Synyster Gates joined Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) in 2001, after the release of the band's first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. He was featured on their EP, Warmness on the Soul, and on the reissue of their first album, only playing on one song, "To End The Rapture." He also plays piano for the band on songs such as Seize the Day and Beast and the Harlot. His father, Brian Haner Sr. is a musician and is often called Avenged Sevenfold's official acoustic guitar player for his appearances on their albums, such as the acoustic solo on City of Evil's "Sidewinder". Synyster Gates attended Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, California as a child, and then the Musicians Institute in Hollywood as part of the GIT program, studying jazz guitar. Django Reinhardt, Adam Aparicio and Roddy are cited as his favorites and as major influences. Synyster has won numerous awards, including the "Young Shredder" award of the year in the Metal Hammer awards in 2006 and the "Guitarist of the Year" Award for Total Guitar Magazine in 2006. He has filmed numerous guitar tutorial lessons for Total guitar magazine. In the Avenged Sevenfold DVD "All Excess," to emphasize the seemingly random placing of names, Synyster stated that his name was thought of on a drunken drive through the park with The Rev. He usually sports his trademark fedora hats at concerts.
Synyster was also a member of the band Pinkly Smooth, a side project with The Rev (Avenged Sevenfold's drummer), alongside former bassist of Avenged Sevenfold, Justin Meacham. Pinkly Smooth was disbanded because Synyster and The Rev wished to focus full-time on Avenged Sevenfold, although when asked recently, they both revealed there is a new side project being planned, featuring the two playing older Pinkly Smooth songs.
Synyster also has newly released a clothing line called Syn Gates Clothing.
He has been sponsored by Schecter Guitar Research since 2004, and has signature Avenger models. He uses the guitars listed below.
The River
Synyster Gates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of the shadow of L.A.
The footsteps that were next to me
Have gone their separate ways
I've seen enough now to know that beautiful things
Don't always stay that way
I've done enough now to know this beautiful place
I heard that evil comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light
Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong but I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son, I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered, I'm delivered
You're from a small town
You're gonna grow up fast underneath these lights
Down in Hollywood on the boulevard
The dead come back to life
To the praying Mother and the worried Father
Let your children go
If they come back they'll come home stronger
And if they don't you'll know
They say evil that comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light
Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong but I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son, I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered, I'm delivered
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
I wanna be delivered
(On my own!)
(On my own!)
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
I wanna be delivered
I confess I'm a sinner
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered!
The song "The River" by Synyster Gates is a powerful reflection on the struggles of growing up in the city of angels, Los Angeles. As the lyrics suggest, the city can be both beautiful and evil, and it takes a lot of strength and perseverance to navigate through its many challenges. The singer of the song has experienced enough to know that not everything is as it seems in this place, and he is searching for a way to be delivered from his sins.
Throughout the song, the singer uses the metaphor of being baptized in the river to symbolize his desire for redemption and transformation. He has made mistakes and done wrong, but he is determined to find his way back home and become a better person. There is a sense of hope throughout the song, even in the midst of all the darkness and uncertainty that surrounds him.
The lyrics are also an exploration of the theme of family and coming home. The singer speaks of the praying mother and the worried father, who are hoping that their children will make it out of the city alive. There is a sense of longing for connection and belonging, a desire to be reunited with loved ones and to find a place where one truly belongs.
Overall, "The River" is a powerful and emotionally charged song that explores the complexities of life in Los Angeles and the struggle for redemption and transformation. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of forgiveness and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
As I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of L.A.
Walking through the difficult and dark times in the city of Los Angeles.
The footsteps that were next to me
Have gone their separate ways
Friends or companions who were once together have gone on their different paths.
I've seen enough now to know that beautiful things
Don't always stay that way
Experiencing enough in life to realize that beauty doesn't last forever.
I've done enough now to know this beautiful place
Isn't everything they say
Having experienced a lot to understand that the beautiful city of Los Angeles isn't everything that people claim it to be.
I heard that evil comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light
Recognizing that evil is often hidden and disguised, and trying to make positive changes and move towards a better path.
Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered
Having a spiritual experience and a vision of a better life, and wishing to achieve that better life.
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong but I swear I'm a believer
As a sinner in the city, having made many mistakes but being a believer in the possibility of redemption and a better life.
