In early 2004, they self-recorded and released their debut EP I Am for You. Simultaneously, the line-up was completed by guitarist Nick Rucker and bassist Derek Vaughn, replacing Teegarden. However, the two soon left the band, and a permanent bassist was found in Andrew Grosse, frontman Jones' former bandmate in their Christian accented high school band Formula316.[2] Without record label distribution and solely through word of mouth promotion, the CD's first pressing of 1,000 copies (being only available through the band's website and at their concerts) sold out within a month.[3] To date, the six-song CD managed to sell over 10,000 copies.[4] Its success landed the band a booking agent and allowed them to drop out of college, to pursue a career in the music industry. As the result of their constant touring and — due to lucky circumstances — their participating in 2004's Warped Tour, word spread fast and garnered the attention of several record labels, including Tooth & Nail Records, home to such bands as Further Seems Forever, Mae and Underoath. Tooth & Nail signed Waking Ashland and released their first full-length album Composure — produced by Lou Giordano — in May 2005. The album scanned 2,400 units within its first week of sales, debuting at #19 on Nielsen SoundScan's Alternative New Artist chart and at #53 on their Top New Artist Album chart.[5]
On September 5, 2005, a statement on the band's website announced that Grosse and Lee had left the band due to in-band conflicts. Temporary touring members included drummers Joe Greenetz from Sherwood and Rob Lynch from Harris, as well as bassists Jon Sullivan from Jack's Mannequin and Trevor Sellers from Number One Gun. On February 8, 2006, Waking Ashland released a nine-song EP, titled Telescopes, only in Japan. Immortal Records released Telescopes in the United States on June 13, 2006. The Japanese release had two bonus tracks, which were acoustic versions of "October Skies" and "I Am For You" from Composure. While the release featured session musicians to back up Jones and Lallier, a permanent rhythm section was finally announced in a blog on the band's MySpace profile as Nate Harold and Tim Very.
Part of the band's success can be attributed to their pages on MySpace and PureVolume. As of September 2006, Waking Ashland's songs have been played over 1.3 million times on MySpace and over 1.2 million times on PureVolume. Their song "I Am for You" appeared on the first MySpace Records compilation and the Drive Thru Records/PureVolume compilation, "Bands You Love, Have Heard of, and Should Know".
Waking Ashland's second album, The Well, was released by Immortal Records on April 17, 2007.
On July 9, 2007, Jones announced on their MySpace page that the band had broken up, citing irreconcilable differences. Jones is currently working with his newly formed band We Shot the Moon, consisting of him and two other musicians from the band Sherwood, Dan Koch and Joe Greenetz. Jones and Lallier are also currently working on solo projects.
Take Me With You
Waking Ashland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If my eyes are closed or open
Yeah, I've got no way of knowing
It's so quiet now
I can't sleep at all tonight
And all I can hear are my lungs breathing
And the sound of my heart beating
I can't seem to get these thoughts out of my mind
Every time I close my eyes
Now I'm feeling like a blind man seeing
That the problem's in my head and not my eyes
Your example now is not much of a help
But it doesn't matter much to me
I'm thinking for myself
I'm drinking now from a different well
And I'm drawing from the deepest so I don't go to hell
Take me with you
I can't seem to get these thoughts out of my mind
Every time I close my eyes
Now I'm feeling like a blind man seeing
That the problem's in my head and not my eyes
"Waking Ashland's Take Me With You" is a song that portrays a state of despair and confusion. Here, the singer expresses his inability to distinguish between whether his eyes are closed or open, emphasizing the darkness that surrounds him both internally and externally. The quietness of the night only amplifies his loneliness and inability to find rest. All he can hear is the sound of his own breathing and the rhythm of his beating heart. The singer then reaches out asking for someone to “take him with them” so that he can escape the thoughts that torture his mind.
The singer then realizes that the problem is within his mind and not a physical issue hindering him from seeing clearly. The world is no longer black or white, but murky, and he feels as though he is seeing and living life as a “blind man.” The singer acknowledges that the examples set by others are not helping him because they cannot understand his predicament. Consequently, he takes upon himself to make decisions to draw from the deepest well so that he can avoid going to his mental hell.
In summary, this is a song that captures the emotional anguish of an individual experiencing overwhelming confusion and despair. The singer is lost, afraid, and seeks a way out — a plea for help — which unfortunately can only come from within. Perhaps, it is not wanting to be alone in this battle that propels him to call out for someone to " take him with them," even though in reality, he will need to find his way and push through.
Line by Line Meaning
It's so dark now that I can hardly tell
I am engulfed in such a level of darkness that distinguishing between my closed and open eyes is difficult
If my eyes are closed or open
I am unable to correctly identify whether my eyes are shut or open due to the darkness surrounding me
Yeah, I've got no way of knowing
My ability to determine the state of my eyesight is hindered by the darkness, and thus, I am unaware of whether my eyes are open or closed
It's so quiet now
There exists an absence of any sound or noise, leading me to believe that I am alone in the moment
I can't sleep at all tonight
Despite the silence, I am unable to fall asleep or attain a state of restfulness
And all I can hear are my lungs breathing
The only sound I am able to perceive is that of my own breathing, which further isolates me in my surroundings
And the sound of my heart beating
I am also able to hear the rhythm of my heartbeat, reminding me of my own existence
Take me with you
I plead with you to take me away from this current state of isolation and emptiness
I can't seem to get these thoughts out of my mind
My mind is plagued with persistent and unrelenting thoughts, which cause me distress
Every time I close my eyes
Whenever I attempt to rest or shut my eyes, these thoughts intensify
Now I'm feeling like a blind man seeing
Despite being unable to physically see, I feel as though I am becoming more aware and perceptive of my surroundings and emotions
That the problem's in my head and not my eyes
I realize that the root cause of my distress resides in my own thoughts and mentality, and not in any external factors
Your example now is not much of a help
The advice or guidance being offered to me is insufficient or not productive in alleviating my inner turmoil
But it doesn't matter much to me
Regardless of the effectiveness of any offered assistance, I am determined to overcome this internal conflict on my own
I'm thinking for myself
I am independently analyzing and resolving my personal issues, without relying on external solutions
I'm drinking now from a different well
I am changing my approach and seeking new methods to improve my mental state
And I'm drawing from the deepest so I don't go to hell
I am using the most profound and genuine means available to confront my mental struggles, in order to avoid further turmoil or distress
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RYAN EVAN LALLIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sciarrone90
I MUST LEARN THIS!!!! CHORDS PLEASE!!!
javier lopez
Does anyone out in the wonderful world of the internet know the chords to this song? It would be most helpful.
Grecia Diaz
the chords sound like marry you by bruno mars.
Nate Davies
So Marry You sounds like this? 10 years in 2017!