Understanding

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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), 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:

"A lot of it developed by being elusive," Moody remembers. "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."

This song, along with Solitude, was on a compact cassette which is said by Amy to be Evanescence's first "professional" recording.

The band began to play this song live again in October of 2007.

Versions

Studio versions:

Understanding [Evanescence EP Version]

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

RIM v.beta compilation (track #8)

Evanescence EP (track #6)

Whisper/Sound Asleep EP (track #5)

• Length: 7:21

Understanding [Whisper/Sound Asleep EP Version]

• Recording date: 1999
• Status: Released
• Released on: Whisper/Sound Asleep EP (track #3)
• Length: 4:55

Live versions

Understanding [Live Acoustic]

• Recording date: 1997-1998
• Status: Unreleased
• Performed at: Live on radio
• Length: 3:14

Understanding [Live Whisper/Sound Asleep EP Version]

• Performing period: May 7th, 1999
• Status: Unreleased
• Example: Concert at Vino's Bar

Understanding [2007 Live]

• Performing period: October 23, 2007 - December 8, 2007
• Status: Unreleased
• Example: Live at Nissan Live Sets

Download

• Understanding (Evanescence EP)

• Understanding (Evanescence EP Outtake Live Acoustic)

• Understanding (Sound Asleep EP)

Lyrics

Evanescence EP Version

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 wash it all away]
We erase it from our memory
But the imprint is always there [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 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 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

Ooh, 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
Oh! It all away
Oh! It all away

But the imprint is always there
Nothing is ever really forgotten

God, just don't hate me
Because I'll die if you do
'Cause I'll die if you do
'Cause I'll die if you do
'Cause 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 super 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.

Guitar Tabs & Sheet Music

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