Evanescence EP, track 6
Whisper/Sound Asleep EP, tracks 3 & 5
written by: A. Lee and B. Moody

The first song ever written by Ben Moody and credited as the second song ever written by Evanescence. The audio clips in the song come from the movies My World Dies Screaming, otherwise known as Terror in the Haunted House (1958) and When a Man Loves A Woman (1994). Ben Moody often refers to it as a “Cheesy 7-minute Goth anthem”.

--
Understanding - Evanescence EP version
Items in italics are spoken quotes from 'My World Dies Screaming' (1958, aka 'Terror in the Haunted House') except the line "We're supposed to try... that is real" and "Please don't hate me.. because I'll die if you do" which are from 'When A Man Loves A Woman', (1994, starring Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia).

You hold the answer deep within your own mind. Consciously you've forgotten it. That's the way the human mind works. Whenever something is too unpleasant, too shameful for us to entertain we reject it, we erase it from our memory, but the imprint is always there.

Oooh..
We wash it all away, we wish it all away, we hope it all away, can't cry it all away.

The pain that grips you
The fear that binds you
Releases life in me
In our mutual shame we hide our eyes
To blind them from the truth that finds a way for who we are

Please don't be afraid
When the darkness fades away
The dawn will break the silence screaming at our hearts
My love for you still grows
This I do for you
Before I try to fight the truth my final time

We're supposed to try and be real and when you feel alone, you are not together, and that is real.

Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away

Lying beside you
Listening to you breathe
The light that flows inside of you burns inside of me
Hold and speak to me
Of love without a sound
Tell me you will live through this and I will die for you
Cast me not away
Say you'll be with me
For I know I cannot bear it all alone

You're not alone, honey, Never. Never.

Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
It just won't fade away, no...

Oooh.. can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away, yeah, yeah yeah.
Can't throw it all away
Can't scratch it all away, yeah....

Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
Move it all away
Move it all away

But the imprint is always there, nothing is ever really forgotten

Please don't hate me
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do

******************************************

Understanding - Sound Asleep EP Version
This version starts and predominates with a highly-reverbed guitar.

You hold the answer <- Ben [Edit <3 Lauren]

The pain that grips you
The fear that binds you
Releases life in me
In our mutual shame we hide our eyes
To blind them from the truth that finds a way for who we are

Please don't be afraid
When the darkness fades away
The dawn will break the silence screaming at our hearts
My love for you still grows
And this I do for you
Before I try to fight the truth my final time

Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away

Lying beside you
Listening to you breathe
The light that flows inside of you burns inside of me
Hold and speak to me
Of love without a sound
Tell me you will live through this and I will die for you
Cast me not away
Say you'll be with me
For I know I cannot bear it all alone

Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
It just won't fade away

I tried so hard

Lyrics by: A. Lee, B. Moody

Does the 11:48 minute version of it exist? and if yes, is it ever released?

Does the 11:48 minute version of it exist? and if yes, is it ever released?
No. The 11:48 Version is a myth spread by Ebay sellers. It is listed on Not For Your Ears as a 11:48 version yet it's only the 7 minute one. There are three versions of the song, The EP one, The Sound Asleep One and the Original Acoustic.

wow, yeah, i can hear it clearly...i wonder if it has a meaning or not...

wow, yeah, i can hear it clearly...i wonder if it has a meaning or not...
I think there is... I wonder... anyway, everytime I hear this song, it reminds me of my (deceased) father... it's sad...

huh...that's weird, I never noticed that...I keep hearing something in the beginning of sound asleep though...It's about half a minute into the song, either its the sound of a guitar string or someone talking but if you listen in the background before amy starts to sing you'll hear some kinda sound...its reaaaally quiet though...

huh...that's weird, I never noticed that...I keep hearing something in the beginning of sound asleep though...It's about half a minute into the song, either its the sound of a guitar string or someone talking but if you listen in the background before amy starts to sing you'll hear some kinda sound...its reaaaally quiet though...
Yeah, I know... I've heard it before as well... I wonder what it is...

Yeah, I know... I've heard it before as well... I wonder what it is...

it says "you hold the answer"

I always thought the guy who talked in the beginning was from the Twilight Zone. Doesn't it sound like that or am I just crazy? :rolleyes:

I always thought the guy who talked in the beginning was from the Twilight Zone. Doesn't it sound like that or am I just crazy? :rolleyes:

Nope, definitely sounds creepy like that. I always thought it was from some kind of sci-fi show or something.

I can't clearly understand what Amy says in the end of the song. It sound like "Because I'll die if you do", "Because I'm tired of it too" and so on. And no one can tell me the right words. And on different sites I see different lyrics versions. But which version is right?..

I can't clearly understand what Amy says in the end of the song. It sound like "Because I'll die if you do", "Because I'm tired of it too" and so on. And no one can tell me the right words. And on different sites I see different lyrics versions. But which version is right?..
IT's not Amy saying it. It's a recording from a movie. And the proper lyrics to that section are

"Please don't hate me
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll Die if you do
..." And so on.

