Tremonti's debut album, All I Was, was released in July 2012. The first single of that album You Waste Your Time reached the iTunes rock top-10 in multiple countries. A second single Wish You Well was released in January 2013.
Additionally, Mark Tremonti redirects here. This is the name for Tremonti's swing projects. In 2022 he released an album where he covered various Frank Sinatra songs (with the original Sinatra band) in aid of Down Syndrome charities. Following this, he released a Christmas album in October 2023, which continues in the same vein, covering classic Christmas songs, alongside an original track, "Christmas Morning".
The Things I've Seen
Tremonti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It tears it all out
But you never know
It takes your life
Turns you into someone
And you know it won't be long
Someone you'd never know
When you very well
That I have seen through it all
And don't claim that you know why
When you know everything
When you've seen things
For what they were
Yeah
Inside you feel it taking over
It's taking over
When you feel it most
It draws you in and tears it away
It tears it away
Then it leaves you lost
Don't claim that you know me
When you very well
That I have seen through it all
And don't claim that you know why
When you know everything
When you've seen things
For what they were
For what they were
Oh, oh
For what they were
Remember the days when
Our fears had long since died
And now how they age us
They've taken all our lives, lives
It takes you in and tears it all out
It tears it all out
But you never know
It takes your life
Turns you into someone
And you know it won't be long
Someone you'd never know
Don't claim that you know me
When you very well
That I have seen through it all
And don't claim that you know why
When you know everything
When you've seen things for what they are
Sore again is this old wound
It overshadows everything
And I have seen through it all
Ah, ah
Yeah
All the things I've seen
The lyrics of "The Things I've Seen" by Tremonti explore the theme of change and how it affects a person's identity. The song speaks of an unknown force that tears apart a person's life, changes them into someone different and leaves them lost. The chorus warns against people claiming to know the singer and his experiences, when in reality, they have no idea what he has seen or been through. The bridge tells of days when fears had long since died and how life takes everything away, leaving only old wounds.
The verses use powerful language to describe the force that changes a person. It "takes you in and tears it all out," turning you into someone "you'd never know." The chorus warns against people claiming to know the person, as they have not seen what he has. The bridge speaks of how fears once died, but time takes everything away, leaving only old wounds that have been seen through.
The song's message is powerful – people cannot know what another person has been through, and it is futile to claim to know. It is a reminder to be compassionate and understanding towards others, rather than judgmental or dismissive.
Line by Line Meaning
It takes you in and tears it all out
Something draws you in and then tears it all away from you.
It tears it all out
Whatever it is that takes over your life, it destroys it completely.
But you never know
You cannot predict how or when it will happen.
It takes your life
It completely takes over your life, becoming the sole focus of everything you do.
Turns you into someone
Who you used to be is gone, and you have been transformed into a completely different person.
And you know it won't be long
This transformation is only temporary, and the end is inevitable.
Someone you'd never know
The person you have become is not someone you would recognize or even like.
Don't claim that you know me
You cannot claim to understand someone who has gone through this kind of experience.
When you very well
You are fully aware of the fact that you do not really know them.
That I have seen through it all
The artist has gone through this experience and has come out the other side.
And don't claim that you know why
You cannot claim to know why this experience happened to someone else.
When you know everything
You cannot claim to know everything about another person's life or experiences.
When you've seen things
Only those who have gone through similar experiences can understand the full extent of what has happened.
For what they were
The singer has come to terms with what has happened to them and has moved on from it.
Inside you feel it taking over
The experience is all-encompassing and consumes every part of you.
It's taking over
The experience has taken control of your life.
When you feel it most
The experience is most intense when you are at your most vulnerable.
It draws you in and tears it away
The experience lures you in before taking everything away from you.
Then it leaves you lost
After the experience is over, you are left feeling completely lost and unsure of yourself.
Remember the days when
The artist is remembering a time before this experience happened to them.
Our fears had long since died
The time being remembered was a time when they were more carefree and unburdened by fears and worries.
And now how they age us
This experience has taken a toll on the artist, leaving them feeling older than their years.
They've taken all our lives, lives
This experience has taken away a significant part of the singer's life.
Sore again is this old wound
The experience has left the artist with an old wound that still causes them pain.
It overshadows everything
The singer cannot forget what has happened to them and it continues to impact every aspect of their life.
And I have seen through it all
The singer has come through this experience and has a new perspective on life as a result.
All the things I've seen
Everything the singer has gone through has shaped them into the person they are now.
Contributed by Samantha P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.