It's Been Awhile

This song is so meaningful to me. Just like Aaron Lewis I've been through rehab a couple different times. And I felt the same way while going through an 18 week inhouse rehab program. Everything changes when you get off the drug you so used to living with all new emotions come out about life and realtionships. Awesome song!!!!

well...this song is great, but you gotta really use u'r imagination to understand the double connotation of the words. He's actually talking about the drugs he used. To me, he writes this at a stand point where he no longer uses. It's abt the actual addiction he had and the affect the drugs had on him, as well as the reason for taking them, i.e. his strained relationship with his father and his low self esteem for mistakes and what not. It seems that he's admitting that he ran to drugs to feel better abt himself and what was going on with his father. So now he's having to deal sober and straight and realizes how "great" he felt when he was high. How it felt to be NUMB and forget, at least for a brief moment all the bull shit he was going through. He has full creative authority over his music videos so in this case the video and the connotation of a romance, is just him playing on the double connotation and making you have to look deeper. Which creates more of an interest in the public and completely shows how imiginative he is in his lyrics and in directing his music videos as a form of expression and art.

More than one meaning people. Why is that so difficult?

Rehab, addiction, relationships....

This song is THE BEGINNING of someone who must be searching, fearless and honest with themselves in order to survive.

even though this songs been over commercialized and raped now, it still holds a special meaning which most deep people would understand even if they havent gone thru it. when i was 12 i started going out with this guy, and he very soon became the one person i truely loved. althou he knew about the type of shit i was in, drugs, alcohol, cutting myself.. he still accepted me for what i was.. but then it got too unbearable for him.. so i changed.. went cold turkey all by myself by 13, relapsed about 10 times, and all through out, he stuck with me. then after a year and a half, i quit. for good. but u cant hide from something that doesnt go away.. and we couldnt hide from me. tru i fucked up less and wasnt addicted, but i was stil the same person. so this song and epiphany perfectly describes that relationship. i broke up with him, attempted suicide 6 times in 6 months, not because of him, but because of myself. its passive dependency laced with a bit of longing, but too much pride to go back with ur tail between ur knees. i just recently turned 15, this is not the life i was meant to lead.

I'm not going to go into the meaning of this song since I feel it's been covered, and its just vague enough to have plenty of deeper meanings but... I think one of the best things about this song is how it touches people. Just about everyone who listens to it, it captivated, and mostly, pushed back into those bittersweet memories we all have. whether they be painful, or full of longing, Staind has made the song that we can all fall into. kudos to them

I have to wonder...how does the radio actually fuck up a song? Yes, it becomes WAY over played, I agree. I have a solution though...get a CD player, MP3 player etc...and don't listen to the radio. If this song was never "commercialized" it would be a favorite by many many people out there saying it sucks. It has become the new trend and the cool thing to do to bash bands/songs for being commercialized. Yet you are doing what everyone else is doing...so doesn't that mean you are doing exactly what you are condemning? C'mon people...have a mind of your own. If a song is good it's good. It's still art, and this was a very personal and meaningful song to Lewis I am sure of that. So don't tear it down. I have been in the exact posistion and know what it is to continue to struggle with these kinds of challenges...and songs and art like this really can help a person. When you feel completely alone in this world sometimes music can seem to be your best friend. Music...commercial or not...whatever you sheep wanna call it, has litteraly saved my life multiple times. For that I have respect for any song that is written by the artist/performer themselves, and is written from a real emotion...you can tell when a song is real. There's that little extra soul in the vocals that molds with the music to make the song that can truly touch your soul. THAT is what music is about. It doesn't matter if it's overplayed or commercialized. You guys all talk about that shit...well Ill put my external HD music folder up to anyone who thinks they can name half the bands in there. See it for what it truly is...not what is cool to say. Think for yourself people.

Anyone else notice how he flicks back to himself, then his love?

HIM -Since I could, hold my head up high HER -Since I first saw you

HIM -Since I could stand, on my own two feet again HER -Since I could call you

HIM -Since I could say that I wasnt addicted HER -Since I could say I loved myself as well

The words displayed in this song are so true to anyone who has ever loved someone who had a addiction... they loved you but lost contact with you and are now different off the drug.. there are still alot of things they can remember good about you..etc..this song really says alot

"It" can't be described any better than what's said in this song. Wow.

Hello the song is about his love for heroin.. Its been a while since I can say that I WASN'T Addicted.. cant blame love on your father that wouldn't make sense. So now, little man, you've grown tired of grass LSD, goofballs, cocaine and hash, and someone, pretending to be a true friend, said, "I'll introduce you to Miss Heroin." Well honey, before you start fooling with me, just let me inform you of how it will be. For I will seduce you and make you my slave, I've sent men much stronger than you to their graves. You think you could never become a disgrace, and end up addicted to Poppy seed waste. So you'll start inhaling me one afternoon, you'll take me into your arms very soon. And once I've entered deep down in your veins, The craving will nearly drive you insane. You'll swindle your mother and just for a buck. You'll turn into something vile and corrupt. You'll mug and you'll steal for my narcotic charm, and feel contentment when I'm in your arms. The day, when you realize the monster you've grown, you'll solemnly swear to leave me alone. If you think you've got that mystical knack, then sweetie, just try getting me off your back. The vomit, the cramps, your gut tied in knots. The jangling nerves screaming for one more shot. The hot chills and cold sweats, withdrawal pains, can only be saved by my little white grains. There's no other way, and there's no need to look, for deep down inside you know you are hooked. You'll desperately run to the pushers and then, you'll welcome me back to your arms once again. And you will return just as I foretold! I know that you'll give me your body and soul. You'll give up your morals, your conscience, your heart. And you will be mine until, "Death Do Us Part"