No. The 11:48 Version is a myth spread by Ebay sellers. It is listed on Not For Your Ears as a 11:48 version yet it's only the 7 minute one. There are three versions of the song, The EP one, The Sound Asleep One and the Original Acoustic.

You could be getting confused with the 11:38 version of Ascension of the Spirit. (Only a bunch of silence, a movie clip, and a 3:16 long instrumental)

IT's not Amy saying it. It's a recording from a movie. And the proper lyrics to that section are

"Please don't hate me
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll Die if you do
..." And so on.

I must have listened to this song a million times...and I have never noticed that. :confused: *plays song again*....now I'm gonna pay attention. ;)

You could be getting confused with the 11:38 version of Ascension of the Spirit. (Only a bunch of silence, a movie clip, and a 3:16 long instrumental)
The 11 minute version of Ascension of the Spirit varies in length. Sometimes it's 11:38, other's it's 11:48. I've heard the version many times and am not confusing anything with it. I'd explaining to someone that the listing on the bootleg is wrong. They likely heard Ascension of the Spirit had a long version and listed it as Eternal.

IT's not Amy saying it. It's a recording from a movie. And the proper lyrics to that section are

"Please don't hate me
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll Die if you do
..." And so on.
oh... I always thought that it said "Because I'm dying too" ... is extremely confused now!!!:confused:

I thought that too when I first heard the song. But someone pointed out the "Please Don't Hate me" part. And the "Because I'll Die If You Do" Just fits so much better and Actually makes Sense.

Evanescence EP, track 6
Whisper/Sound Asleep EP, tracks 3 & 5
written by: A. Lee and B. Moody

The first song ever written by Ben Moody and credited as the second song ever written by Evanescence. The audio clips in the song come from the movies My World Dies Screaming, otherwise known as Terror in the Haunted House (1958) and When a Man Loves A Woman (1994). Ben Moody often refers to it as a “Cheesy 7-minute Goth anthem”.

--
Understanding - Evanescence EP version
Items in italics are spoken quotes from 'My World Dies Screaming' (1958, aka 'Terror in the Haunted House') except the line "We're supposed to try... that is real" and "Please don't hate me.. because I'll die if you do" which are from 'When A Man Loves A Woman', (1994, starring Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia).

You hold the answer deep within your own mind. Consciously you've forgotten it. That's the way the human mind works. Whenever something is too unpleasant, too shameful for us to entertain we reject it, we erase it from our memory, but the imprint is always there.

Oooh..
We wash it all away, we wish it all away, we hope it all away, can't cry it all away.

The pain that grips you
The fear that binds you
Releases life in me
In our mutual shame we hide our eyes
To blind them from the truth that finds a way for who we are

Please don't be afraid
When the darkness fades away
The dawn will break the silence screaming at our hearts
My love for you still grows
This I do for you
Before I try to fight the truth my final time

We're supposed to try and be real and when you feel alone, you are not together, and that is real.

Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away

Lying beside you
Listening to you breathe
The light that flows inside of you burns inside of me
Hold and speak to me
Of love without a sound
Tell me you will live through this and I will die for you
Cast me not away
Say you'll be with me
For I know I cannot bear it all alone

You're not alone, honey, Never. Never.

Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
It just won't fade away, no...

Oooh.. can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away, yeah, yeah yeah.
Can't throw it all away
Can't scratch it all away, yeah....

Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
Move it all away
Move it all away

But the imprint is always there, nothing is ever really forgotten

Please don't hate me
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do

******************************************

Understanding - Sound Asleep EP Version
This version starts and predominates with a highly-reverbed guitar.

You hold the answer <- Ben [Edit <3 Lauren]

The pain that grips you
The fear that binds you
Releases life in me
In our mutual shame we hide our eyes
To blind them from the truth that finds a way for who we are

Please don't be afraid
When the darkness fades away
The dawn will break the silence screaming at our hearts
My love for you still grows
And this I do for you
Before I try to fight the truth my final time

Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away

Lying beside you
Listening to you breathe
The light that flows inside of you burns inside of me
Hold and speak to me
Of love without a sound
Tell me you will live through this and I will die for you
Cast me not away
Say you'll be with me
For I know I cannot bear it all alone

Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
It just won't fade away

I tried so hard

Lyrics by: A. Lee, B. Moody


After Amy sings "I've tried so hard," you can hear Ben saying, which is highly reverberated, and echoed is:

"I have tried super, so hard to be without you, to be without you for so many years."

Then you hear Amy start to sing "I have cried." And Ben starts to say, as soon as Amy starts singing:

"So many words I have saved for someone, I love you. I love you and I want you to stay."


EDIT: July 1, 2006

Actually at the end of the version with the organ, Meg Ryan, who plays Alice in "When A Man Loves A Woman," say's

"God, JUST don't hate me
Because I'll die if you do."

And then Andy Garcia, who plays Michael, says "That thought would never cross my mind." Or somewhere along those lines. This can be heard in the movie starting at 37:17. You can put your sudtitles on for that part to see that this is correct.

Actually at the end of the version with the organ, Meg Ryan, who plays Alice in "When A Man Loves A Woman," say's

"God, JUST don't hate me
Because I'll die if you do."

