Opening Your Eyes

Break The Cycle is Staind's third release to date, following Tormented and Dysfunction.

The CD starts out with mid-tempo "Open Your Eyes". The lyrics are more observational than most of there songs. Although not one of my very favorite songs on the album it would do good as a single.
"What would you do,
if it was you?
Would you take everything
for granted like you do?"
The next track is "Pressure". This song goes back to Staind's older style, and is a little bit on the heavier side. The lyrics suggest this is about him trying to deal with all the "pressure" in his life.
"If you need me,
I'll be here.
Half unconsious,
Escape my Fear"
The third song is "Fade". I think it's about him dealing with the fact that his parents were never there for him throughout his life.
"I just needed someone to talk to,
You were just too busy with yourself.
You were never there for me
To express how I felt
I just stuffed it down.
Now I'm older and I feel like
I could let some of this anger fade"
The fourth track is the single "It's Been Awhile". Although slightly over-played on the radio I could never get sick of hearing this song. Definately a favorite. So much meaning was put into this song.
"Why must I feel this way?
Just make it go away.
Just one more peaceful day."
After that is "Change" The song is about him trying to explain how he feels about everything that has happened in his life.
"How do I feel,
I've been here before,
I've felt this.
Retreat to a place,
A place within me
I need this.
Keep it all down
Bottled inside it breaks me.
To torment again
And torture me like it used to."
The next track is "Can't Believe" This song goes back to Staind's old, harder style. Most of the song is screamed in first album style. The lyrics can mean many different things.
"I can't believe
All this travesty surrounding me
I wanna flee
I wanna flee from everything
In front of me"
The next song is the ballad "Epiphany". This is one of the most amazing songs I have ever heard. So much power and emotion is put into this. From the lyrics to the way that it is sung. A very emotional and meaningful song.
"I am nothing more than
A little boy inside
That cries out for attention
Though I always try to hide
And I talk to you like children
But I dont know how I feel
But I know I'll do the right thing
If the right thing is revealed."
The next track is one of my favorites, "Suffer". It's about how we all "love to suffer".
"The more you see the more you do
The television's feeding you
Write what you want to hear
Anger and fear
Because you suffer"
After that comes "Safe Place" which is about someone he loves being so far away. A great song.
"Another day inside my world
I'm married to you and this road
A road that never lets me sleep
So there's no way to escape these demons
I am forced to keep"
Then is the song "For You" which is basically about parents (his or otherwise)that don't see what they're doing to their children (physically and mentally).
"I sit here locked inside my head
Remembering everything you've said
This silence gets us nowhere
Gets us nowhere way too fast"
Then is the single "Outside", again one of my favorites. I think this song is about someone who feels left out. Who is cast away from the "beautiful people".
"But I'm on the outside
I'm looking in
I can see through you
See your true colors
Cause inside your ugly
Ugly like me"
After that is the song "Waste", my favorite track on the CD. It is about one of their fans who committed suicide.
"Did daddy not love you?
Or did he love you just too much?
Did he control you?
Did he live through you at your cost?
Did he leave no questions for you to
answer on your own?
Well f*ck them,
And f*ck her
And f*ck him
And f*ck you
For not having the strength in your heart
To pull through.
I've had doubts
I have failed
I've f*cked up
I've had plans
Doesn't mean I should take my life with
My own hands"
Then is "Take It" in which he is basically saying there is a reason to live, things can get better, and he has felt the same way. This is another one of my favorites.
"Sometimes I feel
F*cked up just like you do"

So that is Break the Cycle! I would highly recomend getting this CD. Definately one of the best CD's of 2001.