Lithium

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General Information

Written by: A. Lee

This song is described as a track "which embraces feeling over numbness," Amy confirmed, at the world premier of The Open Door in London, England, her soured relationship with ex-boyfriend Shaun Morgan of Seether was the inspiration for this track.

Before the release of The Open Door, some fans mistakenly believed Lithium to be a cover of the Nirvana song which bears the same name. However, the two songs are unrelated.

Upon release, fan reaction to Lithium has been generally positive. It has been likened to My Immortal as well as tracks from Origin. Some fans view Lithium as The Open Door's first real highlight.

At The Open Door premiere in Milan, Amy Lee said that Lithium would be that album's second single.

Amy's description of the song From VH1.com:

I wrote the chorus on the guitar when I was about 16. I always thought it was a cool chorus, but I never used it for anything. I started playing it on the piano and the verses came out. I have a pile of pieces stowed away in my mind that maybe I'll use some day. In a way it's an old song, but not really. It grew up.

From MTV Italy

Amy: "It's not literal, it's not literal about the drug for me, I've never taken lithium before. It's sort of a metaphor about numbness and happiness and sort of like, it's me looking at happiness in a negative way because I've always been, you know, kind of afraid to be happy. Like with the band and the art and everything else, it's always like I'm never letting myself break through into the happiness it seems like, because it's not cool or something. And describing happiness is lithium, it's like saying 'that's numbness, I won't be able to be an artist anymore if I'm happy,' which is hilarious because that's just not true, I'm happy. So it's like this fight within the song of like 'do I do this and get out of here and get happy or do i wallow in it like I always do?' and it's cool because at the end of the song I say 'I'm going to let it go,' like I am going to be happy.

Drug

Lithium is a psychiatric drug used as a mood stabilizer, often prescribed to people with bipolar disorder and/or mood swings, along with other mood disorders.

Versions

Studio versions:

Lithium

• Recording date: September 2005 - March 2006
• Status: Released
• Released on:

The Open Door (track #4) - the second single off the album

All Lithium singles

• Length: 3:44

Live versions:

Lithium [2006-2007 Live]

• Performing period: October 5, 2006 - December 8, 2007
• Status: Unreleased
• Example: Live @ KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas 2006

Lithium [2009 Live]

• Performing Period: November 4, November 8, 2009
• Performed at: New York City Secret Show and Maquinaria Festival, São Paulo, Brazil

Lithium [2011-2012 Live]

• Performing Period: August 17, 2011 - November 9, 2012
• Example: War Memorial Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Lithium [Acoustic]

• Performing period: August-September 2006
• Status: Released
• Released on: Lithium Maxi CD single
• Recording date: August 13, 2006
• Recording place: Sony Studios
• Length: 3:52

Lithium [Legends & Lyrics]

• Performing period: 23 February 2009
• Status: Unreleased
• Performed at: Legends & Lyrics, Nashville, Tennessee
• Length: Unknown

Lyrics

Lithium - don't wanna lock me up inside
Lithium - don't wanna forget how it feels without
Lithium - I wanna stay in love with my sorrow
Oh, but God, I wanna let it go

Come to bed, don't make me sleep alone
Couldn't hide the emptiness you let it show
Never wanted it to be so cold
Just didn't drink enough to say you love me

I can't hold on to me
Wonder what's wrong with me

Lithium - don't wanna lock me up inside
Lithium - don't wanna forget how it feels without
Lithium - I wanna stay in love with my sorrow

Oh! Don't wanna let it lay me down this time
Drown my will to fly
Here in the darkness I know myself
Can't break free until I let it go
Let me go

Darling, I forgive you after all
Anything is better than to be alone
And in the end I guess I had to fall
Always find my place among the ashes

I can't hold on to me
Wonder what's wrong with me

Lithium - don't wanna lock me up inside
Lithium - don't wanna forget how it feels without
Lithium - I wanna stay in love with you
Oh, I'm gonna let it go

Video

From The Lithium Video

Directed by Paul Fedor, the video features two Amys, one in the water (assuming the "sadness" role) in a black dress singing to her alter ego in white (assuming the "happiness" role) who, through a process of internal torment, conquers her sadness. The video also features prominent shots of the rest of the band, including new member Tim McCord, all dressed in black.

Shot in L.A. in late October of 2006, and released some time late in November. The video leaked on Thursday, November 23 (Thanksgiving). Due to unknown issues—apparently caused by the label—the video was released internationally late in November, however the US had to wait almost 2 weeks for stations to start playing it.

The video bears a striking similarity to AFI's 'Love Like Winter', released early in november, because of their snowy forest sets and underwater moments. AFI's video was directed by Marc Webb and features lead singer, Davey Havok, falling through ice to a woman who is "The beautiful embodiment of hopelessness".

Amy is seen playing a grand piano (not just a baby grand) for the first time.

Watch the video on Evanescence.com
Video screen cap gallery.

Commercial Release

Main Article: Lithium Single

The Lithium single was commercially released on January 9, 2007.

Songs released with this single include:

1. Lithium [Album Versiom]
2. The Last Song I'm Wasting On You
3. All That I'm Living For [acoustic version] (with David Eggar on cello)
4. Lithium (enhanced acoustic video)

Guitar Tabs & Sheet Music

Guitar tab at GuitarWorld
Guitar Tab by Norin at e-chords.com
Piano sheet music - arranged by Kelly Thomas