Story Behind The Song

The song "Without You" was written about the despair felt by the betrayal of friendship. It is the story of a man that trusted people that never came through for him. He desires to fix the situation and feel alive again, but is unable to do so until he lets go of these 'friends', thus the main line "without you by my side". The imagery of the shining sun, blue skies and sailing are meant to represent the happier days in front of him. However, these happier images (and relatively happy chords throughout the entire song) are juxtaposed by the sad and moving lyrics of the verse and especially the bridge. It is in these moments that the vocals address the betraying 'friends', and tells them what the singer is going through because of them. This can be seen in the bridge, where the singer explains that whenever he sees them he "crashes in the sea". The ocean represents the stirring doubt and sadness within his soul that was a byproduct of misplaced trust. This song is truly a dichotomy of sorrow and joy - on one end of the spectrum the singer is clearly distraught and upset at these people that have betrayed him, but on the other hand he is hopeful for a new day. This is a complex and meaningful song that is meant to represent real problems faced by real people. Although it is not altogether happy, it is not altogether sad either. It is wounded and hurt, but with hope in its heart for a better tomorrow.

Song Description

The song is divided into 6 sections, each one building into the next. The first verse is calm and relatively quiet, with the lead singer explaining to the listener "I can't just ask you for help.. If I do I'm just a set of bones" and setting the scene of a rainy atmosphere with "You stained these words with tears and rain". The first chorus introduces the hook, "One day my sun will shine... Without you by my side" but only gives you a taste of it before moving into the second verse. Whereas the first verse and chorus only had one clean guitar and the lead singer, the second verse introduces the drums, bass and string quartet. The singer goes into the story further here, saying "I wash my hands of all these thoughts, and they return to me and what I've got is just the end of a song that never resolved". The second chorus adds these new instruments into the mix and creates a buildup into the beginning of the bridge, where the distortion guitar is introduced with an extremely catchy riff that soars and changes the atmosphere of the song entirely. This riff leads straight into the bridge of the song, where the strings take over and continue to soar with 4 part harmony that sweeps through the chords. The vocals are in lush harmony, and the drums drive the beat in this section as the lyrics accuse "The stars seemed so much brighter on the other side of the sea.. what's killing me is when I look into your eyes and I crash into the sea". This crashing sensation is accented by the transition into the final chorus, which seems to resolve the tension the listener has felt throughout the entire bridge. This final chorus takes the buildup of the entire song and creates a blooming refrain that feels like the chorus the listener has wanted to hear the entire song. The chorus repeats, and ends with the beginning of the distortion riff that marked the beginning of the bridge. The song ends on IV chord that leaves the listener mildly satisfied, but definitely wanting more.

Lyrics

I can't just ask you for help.
If I do I'm just a set of bones,
Waiting for an answer to return home.

You stained these words with tears and rain.
The glow inside has faded away,
Shadows of a doubt for the things that you say.

One day my sun will shine,
And these clouds will move aside.
And I'll sail into the bluest sky,
Without you by my side.

I wash my hands of all these thoughts,
And they return to me, and what I've got,
Is just the end of a song that never resolved.

One day my sun will shine,
And these clouds will move aside.
And I'll sail into the bluest sky,
Without you by my side.

The stars burn so much brighter,
On the other side of the sea.
And your lies seems so much whiter,
With you right here next to me.
What's tearing me apart, what's killing me,
Is when I look into your eyes,
And I crash into the sea.

One day my sun will shine,
And these clouds will move aside.
And I'll sail into the bluest sky,

One day my sun will shine,
And these clouds will move aside.
And I'll sail into the bluest sky,
Without you by my side.