Their debut album - All Eternity - was released in Finland by the end of that year and the band then signed contracts with Nuclear Blast (for Europe) and Pony Canyon (for Japan). In 2000, the band toured Europe together with Dark Tranquillity, Sentenced and In Flames. Epilogue was released in 2001 and was followed by a tour with Lacrimosa.
The album Jaded was released in 2003 and in August of that year, vocalist Jarno Perätalo left the band. He assembled a new band named Tiaga, integrated by former members of To/Die/For. However, in 2004, Jarno Perätalo and the band Tiaga took the name To/Die/For for themselves, releasing the album IV in 2005.
Guilt Ridden State
To/Die/For Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shadows gain upon me
Running out of breath
Can't control the fear
Feels like someone's watching
Hiding in the dark
Silent echoes screaming
Paralyze my heart
Leave me alone with my sin
Nothing can save this heartless soul
This guilt ridden state I'm in
Isolation comforts me
Solitude brings safety
Pointing fingers blaming me
For something I didn't do
The blood on my hands ain't mine
I don't know where I've been
Did I cross the line
Of dream and reality
The lyrics of To/Die/For's song Guilt Ridden State describe a sense of darkness and fear that the singer feels creeping up on them. They feel like they are being watched and paralyzed by the echoes in the silence. The darkness, shadows, and lack of control over the situation fill them with a sense of guilt and isolation. They believe that they are in some sort of state of sin that no one can save them from, and that people are blaming them for something that they didn't do, hence the blood on their hands is not theirs.
The lyrics explore the psychological distress and paranoia associated with trying to figure out what is reality and what is a dream. With the lines "Isolation comforts me, Solitude brings safety", the singer suggests that they prefer to be alone rather than surrounded by others but their mind is preoccupied by the feeling of guilt even when they have not done anything wrong. The use of darkness as a metaphor underscores a sense of desolation and foreboding while shadows and echoes in the silence create an eerie atmosphere that helps to build up the singer's paranoia as they struggle with their guilt-ridden mindset.
Line by Line Meaning
The darkness whispers death
The feeling of death is creeping in slowly in the dark
Shadows gain upon me
The darkness is taking over and closing in on me
Running out of breath
Unable to catch my breath, fear and anxiety is overcoming me
Can't control the fear
The fear is too strong, tearing apart my inner peace and confidence
Feels like someone's watching
The eerie feeling of being watched by an unknown entity is haunting me
Hiding in the dark
Seeking refuge and cover in the shadows to escape the fear
Silent echoes screaming
The silence is so loud, it's screaming in my ears, amplifying the fear
Paralyze my heart
The fear is so strong, it's causing my heart to stop beating and immobilizing me
Hey! Leave me alone in the darkness
Pleading for peace and solitude in the darkness, away from the fear and dread
Leave me alone with my sin
Wishing to be left alone with my mistakes and failures, acknowledging my guilt
Nothing can save this heartless soul
Feeling hopeless, with no redemption or salvation in sight for my guilty conscience
This guilt ridden state I'm in
Trapped in a state of guilt and remorse for my past actions
Isolation comforts me
Seeking comfort in being alone, as it helps to shut off the outside world and the guilt
Solitude brings safety
Being alone is the only way to feel safe and secure, away from the judgment of others
Pointing fingers blaming me
Blamed by others for something that wasn't my fault, adding to my guilt
For something I didn't do
Being wrongly accused for a mistake or misdeed that wasn't my doing
The blood on my hands ain't mine
Metaphorically, feeling that I am responsible for something bad, even if it wasn't directly caused by me
I don't know where I've been
Feeling lost and unsure of myself, unable to find direction or meaning in my actions
Did I cross the line
Questioning my actions and intentions, wondering if I've gone too far or done something unforgivable
Of dream and reality
Feeling confused and lost in the blurred lines between my dreams and the reality of my actions and mistakes
Contributed by Sophie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Woundheir
Great song, but such upbeat music for those depressing lyrics.