Far Behind

Song: Far Behind
Artist: Candlebox
Album: Candlebox
Released: July 1993

 Far Behind makes this list for a couple reasons I suppose. I think the biggest reason, besides it being an absolute classic, is that it reminds me of my siblings. None of them committed suicide, as the lyrics suggest, thankfully but they all liked it. I remember first seeing the cover on a cassette tape in my oldest sister's car (which I would later drive and total, ha ha) which, as was family tradition, equipped with a rockin' system. It was, for me anyway, that period when hair bands were being replaced by grunge bands. When I was about 7 I was so into bands like Def Leopard, Firehouse, Warrant, and Metallica. Metallica is not and never was a hair band, I don't care what you say, they were an 80's band yest but if you have ears you can hear, they sound nothing like the other bands who sporting long hair. That's another story entirely though. It all changed so quickly when my sisters and brother started toting home new music like Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, and Candlebox. This was much cooler, and unfortunately much heavier, and thus deemed inappropriate for my young ears. I was limited to dance music for the next several years, and so Haddaway, La Bouche, and Ace of Base were all I was allowed to experience for myself. Well they were a much cooler alternative than my mom's collection of Celine Dion, Gloria Estafan, and Lee Greenwood (that's right, the "God Bless the USA" guy, my brother made fun of me for listening to it, in a very patriotic fashion.). Then in the 5th grade I declared that I hated music and that it gave me a headache. No surprise, considering the options. Still, I would occasionally get a sneak listen in my brother or sister's cars or while they were in there rooms. Despite their attempts to keep me hard rock free, I quickly went back to the music I always loved when I was old enough to rebel a little.

I don't really remember a specific time when I heard Candlebox, I just remember wanting to listen to that "maybe" song. As time went by and napster made music more easily accessible, I soon downloaded Far Behind, and for whatever reason it just always reminded me of my siblings. They all listened to it and because of that it was part of my childhood, whether they wanted it to be or not. With all of them being at least five years older than me I guess they also, always left me far behind. Wow, that was lame.

Far Behind is one of those songs that has such a touching and dramatic theme to it, that even if it isn't something you can relate to, you're still drawn into it. Like Legends of the Fall, a sad bit of entertainment that you just can't stop watching. That's how the lyrics are for me, but again they don't leave me feeling sad because the song is very nostalgic for me, but still the song makes you feel something. That something, whatever it is, is awesome.

Now maybe
I didn't mean to treat you bad
But I did it anyway
And now maybe
Some would say your life was sad
But you lived it anyway
And so maybe
Your friends they stand around they watch your crumble
As you falter to the ground
And then someday
Your friends they stand beside as you were flying
Oh you were flying oh so high

But then someday people look at you for what they call their own
They watch you suffer
Yeah they hear you calling home
But then some day we could take our time
To brush the leaves aside so you can reach us
But you left me far behind
Now maybe
I didn't mean to treat you oh so bad
But I did it anyway
Now maybe some would say you're left with what you had
But you couldn't share the pain

No, no, no
Couldn't share the pain, they watch you suffer

Now maybe I could have made my own mistakes
But I live with what I've known
And then maybe we might share in something great
But won't you look at where we've grown
Won't you look at where we've gone
But then someday comes tomorrow holds a sense of what I feel for you in my mind
As you trip the final line
And that cold day when you lost control
Shame you left my life so soon you should have told me
But you left me far behind
Now maybe I didn't mean to treat you oh so bad
But I did it anyway
Now maybe some would say you're left with what you had
But you couldn't share the pain
No, no, no

Oh no
Oh no no no no...
Now maybe I didn't mean to treat you oh so bad
But I did it anyway
Now maybe some would say you're left with what you had
But you couldn't share the pain
I said times have changed your friends
They come and watch you crumble to the ground
They watch you suffer
Yeah, they hold you down
Hold you down
Now maybe brother, maybe love
I didn't mean to treat you bad
But you left me far behind
Left me far behind
Left me far Behind