punk Rock Christmas compilation, and a remake of their previously recorded song I Wanna Hear Another Fast Song called Sleepers from the Take Action! Volume 5 compilation.
The band has managed to gain large amounts of respect in the underground scene, only recently enjoying somewhat mainstream status with appearances on television shows such as "Steve's Untitled Rock Show" and radio play of their first single Voices off the new self-titled album.
There has been a discrepancy about whether Saosin is pronounced "SAY-oh-sin" or "Say-OH-shin". It was accepted by most to be pronounced either way, but former lead vocalist and founding member of Saosin, Anthony Green, offers his explanation on the official Saosin website's "SAOSIN FAQ":
"What does their name mean, and how is it pronounced?"
Thanks to nailed shut, here is a quote from former singer Anthony:
"It’s pronounced SAY-OCEAN. And it’s a Chinese proverb from the 15th and 16th centuries. It means 'small heart'. Fathers used to marry off their youngest sons for money and used to tell them that they weren’t marrying for love, that their wife doesn’t matter. She could die at anytime so don’t get attached. They had to love with caution and raise their sons to be cold and unfeeling as well. I found it in the 8th grade and loved it, I used to name all my old bands that and write songs about it."
Also, "saosin" is actually spelt "xiao xin" in correct Chinese, and pronounced "shaow shin". It also means "be careful" in Chinese.
(added by ddgcreative: Just came back from a live show with Cove, the new lead singer... and they said, in front of a crowd of about 8,000 people, "we are say-o-sin", pronounced sin.)
(note by MarkoBabic: The band's official stance on the issue is that both pronunciations can be considered correct, as it was really only Anthony who stuck by the pronunciation "Say-ocean". This was mentioned in review back in September, 2006 on absolutepunk.net (full interview can be found here).
Current Members:
Anthony Green - Vocals
Beau Burchell - Guitar, Vocals
Justin Shekoski - Guitar, Vocals
Chris Sorenson - Bass
Alex Rodriguez - Drums
Former Members
Cove Reber - Vocals
Zach Kennedy - Bass, quit for personal reasons and later joining Ashley Simpson's band only to quit in 2006.
Pat McGrath - Session drummer hired by Guitarist/Producer Beau for the "Translating the Name" EP. McGrath was formerly a drum tech for Slayer and runs Unchained Studios in San Dimas, CA.
Philip Sneed - Sang for the band during the Vans Warped Tour.
Where are they from?
Chris is from "Crowntown" aka Corona, CA. Beau, Justin, and Alex are from Orange County, CA. Cove is from Vista, CA.
When did they form?
The most commonly-seen live line up didn't come together until about July 2003. The EP was recorded with a different lineup back in March 2003, with Anthony Green on vocals, Zach Kennedy on bass and Pat McGrath on drums. For their first show (June 19th at the showcase theater in Corona, CA) Chris was on bass, and Danny was on drums. Alex debuted on drums at the July 17th show, also at the showcase in Corona.
Is This Real
Saosin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gotta cast my stone into the lake
(It didn't work, I didn't feel it sink in)
That's all it takes my son then you are safe
When the end comes, everything's okay
(We take it back, you take it away)
Take my skin, we're diving in
There's a line drawn thin or so they tell me
I'll never know the difference if we sink or swim
Is it real?
The choices that we make
(Is it real?)
The smiles that we fake
(Is it real?)
I know it hurts but is it real?
The choices that we make
The smiles that we fake for my own sake
I know it that it hurts but is it...
I can't help feelin' like I've been betrayed
Should have cast that stone into the lake
(Stone into the lake)
Chased in the wrong direction, led astray
And I know you don't believe a single word you say
(I can't believe that you can)
Take my skin, we're diving in
(We're diving in)
It doesn't make a difference if I sink or swim
There's a line drawn thin or so they tell me
I'll never know the difference if we sink or swim
Is it real?
The choices that we make
(Is it real?)
The smiles that we fake
(Is it real?)
I know it hurts but is it real?
The choices that we make
(Is it real?)
The smiles that we fake for my own sake
I know it hurts but is this real?
Is this real?
I don't want to buy into the lie
Stare up at the sky but is it real?
Show me something real
I don't want to buy into your lies
Stare up at the sky and say:
I surrender myself for this, I'll take the blame
(I'll take the blame)
I surrender myself for this, I'll take the blame
For peace or war, for rich or poor
For loss, for gain, for everything that I loved
I see, I feel, I've become one with words not real to me
So I'll stare in silence
Forward, backwards
Just to realize we all fall down
Is it real?
The choices that we make
(Is it real?)
The smiles that we fake
(Is it real?)
