Bring Me to Life

From The Evanescence Reference

Across the Universe*
All That I'm Living For
Anything for You
Anywhere
Artifact/The Turn
Ascension of the Spirit
Away from Me
Before the Dawn
Better Without You
Bleed
Blind Belief
Breathe No More
Bring Me to Life
Broken Pieces Shine
Call Me When You're Sober
Catherine
Cloud Nine
Demise
Disappear
End of the Dream
Erase This
Eternal
Even in Death
Everybody's Fool
Exodus
Far From Heaven
Farther Away
Feeding the Dark
Field of Innocence
Forever You
Forgive Me
Give Unto Me
Going Under
Good Enough
Haunted
Hello
Hi-Lo
If You Don't Mind
Imaginary
Imperfection
Instrumental 1
Instrumental 2
Instrumental 3
Instrumental 4
Lacrymosa
Lies
Like You
Listen to the Rain
Lithium
Lose Control
Lost in Paradise
Made of Stone
Me & You
Missing
My Heart Is Broken
My Immortal
My Last Breath
Never Go Back
New Way to Bleed
Oceans
October
Origin
Overture
Part of Me
Perfect Dream
Say You Will
Secret Door
Sick
Snow White Queen
So Close
Solitude
Spanish
Surrender
Sweet Sacrifice
Swimming Home
Take Cover
Taking Over Me
The Chain*
The Change
The End
The Game is Over
The In-Between
The Last Song I'm Wasting on You
The Only One
The Other Side
Together Again
Tourniquet
Understanding
Unknown Title
Unraveling
Use My Voice
Wasted on You
Weight of the World
What You Want
Where Will You Go?
Whisper
Yeah Right
You Got a Lot to Learn
Your Love
Your Star
* Cover songs


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General information

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

Bring Me to Life is the second song from Evanescence's debut album, Fallen, and is also the debut single for the band. Amy Lee became inspired to write the song after an incident that occurred while she was sitting in a restaurant.

Vin1.jpg I was inspired to write it when someone said something to me — I didn't know him, and I thought he might be clairvoyant. I was in a relationship and I was completely unhappy. But I was hiding it. I was being completely abused and I was trying to cover it up; I wouldn’t even admit it to myself. So then I had spoken maybe 10 or 15 words to this guy, who was a friend of a friend. We were waiting for everyone else to show up, and we went into a restaurant and got a table. And he looked at me and said, 'Are you happy?' And I felt my heart leap, and I was like, he totally knows what I'm thinking. And I lied, I said I was fine. Anyway, he’s not really clairvoyant. But he is a sociology major.[1] Vin2.jpg


Amy said in a VH1 interview what the song is about: "Open-mindedness. It's about waking up to all the things you've been missing for so long. One day someone said something that made my heart race for a second and I realized that for months I'd been numb, just going through the motions of life."[2]

Amy Lee's quote about the song from MTV News:

Vin1.jpg 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.[3] Vin2.jpg


Ben Moody on the song:

Vin1.jpg "Bring Me To Life" is about discovering something or someone that awakens a feeling inside them that they've never had before. You discover there is a world that is bigger than just your safe bubble.[4] Vin2.jpg


In an October 2006 interview with Blender, Amy said she wrote "Bring Me to Life" about her long time friend (now husband), Josh Hartzler.[5]

It was the second single off of the Daredevil soundtrack (Fuel's "Won't 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 13, 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.

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 beginning of the orchestra intro for the song (Live In Cologne) is the part where Paul starts singing: "All of this time I can't believe..." and Amy sings: "I've been sleeping..." in an instrumental version. After this part follows by Amy singing: "Bring Me to Life". This intro can also be heard in the background of the Fallen version of the song.

The sample used throughout the demo versions and some live versions of the song is "Riff 01" from Sony's Futurist Drum 'n' Bass loop series. The sample was replaced with a piano playing a variation of the same note sequence in the Fallen version.

"Bring Me to Life" was played on the band's Fallen and The Open Door Tours.[6][7] It was performed at the Lyrics and Legends concert in Nashville on February 23, 2009,[8] followed by the performance at the band's secret New York gig on November 4 in the same year.[9][10] It was later played as part of Evanescence's Evanescence Tour in 2011-12.[11][12]

Amy said in a Capital FM Radio Interview on June 11, 2003 that they recorded about five different demos, one of which had different lyrics:

Vin1.jpg Reporter: How did that song come about to be written?

