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Stay Strong

from Self​-​Titled by Rebel Radio

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about

I've been writing songs, lyrics and poetry for most of my life and this song is the first time I've ever written anything remotely positive that wasn't tongue-in-cheek or blatant sarcasm. I've touched on some positive things in the past but the overall message generally wasn't completely positive. Even upon a close examination this song isn't totally positive but it has an overall sense of guarded optimism unlike any of the others, certainly on this album, and perhaps so far to date. I spoke with some friends about why I am always so negative in my writing, why I listen to music with mostly negative lyrics and themes and why I seem to feel like positive music is just emotional pandering, reserved for those trying to crack The Billboard charts. One said "why do you write and prefer to listen to songs with negative feelings? Obviously you want to get those feelings out so you can move on emotionally." That really changed my attitude on writing and I embraced the darkness a little more. Still, I felt as though there was just enough hope restored in me to tap into it enough to write this song. The overall theme of this song is hope and I wrote it for my ex as I saw her losing what was left of hers. I often approach life a bit too scientifically and fail to take into account underlying emotional factors and character defects. There isn't always a reason, there is seldom just a black and white, right or wrong. We are creatures of the irrational heart, not the rational mind. The title itself comes from a tattoo she has of something her mom always said to her growing up. It has become an ethos for me through all I have gone through in the past year, both in my own struggles to overcome addiction and alcoholism and in watching her go through hers. She had a way of making me stronger than I ever thought possible because I had to be if I was going to be of any use to her. Unfortunately, I thought that I needed her to be the best possible version of myself and eventually the whole thing crumbled. Unfortunately we are both addicted to chaos, we are chasers of pain. She saved my life countless times, made me recognize who I really was and played a huge role in leading me to become sober. I was content living the rest of my life as a coward, just a drunken spectator cursing my life as it was slipping away. She made me realize how much I truly wanted to live, to love and to be free, for that I owe her everything yet I find that I can give nothing to repay her. Some say the best revenge is living well but for me the best reward is living well, at least that much I can do for her, in her honor. There have been several times when we played this song that I got hit with so much emotion it overcame me and I lost it. The outro of the song is comprised of all the things she used to say to me when I would be freaking out, giving up, etc. We almost always play this song last when we play it live because I want those words to be the last message to anyone struggling in the crowd. No matter what you may be going through, no matter how hard it may seem, it will pass in time. "Just breathe. Chin up. Always stay strong. Never give up. Keep holding on."

lyrics

Believe in a fate I don't pretend to understand
And I can't justify the means
I've watched the world fall apart and rebuild but
Things aren't always as they seem
Some times it feels as though the point is growing dull
Like there's no reason left to try
We're trained to question the cause and effect but
There's not always a reason why

pre-chorus
I won't give up on you even when I give up on me
Each day more reasons why I should give up on humanity
Then it hits me, just like a train, the faintest glimmer of hope
A new horizon, the sun is rising, the slightest reason to cope

chorus
Fall back on you falling back on me
Somehow we'll both stay on our feet
If the earth crumbles from beneath
With you is where I wanna be

The chips are down and the light's growing dim
But there's a warmth to this night
And though it seems there's no hope to be found
Somehow we'll stay in this fight
When all is said and done you're still in my corner
For you I'm not gonna quit
And though I'm knocked down I'm never knocked out, no
No matter how hard I get hit

pre-chorus
I won't give up on you even when I give up on me
Each day more reasons why I should give up on humanity
Then it hits me, just like a train, the faintest glimmer of hope
A new horizon, the sun is rising, the slightest reason to cope

chorus
Fall back on you falling back on me
Somehow we'll both stay on our feet
If the earth crumbles from beneath
With you is where I wanna be

Just breathe, chin up, always stay strong
Never give up, keep holding on

credits

from Self​-​Titled, released April 26, 2016

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Rebel Radio Sacramento, California

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