Bring Me to Life

General Information

Written by: A. Lee, B. Moody, and D. Hodges

Amy Lee became inspired to write that song after she was sitting in a restaurant. Somebody walked up to her table and asked her something to the effect of “Are you happy with your life”? It was the second single off of the Daredevil soundtrack (Fuel’s Wont Back Down was first) and the first single off of Fallen. Bring Me to Life became the #1 pop song in the country the week of June 13th, 2003 only to be replaced a week later by Kelly Clarkson’s Miss Independent. The song features Paul McCoy, the lead singer of 12 Stones.

Amy Lee’s quote about the song from MTV.com: "Basically, we go through life every day, kind of doing the same thing, going through the motions, and nothing phases us for the most part, then one day something happens that wakes [you] up and makes [you] realize that there's more to life than just feeling nothing, feeling numb. It's as if [you've] never felt before and just realized there's this whole world of emotion or meaning that [you've] never seen before. It's just like, 'Wow, I've been asleep all this time.' "

The song was originally intended to be without the male vocals when Wind-up felt that it was best to put a male vocalist into the song for the Daredevil soundtrack. The version that featured Paul McCoy stuck.

The video is a live performance/action video and was directed by Philip Stolzl. The video was filmed in Romania in January 2003. The video features a nightmare by Amy Lee in which she falls from a building that apparently has endless amounts of stories. Paul McCoy in the video attempts to save Amy but she slips off towards the end.

In a magazine interview, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park said that Mike Shinoda was originally asked to be featured on the song. Linkin Park was recording Meteora in the same studio that Evanescence was recording Fallen.

Commercial Release: April 22, 2003

Versions

Studio versions:

- Bring Me To Life [Fallen version]
Recording date: August - November 2002
Status: Released
Released on:
Fallen (track #2) – the first single off the album
Daredevil: The Album (track #9) – the second single off the album
all Bring Me To Life singles and numerous compilation CDs

- Bring Me To Life [bliss mix]
Recording date: August - November 2002
Status: Released
Released on: most of Bring Me To Life singles
Note: this version is like on Fallen, but without male vocals

- Bring Me To Life [demo version #1]
Recording date: 2001-2002
Status: Unreleased

- Bring Me To Life [demo version #2]
Recording date: 2002
Status: Unreleased
Note: has a scintillating solo by Ben Moody

In the Capital FM interview Amy mentioned there were a few more demo versions with different choruses, one of them included lyrics "wake me from dreaming, save me from nothing, bring me to life".

Live versions:

- Bring Me To Life [Anywhere But Home DVD live]
Performing period: 2004
Status: Released
Recording date: May 25, 2004
Released on: Anywhere But Home (track #10)
Note: this live version has a breathtaking intro by Amy Lee

- Bring Me To Life [acoustic]
Performing period: 2003
Status: Released
Released on: Bring Me To Life DVD

- Bring Me To Life [guitar intro]
Performing period: 2003
Status: Unreleased
Example: Rock am Ring festival

- Bring Me To Life [orchestra intro]
Performing period: Autumn 2003
Status: Unreleased
Example: live in Cologne

Lyrics

Bring Me To Life - Fallen version
Paul McCoy's part is written in brackets

How can you see into my eyes like open doors
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb without a soul
My spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become

Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life

Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love - darling - only you
Are the life among the dead

(All of this time I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me)
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
(Without a thought without a voice without a soul)
Don't let me die here
(There must be something more)
Bring me to life

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 
                                                                                  

Bring Me to Life - Demo versions

How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb
Without a soul
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home

Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life

Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life

Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life

Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love - darling
Only you are the life among the dead

Bring me to life

Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life
Bring me to life
Bring me to life

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 
                                                                    

Bring Me To Life - Bliss Mix
This version has identical lyrics to the main single. There are no vocal effects on the first line. There are no secondary vocals from Paul McCoy.

How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb
Without a soul
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home

Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life

Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life

Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life

Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love - darling
Only you are the life among the dead

I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Don't let me die here
Bring me to life

Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life
Bring me to life
Bring me to life