Amy: Ben had the musical idea, with the programing, the guitars and everything. And then I just took it to my room, by myself, and wrote the lyrics and melodies and it all came out actually very, very easily, I was - I remember when I finished like the first, like I guess I wrote the whole first couple of verses all by themselves um, and I was just completely proud of my lyrics, I was like 'these are the best lyrics I have ever written' you know and I brought to Ben, I was so excited. But um, then we had a really big problem with the chorus, the chorus wouldn't come together. We wrote probably um five different chorus and recorded them, you know as demos. And uh, I still remember one of them, it's funny it's like - how does it go?

Ben: Can't tell you that.

Amy: I could, I don't care.

Wake me from dreaming, save me from nothing, bring me to life, *bum* *bum* *bum* *bum*.

Ben: Yeah, it was, I mean, it took a while to get there but.

Amy: It wasn't as good. I mean like, honestly like we were so happy with the - the verses and the words, the music and everything we just wanted to get that perfect chorus.

Ben: And the bridge especially.

Vin2.jpg


On August 14, 2017 Evanescence posted to their official website the Synthesis Live fall tour pre-sale announcement as well as giving fans notification that all ticket buyers would be getting a download of their new stunning rework of Bring Me to Life. Evanescence also would be making it available to all fans for digital purchase/download and streaming on August 18, 2017.

Amy interviewed with TheresaRockface on iHeart Radio about Bring Me to Life (Synthesis). She explains that Bring Me to Life was an "instant grab". In the same interview Amy states that

Vin1.jpg it's really cool for me to hear Bring Me to Life and feel excited about it again. It's a new song to me now. Vin2.jpg


This version was performed live for the first time at the Pearl Concert Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 14, 2017 for the Synthesis Live tour.

Versions

Studio versions:

Bring Me to Life [Fallen version]

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
  • Length: 3:57

Bring Me to Life [Bliss mix][note 1]

  • Recording date: August - November 2002
  • Status: Released, Unavailable (appears to be no longer available on iTunes)
  • Released on: most of the "Bring Me to Life" singles
  • Length: 3:57

Bring Me to Life [Demo version #1]

  • Recording date: 2001–2002
  • Status: Unreleased, Available
  • Length: 3:58

Bring Me to Life [Demo version #2]

  • Recording date: 2001–2002
  • Status: Unreleased, Available
  • Length: 4:06

Bring Me to Life [Synthesis version]

  • Recording date: May - August 2017
  • Status: Released, Available
  • Released on: August 18, 2017 as a Promo single
Synthesis
  • Length: 4:18

Bring Me to Life [Synthesis Instrumental version]

Synthesis Disc 2
  • Length: 4:18


Live versions:

Bring Me to Life [Extended piano intro]

  • Performing period: 2004
  • Status: Released, Available
  • Recording date: May 25, 2004
  • Released on: Anywhere but Home (track #10)
  • Length: 4:43

Bring Me to Life [2003 acoustic]

  • Performing period: 2003
  • Status: Released, Available
  • Released on: "Bring Me to Life" DVD single
  • Length: 3:42

Bring Me to Life [Guitar intro]

  • Performing period: December 31, 2002; 2003
  • Example: NYE NiteLife Rocks (December 31, 2002); Rock am Ring festival in Nürburg, Germany (June 7, 2003)

Bring Me to Life [Orchestra intro]

  • Performing period: Fall 2003
  • Example: Cologne, Germany (October 17, 2003)

Bring Me to Life [Acoustic with piano & cello]

  • Performing periods: February 23, 2009; December 7, 2011
  • Performed at: Legends & Lyrics (February 23, 2009); Octane Artist Confidential, SiriusXM Radio (December 7, 2011)

Bring Me to Life [Original piano intro][note 2]

  • Performing period: October 5, 2006 - early 2007
  • Example: KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas (December 10, 2006)

Bring Me to Life [No male vocals][note 3]

  • Performing period: May 2007 - December 8, 2007; November 4 and November 8, 2009; August 17, 2011 - November 9, 2012; November 2015; April - November 2016
  • Example: Download Festival (June 10, 2007); War Memorial Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee (August 17, 2011)

Bring Me to Life [Acoustic 2012]

  • Performing dates: April 15 and May 30, 2012
  • Performed at: Top30 Countdown, Australia (April 15); BigFM, Wiesbaden, Germany (May 30)

Bring Me to Life [Acoustic 2013]

  • Performing date: November 7, 2013
  • Performed at: Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, Massachusetts

Bring Me to Life [feat. Paul McCoy]

  • Performing date: November 12, 2016; and a few times in 2003
  • Performed at: Kink Music Festival, Orlando FL

Bring Me to Life [2017 Live] [13]

  • Performing date: April 2017
  • Performed at: NET Live Brasília, Brasília, Brazil (April 20, 2017)

