My Immortal

General Information

Written by: A. Lee and B. Moody

One of the most popular songs ever recorded by the band. This song lasts the entire span of Evanescence’s recording history. It is credited as the 4th song ever written for Evanescence. Ben Moody wrote the original in full when he was 15 years old. It is the second song that he wrote for the band (Understanding is credited as his first). In the later versions of the song, Amy Lee is credited to have written the bridge and the coinciding piano part to the song. There are seven different recorded versions of the song. The Fallen version of the song has strings by composer Graeme Revell.

Until near the end of 2002, the Fallen version was played live. They then began playing the 'Band' version, which later became the version they released as a single. When performed live, Amy is playing the piano herself, but the notes are changed into a much simpler melody, probably to avoid mistakes during live playing. Amy has stated she hates the song because she can never really relate to the song (and that you can notice that when performed live), since it is not her's and not based on real events.

The song has many different interpretations. Ben wrote a short story before writing the lyrics to the song. According to Ben, the song is about a spirit staying with you after its death and haunting you until you actually wish that the spirit were gone because it won't leave you alone. Ben dedicated the song along with the Fallen album to his grandfather. The song peaked at #2 on the pop chart just behind Britney Spears’ Toxic, and was #1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart for 3 weeks.

The band version of My Immortal is Ben Moody's last recording with Evanescence before his departure in October of 2003.

This song was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance by Duo or Group for the 47th Annual Grammy Awards.

Versions

Studio versions:

- My Immortal [Fallen version]
Recording date: August - November 2002
Status: Released
Released on:
Fallen (track #4) – the third single off the album
Daredevil: The Album (track #17)
most of Bring Me To Life singles

- My Immortal [Mystary version]
Recording date: 2002
Status: Released
Released on: Mystary EP (track #2)
Note: The Mystary version is similar to the Band version because the string arrangement was made by Beck Hanson’s father, David Campbell (also known for making the string arrangement to Linkin Park’s “Breaking the Habit”).

- My Immortal [Band version]
Recording date: September 2003
Status: Released
Released on:
re-release of Fallen (track #12, sometimes track #13)
all Bring Me To Life singles and numerous compilation CDs
Note: two versions of the band version were recorded for radio play in late September 2003. One with Campbell’s string arrangement and one without strings through the first 2 verses.

- My Immortal [Origin version]
Recording date: 1999
Status: Released
Released on: Origin (track #4)
Note: The Origin one is similar to the Fallen version. The Origin version has no strings and features a louder backup vocal by David Hodges.

- My Immortal [Original version]
Recording date: 1997-1998
Status: Unreleased
Note: this version was a piano/vocal only.

Live versions:

- My Immortal [Anywhere But Home DVD live]
Performing period: 2000-2004
Status: Released
Recording date: May 25, 2004
Released on: Anywhere But Home (track #9)

- My Immortal [Live from Cologne]
Performing period: 2000-2004
Status: Released
Recording date: October 17, 2003
Released on: My Immortal commercial single

- My Immortal [Acoustic]
Performing period: 2003
Status: Released
Released on: Bring Me To Life DVD

Lyrics

My Immortal - Fallen, Origin, & Band Version

I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

[CHORUS:]
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me

You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts
My once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away
All the sanity in me

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase-

[Chorus]

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along

[Chorus]

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

My Immortal - Piano - Vocal (Original) Version

I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
I would give the very breath from my chest
To give you all the things that my mind couldn't bear
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me

You used to captivate me by your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts
My once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away
All the sanity in me

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me

I'd love to walk away and pull myself out of the rain
But I can't leave without you
I'd love to live without the constant fear and endless doubt
But I can't live without you
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me

Video

File:MyImmortalvid.jpg

My Immortal Video

The video was directed by David Mouldy and was filmed in Barcelona, Spain. It touches upon the theme of solitude and loneliness. Amy never touches the floor in the video, because she is a ghost. The video was filmed 2 weeks before Ben Moody walked away.

In a comment on EvBoard, Amy said that her hair in the video is very similar to the way her hair is naturally (she straightens it normally)

Watch the video on Evanescence.com

Commercial Release

Main Article: My Immortal Single

Commercial Single Released December 8, 2003/December 30, 2003

Tracks released with this single include:

1. My Immortal [Band Version]
2. My Immortal [Live from cologne]
3. Haunted [Live from Sessions @ AOL]
4. My Immortal [video]
5. My Immortal [video - Behind The Scenes]
6. My Immortal [Band Version (No Strings)] ^[1]
7. My Immortal [Band Version (Guitars Down)] ^[2]
8. My Immortal [Album Version]

^[1] This version was rumored to be used on harder rock radio stations where a major string arrangement would be inappropriate. There are strings on the track, but they don't appear until after the guitar section of the song.
^[2] This Version is the exact same as the Band Version, however the guitar track toward the climax of the song is muted by about half. This was rumored to be used on radio stations where a heavy guitar track would be inappropriate.

Guitar Tabs & Sheet Music

Piano sheet music - arranged by Nolan