The Oklahoma based band came together in November 2000. Band manager Danny Hill took a liking to the group after merely one performance, and by April of 2001, he had them in a Knoxville, Tennessee studio recording a 3-song demo with producer Travis Wyrick.
Before they knew it, Still Breathing found themselves playing a two song set for Solid State label reps at that same year's Cornerstone Festival.
Though the performance would eventually result in an August agreement with the label, original drummer Jessie Neri left the band shortly after Cornerstone, citing hackneyed though appropriate "creative differences" as his reasoning. Bob's cousin John came aboard as his replacement and in November, Still Breathing hit the studio (again with Wyrick at the controls) for a three-week stretch that resulted in the incredibly powerful "September" opus.
The album is so named as September was a time of change- not only in the personal lives of the members of Still Breathing, but in the lives of so many others. It was a time of tragedy, persistence and faith, according to the band. Tragedy, of course, as so many lives were lost on September 11th, reminding us all not to take our own gifts for granted. Persistence- because the band got its act together, despite losing its drummer, and turned out an incredible debut record. Faith- in so much as the band's faith in God got them through the difficult period of loss, bewilderment and transition.
When it's all said and done, Still Breathing hopes that they will have made a difference in the lives of their listeners. Raising questions amongst them and asking them to look into themselves, into their souls, minds and spirits, for the answers. And letting them know that through it all, as long as they are still breathing.
From Within
Still Breathing Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh hear me I cry inside but pride consumes me where balance is
Designed to make
To make us whole but grace
Feeds this red flame
Separation to cleanse provides answered questions of where salvation lies
Oh fill me with this perfection
Trinity cut rebuild reborn
And through this vision
The taste of, salt that, I feel aching, I claw ,and scrape, to compel
Myself to take a stand and walk above this
This fear embraces nothing
Reject this blindness from sight endure recede
Glory and so I let all I am
Let go release your hands
Renews completes
The sickness in me I give away is ready
To resist these hands held out to me to refuse in my confession the
Collapse of my condition
The stale air becomes thin with each breath I receive I'm invoked
Into this spirit invoked into this spirit
Makes me whole
Beneath
Light that
Shines though
Empty
I was
Will be
No more is free
Takes this pawn I know that this is trying, calling upon
Takes my prayers I know that this is calling upon you
Now that I know this strength in me I see past it I'll go past it
Always am I will decide from within
Blessed and born eternal life grace from him to me forever
The lyrics of Still Breathing’s song “From Within” are a fascinating portrayal of the internal struggle of the human spirit. The song starts by discussing the importance of personal success, but also how this can lead to a lack of personal fulfillment. The writer laments not being able to find balance in life, which leads to feelings of pride and emptiness. They note that we were designed to be whole, but something is missing. This emptiness is what feeds the red flame, the fire that keeps us striving but never fully satisfied.
As the song continues, the writer turns to religion as a source of hope and healing. They long to be filled with perfection and have their questions about salvation answered. The trinity of God is mentioned, and there is an overall sense of being reborn through a religious experience. The lyrics emphasize the importance of rejecting fear and blindness, as well as enduring and overcoming difficult times in order to achieve true glory.
The latter half of the song talks about the sickness within the writer and the personal transformation that is required to overcome it. They acknowledge their own weaknesses but also express the desire to resist external forces that might try to pull them down. Ultimately, the writer decides to be reborn through faith and be guided by their own internal strength. The lyrics are full of religious references but can also be interpreted as a general commentary on the constant struggle for personal growth and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Plan in motion I must succeed but replaced by stagnate conformity
I had a plan to succeed but now I'm stuck in conformity which is stopping me from growing.
Oh hear me I cry inside but pride consumes me where balance is
I'm crying out for help but my pride is holding me back from finding balance in my life.
Designed to make
We were created for a purpose.
To make us whole but grace
The purpose of our creation was to make us whole and to give us grace.
Feeds this red flame
Grace fuels our passion and drive.
Separation to cleanse provides answered questions of where salvation lies
Sometimes we need to separate ourselves from our surroundings in order to find salvation and answers to our questions.
Oh fill me with this perfection
Please fill me with the perfection and wholeness that I desire.
In waves of humble sight
Through humility, I am able to see more clearly.
Trinity cut rebuild reborn
I have been broken down and rebuilt, and now I'm reborn in the holy Trinity.
And through this vision
Through this experience and rebirth, I have gained new insight.
The taste of, salt that, I feel aching, I claw ,and scrape, to compel
I am experiencing pain, and I am doing everything in my power to overcome it.
Myself to take a stand and walk above this
I am determined to rise above my struggles and take control of my life.
This fear embraces nothing
I refuse to let fear control me and I am ready to face my challenges head-on.
Reject this blindness from sight endure recede
I am rejecting self-imposed blindness, and I will endure and push past my struggles.
Glory and so I let all I am
I am giving all of myself to bring glory to God.
Let go release your hands
I am surrendering control and allowing God to guide me.
Renews completes
Through my surrender, God is renewing and completing me.
The sickness in me I give away is ready
I am ready to give away my pain and negativity.
To resist these hands held out to me to refuse in my confession the
I will not let my pride stand in the way of accepting help.
Collapse of my condition
I am acknowledging that my current condition is not sustainable.
The stale air becomes thin with each breath I receive I'm invoked
With each breath, I am becoming more aware and more connected to God.
Into this spirit invoked into this spirit
My soul is being called forth, and I am answering that call.
Makes me whole
Through my connection with God, I am made whole.
Beneath
Underneath all of my struggles and pain.
Light that
There is a light that shines within me.
Shines though
This light shines through my darkness.
Empty
Though I feel empty and broken.
I was
I used to be lost and alone.
Will be
But through God, I will be made whole again.
No more is free
I am no longer bound and oppressed by fear and negativity.
Takes this pawn I know that this is trying, calling upon
God is testing me, and I am being called upon to rise to the challenge.
Takes my prayers I know that this is calling upon you
I'm giving my fears and struggles to God, knowing that He will help me through them.
Now that I know this strength in me I see past it I'll go past it
I am recognizing the strength within me and I am determined to overcome my struggles.
Always am I will decide from within
I will always choose to be true to myself and make decisions from within.
Blessed and born eternal life grace from him to me forever
I am blessed and grateful for the eternal grace that God has given me, which will be with me forever.
Lyrics © MUSIC MANAGEMENT, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL A CAMILO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Saiman Amion
I was broken
I was choking
I was lost, this song saved my life
I was bleeding
Stopped believing
Could have died, this song saved my life
I was down
I was drowning
But it came on just in time, this song saved my life.😭😭
Green Day
Listen up motherf🦄🦄🦄ers Father Of All... is out now! Play it loud and play it on repeat 🤘https://GreenDay.lnk.to/fatherofall
Shinbu1128
Hard pass.
Captain Chromosome
Hell yeah
Erwin Schrödinger
cringe boomer album ye
Mansub Basnet
Green Day we love your song
Matt McSherry
Pass
MapletheLeafEater
"Are you scared to death to live?"
That line hit me like a freight train. So underappreciated as far as modern Green Day songs go.
blainebarnett
Well said. This song is underrated
Malyssa Martinez
💯💯💯
John Lineberry
It's my favorite line of my favorite rock song ever. 💯🫡 Gets me every time.