Just tell me is this real?
(Is it real?)
The choices that we make
(Is it real?)
The smiles that we fake for my own sake
I know it hurts but is this real?
Is this real?
Is it real?
I need to know, is this real?
The lyrics to Saosin's song Is This Real address the theme of struggling to discern what is genuine in life. The first verse presents an image of betrayal and the need for protection. The singer indicates that they have thrown a stone into a lake, but it did not provide the safety they sought, and they feel lost and uncertain. The second verse includes a declaration of self-doubt, with the singer indicating that they feel like they were led astray and that they cannot trust even their own words. The chorus features the repeated question of whether the experiences, choices, and emotions that we have are truly real or if they are fake, a facade.
The bridge continues to explore the idea of the uncertainty of life and invites the listener to question the reality that they observe. The singer seeks something genuine in a world where they feel like they cannot trust anything. Finally, the song concludes with a plea for truth and understanding, a desire to see things as they truly are, and a need to verify that they are real.
Line by Line Meaning
Time's runnin' out and I have been betrayed
I feel like I am running out of time and someone has betrayed me
Gotta cast my stone into the lake
I need to let go of something that is bothering me
(It didn't work, I didn't feel it sink in)
Letting go didn't give me the relief that I needed
That's all it takes my son then you are safe
Sometimes a tiny act can make everything feel better
When the end comes, everything's okay
At the end of life, everything is resolved and okay
(We take it back, you take it away)
The things that we do can have consequences
Take my skin, we're diving in
Let's do something together that may be scary
It doesn't make a difference if I sink or swim
It doesn't matter if we succeed or fail
There's a line drawn thin or so they tell me
There is a fine line between success and failure
I'll never know the difference if we sink or swim
It's hard to tell if something will succeed or fail
Is it real?
Are the things we experience really true?
The choices that we make
Our decisions shape our lives and experiences
(Is it real?)
Are the things we present to the world authentic?
The smiles that we fake
Sometimes we pretend to be happy when we're not
(Is it real?)
Is what we're feeling and experiencing genuine?
I know it hurts but is it real?
Even if it hurts, we need to evaluate what's real
I can't help feelin' like I've been betrayed
I feel let down and hurt by someone
Should have cast that stone into the lake
I should have let go of what was bothering me earlier
(Stone into the lake)
Letting go can help us move on
Chased in the wrong direction, led astray
I have been misled and made bad decisions
And I know you don't believe a single word you say
I doubt the sincerity of someone's words
(We're diving in)
We're taking risks together
I don't want to buy into the lie
I don't want to believe something that's not true
Stare up at the sky but is it real?
Even the sky may not be what it seems
Show me something real
I need concrete evidence to believe something
I surrender myself for this, I'll take the blame
I am willing to accept responsibility for something
For peace or war, for rich or poor
Regardless of the circumstances
For loss, for gain, for everything that I loved
All of my experiences shape who I am
I see, I feel, I've become one with words not real to me
I have come to identify with things that may not be genuine
So I'll stare in silence
I will reflect and contemplate quietly
Forward, backwards
From all angles and perspectives
Just to realize we all fall down
No matter what, we all experience hardship
Just tell me is this real?
I need to know if what I'm experiencing is genuine
(Is it real?)
Are we being honest with ourselves and others?
(Is it real?)
Is what we're feeling and experiencing authentic?
I know it hurts but is this real?
Even if it's painful, I need to know what's real
I need to know, is this real?
I am seeking concrete evidence of what is true
Contributed by Molly F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
AEspurr
one of my favorite songs by them. I love this song, the music's so intense, EPIC BRIDGE. I wish they were still a band.
AEspurr
@Ilham Indra S. really? awesome, do you know when it's coming? like in a few months or something?
Ilham Indra S.
+AEspurr their new single is out, and the album soon!
Hansol
+XxAngiexXRPI Wiki is usually right. Check out their new single.
AEspurr
@Kalibre97 oh...well it's Wiki, and that can easily be false information, so we'll have to wait and see.
AEspurr
@Kalibre97 Oh, well at least they're back together, I'll have to look up their new stuff
Chud Cobson
An album highlight for sure, great energy.
Michel Ribeiro
Melhor banda! ❤
iridiumfairy
no saosin song remains my favorite for long. it's because every week i find another saosin song that i get addicted to instantly :D
childishStarnino
suuuuuuuuch an underrated and slept on band. the first 2 albums are full of powerful anthems. you feel them in your soul. when you're up or down, need a push to keep going, or some peace to reflect on life. that's special music, the kind that suits any emotion. i can't listen to saosin without belting it all out at the top of my lungs with the volume on 11.