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"Understanding" is the sixth song on Evanescence EP.
Background
The song is accredited to being Ben Moody's first song ever written, and the second song ever written by Evanescence. The audio clips in the song come from the movies My World Dies Screaming, also known as Terror in the Haunted House (1958), except the line "We're supposed to try... that is real" and "God, just don't hate me.. because I'll die if you do" which are from When a Man Loves a Woman (1994). Ben Moody on the song:
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A lot of it developed by being elusive. The second song we ever wrote was this seven-minute, ridiculous Goth anthem called "Understanding." And for some reason, the local rock station decided to play it a lot. We gained this popularity around town, even though no one knew who we were or where to find us. It was because we could never afford to play a show -- it was just Amy and I -- and we couldn't pay any musicians. |
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Performances
The first live recording of the band playing this song was in 1999 at Little Vino's diner. In 2007, the band added "Understanding" to the set-list of the last leg of The Open Door Tour.
Lyrics
Evanescence EP version
You hold the answers deep within your own mind
Consciously, you've forgotten it
That's the way the human mind works:
Whenever something is too unpleasant, to shameful for us
To entertain, we reject it
We erase it from our memories
But the imprint is always there
(Can't wash it all away)
(Can't Wish it all away)
(Can't hope it all away)
(Can't cry it all away)
Oooohhh...
The pain that grips you
The fear that binds you
Releases life in me
In our mutual
Shame we hide our eyes
To blind them from the truth
That finds a way from who we are
Please don't be afraid
When the darkness fades away
The dawn will break the silence
Screaming in our hearts
My love for you still grows
This I do for you
Before I try to fight the truth my final time
We're supposed to try and be real
And I feel alone, and we're not together.
And that is real
Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away
Lying beside you
Listening to you breathe
The life that flows inside of you
Burns inside of me
Hold and speak to me
Of love without a sound
Tell me you will live through this
And I will die for you
Cast me not away
Say you'll be with me
For I know I cannot
Bear it all alone
You're not alone, honey
Never... Never
Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
It just won't fade away, no, No
Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away
Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
Ooh, it all away
Ooh, it all away
Oohhh...
But the imprint is always there.
Nothing is ever really forgotten
God, please don't hate me
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do...
Sound Asleep EP version
You hold the answer...
The pain that grips you
The fear that binds you
Releases life in me
In our mutual shame we hide our eyes
To blind them from the truth that finds a way for who we are
Please don't be afraid
When the darkness fades away
The dawn will break the silence Screaming in our hearts
My love for you still grows
This I do for you
Before I try to fight the truth
My final time
Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away
Lying beside you
Listening to you breathe
The light that flows inside of you
Burns inside of me
Hold and speak to me
Of love without a sound
Tell me you will live through this
And I will die for you [I'll die for you]
Cast me not away
Say you'll be with me
For I know
I cannot bear it all alone
Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
It just won't fade away
I've tried so hard [I have tried so hard]
Tried to be without you for so many years
No, no, no
And I have cried [So many words I have saved for someone, for sometime]
I love you, I love you, and I want you to stay
Acoustic Version
The pain that grips you
The fear that binds you
Releases life in me
In our mutual shame we hide our eyes
To blind them from the truth that finds a way for who we are
Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away
Lying beside you
Listening to you breathe
The light that flows inside of you
Burns inside of me
Cast me not away
Say you'll be with me
For I know
I cannot bear it all alone
Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
It just won't fade away
Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't hope it all away
Live Version
Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't cry it all away
The pain that grips you
The fear that binds you
Ooh, releases life in me
In our mutual shame we hide our eyes
To blind them from the truth that finds a way for who we are
Please don't be afraid
When the darkness fades away
The dawn will break the silence
Screaming in our hearts
My love for you still grows
This I do for you
Before I try to fight the truth
My final time
Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away, oh
Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Lying beside you
Listening to you breathe
The light that flows inside of you
Burns inside of me
Hold and speak to me
Of love without a sound
Tell me you will live through this
And I will die for you
Cast me not away
Say you'll be with me
For I know
I cannot bear it all alone
Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
It just won't fade away, yeah, no
Ooh, can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away, yeah, no
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away
Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
Oh! It all away
Oh! It all away, yeah, yeah
Oh, ooh.