Just Let Me Breathe

im thinking this song is about how the "music industry" works..but its just me ..

This song is an all out attack against the forcefed pop music that exists in the mainstream. Basically, they're saying that don't bother thinking about what you like...people will do it for you. Note the references to Cobain (who was exploited by the music industry) and "eMpTyV" (obviously meaning MTV...but I think it was like that so to avoid legal issues). Great song!

Portnoy has said he wrote out of anger of the pressure of the label in the creativity process in their early career...e.g. 'Just let me breathe...'

Listen to Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen and then this. A few sections sound suspiciously similar.

well to me it sounds like he is referring to alot of singers that are gone now. especially kurt cobain. Kurt complained alot about the pressure he was under. and the whole "kill yourself" brings to mind cobain, hendrix, and others. i dunno. thats just me

I think that this song actually takes a shot a Cobain. The lines,

"Shannon Hoon and Kurt Cobain, Make yourself a household name, yeah-yeah"

"Until you kill yourself And then the sales go through the roof Calculated, formulated"

say that Cobain got more popular and more recognized after his death, and this song makes it sound like a publicity stunt.

I always found this song kind of ironic, considering that this album, Falling Into Infinity (where this song was on), was basically the album where their record company was trying to push them into mainstream.

I mean, for god's sake, You Not Me was originally You Or Me. Kind of odd, hm?

You Or Me is freaking awesome as a song. The bridge part is great. You Not Me is just... pathetic.

This song's "Just close your eyes..." part does sound like Bohemian Rhapsody.

"A daily dose of eMpTyV Will flush your mind right down the drain"

Couldn't be more true.

The big machines... the media, the record label, etc. they they take care of you until you're gone and they can exploit someone else.