And then Andy Garcia, who plays Michael, says "That thought would never cross my mind." Or somewhere along those lines. This can be heard in the movie starting at 37:17. You can put your sudtitles on for that part to see that this is correct.



Does that mean the lines at the beginning come from When A Man Loves A Woman also? I've always imagined this song as a movie so it befaffles me to know that it actually is.

So anyways, to the person much, much above. There are three versions, the two listed and the Acoustic version which i'm pretty sure (correct me if im wrong) was released officially.

wow, yeah, i can hear it clearly...i wonder if it has a meaning or not...


do you mean the song? cause Im really confused by the question, if its the song then it must have a meaning, at least when it was being written they/he must have been thinking about something

Does that mean the lines at the beginning come from When A Man Loves A Woman also? I've always imagined this song as a movie so it befaffles me to know that it actually is.
According to the description at the top, the lines are from two different movies. The ones at the beginning are from a different one than "Don't hate me... because I'll die if you do".

Stephanie Pierce does the background vocals in this song.

Does that mean the lines at the beginning come from When A Man Loves A Woman also? I've always imagined this song as a movie so it befaffles me to know that it actually is.

So anyways, to the person much, much above. There are three versions, the two listed and the Acoustic version which i'm pretty sure (correct me if im wrong) was released officially.

Yea there are 3 official songs for "Understanding." I have them all.

Also about the movie quotes...

The following quotes are from "My World Dies Screaming," which is also known as "Terror In The Haunted House."

“You hold the answer deep within your own mind
Consciously, you’ve forgotten it.
That’s the way the human mind works.
Whenever something is too unpleasant, to shameful
For us to entertain, we reject it
We erase it from our memory
But the answer is always there.”

And “But the imprint is always there
Nothing is ever really forgotten.”

The following quotes are from "When A Man Loves A Woman." They are in the order they appear in the movie.

"You're not alone honey. Never, never."

"God, Just don't hate me.
Because I'll die if you do."

"We're supposed to try and be real. And when you feel alone, you are not together. And that is real."

i just noticed that the lyrics for the Acoustic version aren't on here. They're different from the regular song. This version is shorter. Here ya go..


Understanding (Acoustic Version)
The pain that grips you
The fear that binds you
Releases life in me
In our mutual shame we hide our eyes
To blind them from the truth
That finds a way from who we are

Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away

Lying beside you, listening to you breathe
The life that flows inside of you burns inside of me
Cast me not away, say you'll be with me
For I know I cannot bear it all alone

Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
It just won't fade away

Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't hope it all away
Yeah

I love this song so much. It is the truest, most honest song I have ever heard in my entire life. It is my favorite of all the older Ev songs.

I've had the acoustic version since way back when I went and got all of Evanescence's older music.

But, for longest time I haven't been able to find the version from Evanescence EP, with all the quotes and the organ or whatever in the beginning.

I finally did today, thankfully.

I love it.
One of the best!!

Of course, I think I've said that about almost every song written by Evanescence.

They are just amazing, and so is everything they do.
We'll leave it at that.

I think on Evanescence third release they might havesome epic song's about the same length as this. I know on The Open Door the longest song is like 5:21.

i haven't listened to understanding in a while and i was listening to it to day and i never realised how much i love it it's just a great song and one of Ev's best by far

I feel like talking today. This song is so amazing. The original version is cool and I like Amy's voice as music when she goes high. For some reason, I'm having a difficult time remembering all the lyrics. My favorite is the second version.

I dont think Ive heard the version that has less of the lines... Ive heard the acoustic.. actually it was the first version I heard... then the one will all of the movie lines... when a man loves a woman was sad... anyway I love this song... its so peaceful to listen to. The drumming at the end is so crazy. I was driving and I heard where it goes super fast and I had to listen to that part again... I think its like 5:28 into the song...

To be honest, the first few times I heard it, I didn't like it at all.
But, after playing it straight through while having my Ev songs on shuffle, it started to grow on me and now it's one of my favorites.
For some reason, it puts me in a passive mood. But the song's great, even the acoustic version.

Oh My god... I love this song. So perfect.
^^

This songs used to annoy me 'cause I thought it was too long, but when I heard it and read the lyrics I totally loved it! one of my favorite songs ever :p it's just so beautiful :D

I just rediscovered this song this morning. My God. They were brilliant.

Hiii everybody! I love this song because it is so beautyful!

this is the song makes me cry only, i love it and Amy

I think this song is absolutely Beautiful!!!
Its very deep, and powerful, and really has so much meaning to it!!
Amy's voice sounds just incredable!!:wink2::withflower::smile:

Best live performance of Understanding...Evarrrrr! (and it was the show I was at. mwahaha)

60UBIiEdbP4

I love this song, It kinda creeped me out at first because of the music, but now it's one of my all time faves[with October being # 1 ] but when over I just need to chill and calm down this song does the trick. Amasing VOX and music woork and lyric work. And the part from the move at the beginning really compliments the song

OMG OMG OMG!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fku1Zz5jqTY

The most beautiful song ever written.