Audience of One

Rise Against

About Audience of One

"Audience of One" is a song by American rock band Rise Against, written by the band's frontman Tim McIlrath. It is the second single from their 2008 album Appeal to Reason. Hitting number four on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, "Audience of One" is Rise Against's third-highest charting single, behind the previous single from Appeal to Reason, "Re-Education (Through Labor)", which peaked at number three and the third single "Savior".


Year:
2009
3:58
83 

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I can still remember
The words and what they meant
As we etched them with our fingers
In years of wet cement
The days blurred into each other
Though everything seemed clear
We cruised along at half speed
But then we shifted gears

We ran like vampires from a thousand burning suns
But even then we should have stayed

But we ran away
Now all my friends have gone
Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone?

Identities assume us
As nine and five add up
Synchronizing watches
To the seconds that we lost
I looked up and saw you
I know that you saw me
We froze but for a moment
In empathy

I brought down the sky for you but all you did was shrug
You gave my emptiness a name
And you ran away
Now all my friends have gone
Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone?

We're all OK, until the day we're not
The surface shines, while the inside rots
We raced the sunset and we almost won
We slammed the brakes, but the wheels went on

But we ran away
Now all my friends have gone
Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone?

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Rise Against

Rise Against is an American punk band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in December 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Zach Blair (lead guitar, backing vocals), Joe Principe (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Brandon Barnes (drums, percussion). more »

2 fans

Written by: Brandon Barnes, Joe Principe, Timothy Mcilrath, Zach Blair

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Genre Classification
"Audience Of One" by Rise Against is categorized under punk rock music. The band is known for its melding of the hardcore punk genre with poignant, powerful lyrics.
Album
This song is from the band's fifth studio album, "Appeal to Reason," which was released in 2008.
Hit Song
"Audience Of One" was one of the most popular songs on the album, even though it wasn't the first single. It was the second single from the album to be released.
Chart Performance
The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Music Video
The music video for "Audience Of One" was directed by Marc Webb, who also directed the blockbuster Spiderman films.
Political Theme
Like many songs by Rise Against, "Audience Of One" contains politically charged lyrics. The song questions the then-sitting U.S. President's judgment, making it a controversial track.
Vinyl Collection
In 2013, a 7" vinyl of "Audience Of One" was released as part of a collection celebrating the band's ten-year recording anniversary.
Unique Instruments
The song is a departure from Rise Against's usual high-energy punk rock, featuring a piano prominently, which is not typical for their music.
Energetic Live Performances
As with most Rise Against songs, "Audience Of One" is known for igniting a huge crowd response during live performances.
Unusually Rhythmic
"Audience of One" showcases more rhythmic and melodic elements compared to the band's earlier, harder core style.
Critically Acclaimed
The song was generally positively received by music critics for its lyrics and melody. Some critics noted it as a step toward a more mainstream approach for the band.
Duration
This song has a duration of 4 minutes and 6 seconds.
Written By
The song was written by the band members - Joe Principe, Brandon Barnes, Zach Blair, and Tim McIlrath. Their writing often centres around sociopolitical and environmental themes.

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