Understanding

General Information

Written by: A. Lee and B. Moody

The first song ever written by Ben Moody and credited as 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), and When a Man Loves A Woman (1994). Ben Moody has referred to the song as a “Cheesy 7-minute Goth anthem.”

Versions

Studio versions:

Understanding [Evanescence EP version]

• Recording date: 1998
• Status: Released
• Released on:

Evanescence EP (track #6)

Whisper/Sound Asleep EP (track #5)

Understanding [Whisper/Sound Asleep EP version]

• Recording date: 1999
• Status: Released
• Released on: Sound Asleep EP (track #3)

Live versions

Understanding [Live Acoustic]

• A live acoustic version performed live on radio

Lyrics

Understanding - Evanescence EP version
Items in italics are spoken quotes from 'My World Dies Screaming' (1958, aka 'Terror in the Haunted House') except the line "We're supposed to try... that is real" and "Please don't hate me.. because I'll die if you do" which are from 'When A Man Loves A Woman', (1994, starring Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia).

You hold the answer deep within your own mind. Consciously you've forgotten it. That's the way the human mind works. Whenever something is too unpleasant, too shameful for us to entertain we reject it, we erase it from our memory, but the imprint is always there.

Oooh..
We wash it all away, we wish it all away, we hope it all away, can't cry it all away.

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 at 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 when you feel alone, you are 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 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

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...

Oooh.. can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away, yeah, yeah yeah.
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away, yeah....

Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
Move it all away
Move it all away

But the imprint is always there, nothing is ever really forgotten

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
Because I'll die if you do



Understanding - Sound Asleep EP Version
This version starts and predominates with a highly-reverbed guitar.

You hold the answer <- Ben

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 at our hearts
My love for you still grows
And 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
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 tried so hard

Guitar Tabs & Sheet Music

• Piano sheet music (acoustic version intro) - arranged by Cris