Bring Me To Life [ Synthesis Live ]

  • Performing period: October 14, 2017 - TBC
  • Example: Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, NV (October 14, 2017)

Download

Lyrics

Fallen version

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
I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside
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

[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
I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside [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

Bliss mix and Synthesis version

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

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

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

Acoustic version

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

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
Bring me to life

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

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

Music video

Video Directed by Philip Stolzl

The video is a live performance/action video and was directed by Philip Stolzl. The video was filmed in Romania in January 2003. It features Amy in a night gown and barefoot, in her room, inside a tall building in the city at night. The rest of the band, and Paul McCoy, are playing on a higher floor of the building. She climbs out of the window of her room and begins to climb the building, passing many windows while venturing to the window that featured the room with the band and McCoy. Right before the bridge of the song featuring a duet with both McCoy and Lee, Lee ends up falling off the building but managing to hang on to the ledge that she was standing on. McCoy pulls open the window and tries to save her, but can't, and amy falls off the building. At the very end of the video, we see Lee back in bed again: it was all a nightmare. This is symbolic because it features someone trying to find someone that will 'wake her and save her'.

Amy Lee and Paul McCoy

The video gained huge popularity in 2003 and clips of it were featured everywhere, including MTV's Big Urban Myth Show where clips of Amy waking up and walking around outside on the ledge were prominently featured on any and all sleep related myths.

Commercial release

Exquisite-kfind.png Main article: Bring Me to Life Single

The "Bring Me To Life" single was commercially released worldwide on April 22, 2003.

Tracks released with this single include:

  1. "Bring Me to Life" [Album version]
  2. "Bring Me to Life" [Bliss mix]
  3. "Farther Away" [Album version]
  4. "Bring Me to Life" [Video]
  5. "Bring Me to Life" [Live acoustic version]
  6. "My Immortal" [Live acoustic version]
  7. Interview footage
  8. "Missing"

Guitar tabs & sheet music

Notes

  1. This version is like on Fallen, but without male vocals.
  2. No male vocals during the chorus, only during the middle eight.
  3. This version doesn't have the 2nd part of the middle eight, after "Only you are the life among the dead", it goes straight to the final chorus.

References

  1. Carioli, Carly (September 2003). "Amy Lee on bringing Evanescence's 'Bring Me to Life' to life". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on August 31, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060831155753/http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/events/state/documents/03148215.asp. Retrieved December 3, 2006.
  2. Kaufman, Gil (May 29, 2003). "Evanescence: Fallen To the Top". VH1. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071001030537/http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1472058/20030523/evanescence.jhtml. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  3. D'Angelo, Joe (April 9, 2003). "Evanescence's Frontwoman Leads Rock Into Fem-Friendly New Frontier". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1471139/evanescence-headline-tour.jhtml. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  4. "Evanescence". Net Music Countdown. http://www.netmusiccountdown.com/inc/artist.php?artist=Evanescence. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  5. Eells, Josh (October 2006). "Amy Lee: Back in Black". Blender. Archived from the original on September 6, 2007. http://www.webcitation.org/5RdgnH67h. Retrieved December 3, 2006.
  6. Smith, Kenneth (October 31, 2007). "Concert review: Evanescence at Nokia Theater". Pegasus News. http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007/oct/31/evanescence-nokia-theater/. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  7. Fox, Doug (November 20, 2007). "Evanescence steps through 'Open Door' at UVSC". Daily Herald. http://www.heraldextra.com/lifestyles/evanescence-steps-through-open-door-at-uvsc/article_84ee1660-7e30-5796-956a-c10ecd888170.html. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  8. "Amy Lee Plays Legends And Lyrics". UpVenue.com. http://www.upvenue.com/music-news/blog-headline/1032/amy-lee-legends-and-lyrics.html. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  9. "Evanescence Returns To Live Stage, Taps Finger Eleven Guitarist". Blabbermouth.net. November 5, 2009. http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/evanescence-returns-to-live-stage-taps-finger-eleven-guitarist. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  10. Harris, Chris (November 5, 2009). "Evanescence Return to the Stage at 'Secret' New York Gig". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/evanescence-return-to-the-stage-at-secret-new-york-gig-20091105. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  11. Schillaci, Sophie (October 12, 2011). "Evanescence at the Palladium: Concert Review". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/evanescence-taylor-momsen-concert-review-247487. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  12. "Review: Evanescence Melbourne Concert, Rod Laver Arena - 24th March 2012". Take 40 Australia. March 25, 2012. http://www.take40.com/news/30103/review:-evanescence-melbourne-concert,-rod-laver-arena---24th-march-2012. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  13. This version has a larger bridge