It won't take long for listeners of Spoken's sixth studio album to be remin… Read Full Bio ↴It won't take long for listeners of Spoken's sixth studio album to be reminded of how hard and fast the band can rock. The three songs that open the album, "History Erased," "Close Your Eyes" and "Not Soon Forgotten," start things off with nine minutes of blazing fast guitar riffs and loud and quick-rising vocals, all bounded by a full-sounding rhythm section.

After two albums for Tooth and Nail where the band explored more anthemic avenues, the quintet found itself re-examining its hard rock and metal roots on its third record for the label. The resulting album is an 11-song sonic attack that knows when to slow down the pace and when to pounce back like a slap to the face. "We didn't intentionally go for a heavier sound," guitarist Jef Cunnigham said. "We just wrote what came to mind and I think it turned into some of our best material."

Late last year the band's hectic touring schedule slowed enough for them to start working on the record, though they had a few geographical obstacles to overcome before starting. With members spread across four states, each created a secret Myspace for a non-existent band where they would post song ideas for the others to listen to.

Singer Matt Baird would download these parts to his iPod, where he began to craft the lyrics for the record. His finished work centers on topics like redemption and restoration, and reaches its pinnacle on the album's tenth track, "When Hope is All You Have," which began as a phrase he used during his father's funeral just before recording began.

"There are songs about healing and hope and about moving on after we've made mistakes," Baird said. "I felt some pressure in writing, hoping my parts would turn out as good as the music. But I think it all came out better than I could've imagined." After their internet-aided pre-production, the band decided to set up shop in a one-room cabin in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee for over a month to mold those song ideas into the core of the album. After three weeks of work, Baird joined the band for the final two weeks to add his lyrics to the fray.

With songs in hand the band then headed to Lakeside Studios in Knoxville for a month-long session with producer Travis Wyrick (P.O.D., Disciple), who also produced 2005's "Last Chance to Breathe," a record that helped the band expand its fanbase as it ventured into poppier leanings.

"I'm blown away by the finished record," Cunnigham said. "We wrote these songs to please ourselves, to write songs that we wanted to play live and we ended up with a few that were heavier and harder than anything on the last two records." Wyrick and the band have created a sound less reliant on overdubs and layering and more focused on bringing the band's live show to mind with a more sparse sound that still rocks as hard as ever. Maybe more so. "We wanted to experiment with heavier songs and think further ahead in the lifespan of the band," Baird said. "And with these heavier songs it really feels like a step toward the future and a reflection of the past."

Fly With Me
Spoken Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yesterday I stepped outside
and thought of the things I had in life.
Can I ever be the person that I want to be
and can you ever see the person that's inside of me?
Should you try or should you fail?
Or does it matter anyway?
You wonder why I think God is real.
You wonder why I don't push you away.

I'm not ashamed, so stop trying to pull me away.
Do you want to live; do you want to fly with me?
Once again, I realized to make it through this live.

I've got to get up when I fail,
and with God I will prevail

Overall Meaning

In “Fly With Me,” Spoken tackles the common issues of self-doubt, questioning one’s inner self and wondering if their dreams are worth pursuing. The lyrics convey the singer’s insecurities, as he questions his ability to become the person he wants to be. The themes addressed are not uncommon, but the way in which they are brought forth is relatable and impactful. The verse “Can I ever be the person that I want to be/and can you ever see the person that's inside of me?” reveals the singer’s doubts about his ability to live up to his own expectations, while wondering if anyone else sees his true self.

The chorus “Do you want to live; do you want to fly with me?/Once again, I realized to make it through this life/I've got to get up when I fail,/and with God, I will prevail” expresses the qualities of a true leader attempting to inspire others to join in their quest for personal growth. The question "Do you want to fly with me?" serves as a call to action, encouraging listeners to join the singer in his pursuit of a better self. The chorus highlights perseverance and the need to have faith while facing challenges encountered throughout our personal journeys. The lyrics reveal that the singer is not perfect, and has faced failures before. However, he is not ready to give up and encourages listeners to journey onwards.

Line by Line Meaning

Yesterday I stepped outside
Reflecting on my current situation, I stepped outside to take an introspective look at myself

and thought of the things I had in life.
As I took a moment to appreciate my life, I thought about my possessions and my accomplishments

Can I ever be the person that I want to be
I am questioning whether or not I have the ability to become the person I aspire to be

and can you ever see the person that's inside of me?
I am unsure if anyone has the insight to see the real me, the person that lies beneath the surface

Should you try or should you fail?
I am asking myself if it's worth the effort to try, or is it better to just accept failure

Or does it matter anyway?
I am wondering if the outcome even matters, regardless of whether or not I succeed or fail

You wonder why I think God is real.
You are curious as to why I have faith in a higher power

You wonder why I don't push you away.
You are questioning why I do not distance myself from you

I'm not ashamed, so stop trying to pull me away.
I am not embarrassed of my beliefs or our relationship, so stop trying to discourage me from either

Do you want to live; do you want to fly with me?
I am inviting you to join me on my journey through life, to soar with me as we face its challenges

Once again, I realized to make it through this life.
I am recognizing that in order to navigate through the ups and downs of life, I must remain resilient

I've got to get up when I fail,
I understand that setbacks are inevitable, but I must find the strength to persevere

and with God I will prevail
My faith in God gives me the courage and determination to overcome any obstacles that come my way

Contributed by Olivia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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