Like the prodigal son, I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered, I'm delivered
Comparing oneself to the prodigal son who left home and is now trying to come back, having been baptized and redeemed.
You're from a small town
You're gonna grow up fast underneath these lights
Down in Hollywood on the boulevard
The dead come back to life
Growing up quickly and experiencing a lot under the bright lights of Hollywood, where anything can happen and where people can be reborn.
To the praying Mother and the worried Father
Let your children go
If they come back they'll come home stronger
And if they don't you'll know
Asking parents to let their children venture out into the world because they will grow stronger from the experience, and that if they don't come back, it's a sign they were meant to find their own way.
I confess I'm a sinner
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered!
Admitting to being a sinner and having vision of a better life, and wishing to achieve that better life through redemption.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DON GILMORE, BENJI MADDEN, JOEL MADDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@djrueda
lyrics
The River
Good Charlotte
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of LA
The footsteps that were next to me have gone their separate ways
I've seen enough now
To know that beautiful things don't always stay that way
I've done enough now
To know this beautiful place isn't everything they say
I heard that evil comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light
Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong, but I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son, I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered
You're from a small town, you're gonna grow up fast
Underneath these lights
Down in Hollywood on the boulevard
The dead come back to life
To the praying mother, and the worried father
Let your children go
If they'll come back, they'll come home stronger
And if they don't, you'll know
They say evil comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light
Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong, but I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son, I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered
Baptized in the river (on my own)
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered
On my own
On my own
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered
I confess I'm a sinner
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered
@luxvaudeville4015
As I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of LA
The footsteps that were next to me
Have gone their seperate ways
I've seen enough now to know
That beautiful things
Don't always stay that way
I've done enough now to know
This beautiful place isn't everything they say
I heard that evil comes disguised
Like a city of angels
I'm walking towards the light
Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life
And I want to be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong
But I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son
I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered
You're from a small town.
You're gonna grow up fast underneath these lights.
Down in Hollywood on the boulevard the dead come back to life.
To the praying mother and the worried father, let your children go.
If they come back they'll come home stronger.
And if they don't you'll know.
They say that evil come disguised
Like a city of angels,
I'm walking towards the light
Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life
And I want to be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong
But I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son
I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered
Baptized in the river.
On my own.
Baptized in the river.
On my own.
I wanna be delivered.
On my own.
On my own.
Baptized in the river.
On my own.
I wanna be delivered.
I confess I'm a sinner.
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered.
@emrelazman
This song is just a masterpiece. Great lyrics, amazing metaphors and both Shadows & Gates add just that extra touch.
2016 promises to be an amazing year:
GC making a comeback
A7X has a new drummer
Sum41 made a new album and Brownsound rejoined :D
Blink182 is making a comeback with Matt Skiba
Can't wait!!
@ashleymccready978
Lyrics:
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of LA
The footsteps that were next to me have gone their separate ways
I've seen enough now
To know that beautiful things don't always stay that way
I've done enough now
To know this beautiful place isn't everything they say
I heard that evil comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light
Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong, but I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son, I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered
You're from a small town, you're gonna grow up fast
Underneath these lights
Down in Hollywood on the boulevard
The dead come back to life
To the praying mother, and the worried father
Let your children go
If they'll come back, they'll come home stronger
And if they don't, you'll know
They say evil comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light
Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong, but I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son, I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered
Baptized in the river (on my own)
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered
On my own
On my own
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered
I confess I'm a sinner
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered
@flonkas
12 years later. I’m 30 and I still get goosebumps when m shadows starts his verse
@slightlyaboveaverage2235
Upload to YouTube is 12 years, this song is way older than that.
@flonkas
@Slightly Above Average it was common to hear songs for the first time when they came out on YouTube back then .
@2dsie
@Jim jones +1
@ahahahanna8725
+1
@alexgarital2059
holly sh!t equal to me
@samx0
Still in 2021, this song is immeasurably underrated. Pure brilliance.
@Uruguay182
Indeed. Just came to listen it today after 10 years because I needed it
@tomasskorik8437
Yea, epic song 🤟
@rachelsingleton8810
Brilliant song mate