Art often thrives in the aftermath of adversity, and since we last heard from Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, there have been plenty of variables that the five-piece alternative rock act had to endure. But for the Middleburg, Florida-based band, hardships eventually ironed out thanks to unrelenting perseverance, paving the way for the band’s incredibly ambitious (and aptly titled) The Hell Or High Water EP, release August 24th, 2010.
The self-released project comes on the heels of the band’s voluntary parting of ways with Virgin Records, the company that first signed the band for 2006’s gold selling Don’t You Fake It (spawning the smash single “Face Down”), followed by 2009’s Lonely Road (which debuted in the top twenty of the Billboard 200), but eventually became more of an albatross than an anchor for the burgeoning band.
According to the Reap Song facts, the first single from The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus' third studio album, Am I the Enemy?, "Reap", was released via YouTube on March 24 2011, then for download a month later on April 26, 2011. The whole album was released on August 29, 2011.
Ronnie Winter - Lead Vocals,
Josh Burke - Guitar
Randy Winter - Guitar
Joey Westwood - Bass, Vocals
Kris Comeaux - Drums, Vocals
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Grim Goodbye
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whoa, closing slowly
Don't you try to take me down
Don't you try to take me over
Won't you try to break me?
The complexities moving in
Tragedies plaguing me solemnly
It's affecting my will
But wait, now that I've found you
Situations from dark now change to gray
Disregarding my absence of memories
It's perpetually blinding me of sanity
And just when I'm giving in
As I try to scale these walls
Jericho falls around me
And I feel that I've strayed too long
And darkness is fading in
And darkness is real
Whoa, my eyes
Whoa, closing slowly, I try
Fate seems to recreate
I just cannot escape
Something holds me down and makes me act
A way I can't explain
Even now I can feel it coming over me, choking me
As I'm falling behind
You can say you know me
But you have no clue what my dreams could show you
And darkness is fading in
And darkness is real
Whoa, my eyes
Whoa, closing slowly, I try
I can't, can't win
Tell me what you see
I feel something deep inside me
I feel deep inside
I feel something deep inside me
And I can't let this go, whoa
I feel something deep inside me
And I can't let this go, whoa
Lie, as I try to steer clear
And I try to stay sober
This is taking me over
And my dreams complicate it
I just cannot let this go
I tried so many times to tell you
I just I cannot let this go
I just cannot win
I see you
I see you, you falling away
I see you, you
You killing me softly
I see you, you falling away
I see you, you, you
Don't take what's in front of me
Open eyes can see I have everything
Tell you, don't take what's in front of me
Tell you, don't take what's in me
Lies, which one lied?
When I feel this come away
Way that's why I try, lie
I see you coming my way
Dreams may fall more everyday
But I see you looking my way
And I've tried just to separate dreams from reality
Try to satisfy this wanting
Try to stay righteous, try to stay sober
But then I can't win
And I know you
And I know you
And I know you
Lie
The lyrics to "Grim Goodbye" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus depict a struggle with one's inner demons and darkness. The opening lines "Whoa, my eyes, whoa closing slowly" portrays the feeling of being pulled under and consumed by the darkness. The singer is pleading with whoever or whatever is trying to take them down and over, not to break them. The complexities of life start to take their toll, and the tragedies around them start to affect their will to keep fighting.
However, they have found someone or something that has changed their outlook from dark to grey, and although they may have forgotten some memories, they can still see the light that is blinding them. As they try to climb over the walls that hold them back, they begin to feel like they have strayed too far into the darkness, and it is consuming them. As the darkness fades in, they try to fight it, but it is a losing battle.
The singer admits that they feel something deep inside them that they cannot explain, and it is choking them. They try so hard to steer clear of it and remain sober, but they cannot let go of it. The final line "I know you, and I know you lie" indicates that the singer knows that they are deceiving themselves or lying to themselves about their situation, but they cannot do anything to change it.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa, my eyes
I'm overwhelmed and emotional.
Whoa, closing slowly
I'm losing my strength and willpower.
Don't you try to take me down
Don't bring me down with your negativity.
Don't you try to take me over
Don't try to control me or my decisions.
Won't you try to break me?
Are you trying to make me weaker?
The complexities moving in
Complicated issues are arising in my life.
And I feel that I do not have the strength
I feel weak and powerless in the face of these issues.
Tragedies plaguing me solemnly
Sad and tragic events are affecting me deeply.
It's affecting my will
These events are impacting my motivation and determination.
But wait, now that I've found you
I've found something or someone that's bringing me hope.
Situations from dark now change to gray
My difficult situations are starting to improve slightly.
Disregarding my absence of memories
I'm not letting my forgetfulness or mistakes stop me.
It's perpetually blinding me of sanity
These circumstances are constantly affecting my mental health.
And just when I'm giving in
Just when I'm about to give up.
As I try to scale these walls
As I try to overcome obstacles.
Jericho falls around me
Unexpected changes or failures have happened to me.
And I feel that I've strayed too long
I feel lost and unable to find the right path.
And darkness is fading in
My despair and hopelessness are getting worse.
And darkness is real
These negative emotions are palpable and strong.
Fate seems to recreate
It seems like destiny is repeating things in my life.
I just cannot escape
I feel trapped and unable to change things.
Something holds me down and makes me act
I'm being held back and can't be myself.
A way I can't explain
I don't even understand why I act the way I do.
Even now I can feel it coming over me, choking me
These negative feelings are overwhelming and suffocating me.
As I'm falling behind
As I'm losing my momentum and progress.
You can say you know me
You can claim to understand me.
But you have no clue what my dreams could show you
You have no idea what I really want in life.
I can't, can't win
I feel like I can't succeed.
Tell me what you see
Can you give me some guidance or insight?
I feel something deep inside me
I have a strong emotional response to this situation.
And I can't let this go, whoa
I can't move past this, it's stuck in my mind.
Lie, as I try to steer clear
I'm lying to myself and trying to avoid confrontation.
And I try to stay sober
I'm trying to stay clear-headed and focused.
This is taking me over
It's becoming too much for me to handle.
And my dreams complicate it
My desires and aspirations are making everything more difficult.
I just cannot let this go
I'm determined to resolve this problem.
I tried so many times to tell you
I've tried to communicate my feelings several times before.
I just I cannot let this go
I refuse to give up.
I see you
I understand you or I notice you.
You falling away
You're distancing yourself or separating from me.
You killing me softly
You're emotionally hurting me without realizing it.
Don't take what's in front of me
Don't take away what I value or need.
Open eyes can see I have everything
I have everything I need, if only I recognize it.
Lies, which one lied?
One of us isn't being truthful, who is it?
When I feel this come away
When I feel distant or disconnected.
Way that's why I try, lie
I'm trying to maintain the current relationship even if it's based on lies.
Dreams may fall more everyday
My hopes and aspirations are becoming harder to obtain.
But I see you looking my way
I see you paying attention to me even in difficult times.
And I've tried just to separate dreams from reality
I've tried to distinguish my aspirations from my actual life.
Try to satisfy this wanting
I'm attempting to fulfill my emotional needs or desires.
Try to stay righteous, try to stay sober
I'm trying to stay morally upright and clear-headed.
But then I can't win
But then I still feel like I can't succeed or prevail.
And I know you
I'm familiar with you or understand you.
Lie
Either I or you are being dishonest in this relationship.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RONNIE WINTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind