The Awakening is a name of at least six bands:

1) A Johannesburg (So… Read Full Bio ↴The Awakening is a name of at least six bands:

1) A Johannesburg (South Africa), alternative rock band
2) A 1970s U.S. funk/jazz group
3) A Long Island (NY, USA) post hardcore band
4) A Hungarian dark ambient act, better known as Awakening
5) A Göttingen (Germany) brutal death metal band
6) A Canadian Christian rock band active in the mid-late 80s influenced by Yes and The Beatles

1) A Johannesburg alternative rock band, formed in 1995 by vocalist, guitarist and producer Ashton Nyte. The band is credited in the press as "South Africa's most successful Gothic Rock act and one of the top bands in the far broader Alternative scene." The band has released 7 full-length studio albums, 1 greatest hits album, 2 music videos and 2 EPs, and have received significant radio play and club rotation throughout South Africa, Europe and the USA. They became the first gothic rock band to ever headline major national festivals throughout South Africa, including Oppikoppi, RAMfest, and many others. The band has had major chart success with several #1 hits on South Africa Rock charts (see sources) and charted on Germany's Alternative Charts.

As of 2009 the band is based in the United States with record label base in Germany (Massacre Records), South Africa and the USA (Intervention Arts). The band is touring the USA in 2009 for the fourth time, in support of their latest (8th) full-length studio album.

Sites: Wikipedia, Discogs, YouTube and Twitter

2) A U.S. instrumental funk/jazz group which produced only two studio albums, Hear, Sense and Feel (1972) and Mirage (1973), both on jazz pianist Gene Russell's Black Jazz label.

The label was founded in the early 70's, as an alternative to traditional jazz invoking a more political and spiritual tone, often with funk overtones. It made twenty-two releases in multiple genre, including: funk, free jazz and soul jazz.

Sites: Discogs

3) A six piece Long Island post hardcore band which was formed in February of 2008 releasing a self released E.P., Understanding Goodbyes. The band with its original members left for tour only a few months later in July with, “Thieves And Villains (Victory Records).” After tour, conflicts caused The Awakening to disband with no intentions of moving forward.

In April of 2009, The Awakening was brought back together with original members, Jerry Nedrow, Joe Votta, and Nick Tortora. New vocalist Mike D’amico, new guitarist John Arlet, and new synth player
Jason Bach all added. The new lineup put out the two song EP Mending the Broken and, shortly after its release, they toured. After their second east coast run with Beneath The Sky (victory records) drummer Nick Tatora and Guitarist John Ahrlet have left the band and has sense been replaced by Rich Urraro (guitar), Zack Austin (drums).

They planned to release an eight track EP in mid-November 2009 and to tour it the following month.

6) Canada's The Awakening released three albums in the latter part of the 1980s. The band's core duo of Andrew Horrocks on guitar and keyboardist Ian Tanner was joined by bassist Allan Powell and his brother Mike Powell on drums. A regional release produced by Richard J. Hutt, Two Worlds, came out in 1986. Tanner contributed five writing credits on the album's nine cuts to Horrocks' three (the Powells each had two). Wider distribution came with a contract signing with U.S. based Reunion Records. All but two tracks from Two Worlds would find their way onto 1987's Sanctified. Hutt returned as producer, helping write the new group effort "Distant Light", while Horrocks and Mike Powell contributed the new single "My Only Hope". In 1988, the band recorded final outing Into Thy Hands. Hutt once again produced and each member along with Hutt helped write the single and album opener "Don't Wait for Me". The band's Yes influence was made more explicit via a cover of that band's "Onward". CCM Magazine singled out the track "Knife of Life" as evidence of experimentation on the band's part.

Descent
The Awakening Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Is it time here for praying?
Is it time here to die?
And I wake up and it's raining
And you're leaving here tonight

Is it winter in the morning?
Is it over or a lie?
And I'm shaking but I'm breathing

I just need to close my eyes

Oh you never were to blame
And the broken glass is everywhere
It's crawling through your veins
The memory won't disappear again
Tonight
Even fallen angels cry

Fallen angels cry

Is it time here for dreaming?
Is it time here to die?
And there's nothing to believe in
But the One who gave me life

Oh you never were to blame
And the broken glass is everywhere
It's crawling through your veins
The memory won't disappear again
Tonight
Even fallen angels cry

Fallen angels cry

I can hear you falling, feel you breaking
See you calling me
I can taste you bleeding, feel you shaking
Know you're needing me

Fallen angels Cry

Oh you never were to blame
The broken glass is everywhere
It's crawling through your veins
The memory won't disappear

You never were to blame
The broken glass is everywhere
It's crawling through your veins
The memory won't disappear again
Tonight

Even fallen angels cry
Fallen angels cry

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Awakening's song "Descent" delve into themes of despair, loss, and struggle, framed within the context of questioning faith and facing difficult circumstances. The opening lines pose introspective questions about the passage of time and the inevitability of emotional pain, as the singer grapples with the departure of a loved one during a challenging moment. The mention of rain and impending winter creates a sense of bleakness and emotional coldness, mirroring the singer's internal turmoil and feelings of abandonment.

The repeated refrain of "Even fallen angels cry" suggests a sense of universal suffering and vulnerability, implying that even those who are typically seen as strong or elevated can experience pain and sorrow. This lyric conveys a message of empathy and understanding towards those who are struggling, emphasizing the shared humanity of emotional experiences. The imagery of broken glass and crawling veins evokes a visceral sense of inner turmoil and emotional wounds that refuse to heal, adding to the overall sense of despair and fragility.

The verses touch upon themes of longing for relief and solace, as the singer seeks comfort in dreams and struggles to hold onto belief during difficult times. The references to feeling the presence of a higher power and grappling with the complexities of life’s challenges add layers of spiritual and existential contemplation to the lyrics. Despite the turmoil and pain expressed throughout the song, there is a sense of resilience and a yearning for closure and peace.

The closing lines of the song emphasize the enduring nature of memories and emotional scars, suggesting that the past cannot simply be erased or forgotten. The repetition of the refrain "Even fallen angels cry" serves as a poignant reminder that vulnerability and emotional turmoil are universal experiences, transcending any perceived notions of strength or invincibility. The overall tone of the song conveys a sense of catharsis and acceptance of pain, while also highlighting the beauty and poignancy of shared emotional struggles.

Line by Line Meaning

Is it time here for praying?
Is it time to seek solace in spirituality?

Is it time here to die?
Is it time to face the end of a chapter in life?

And I wake up and it's raining
I awake to distress and sorrow

And you're leaving here tonight
You are departing from this place

Is it winter in the morning?
Is it a cold, harsh reality I must face?

Is it over or a lie?
Is this the end or merely a falsehood?

And I'm shaking but I'm breathing
I am fearful but still alive

I just need to close my eyes
I need a moment of respite

Even fallen angels cry
Even those who have fallen from grace feel pain and sorrow

Fallen angels cry
Those who have experienced loss and despair weep

It's crawling through your veins
The agony is consuming you from within