Music Review: Evanescence "Call Me When You're Sober"
Evanescence
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Call Me When You’re Sober
Album: The Open Door
Year: 2006
Amy Lee refuses to be her boyfriend’s crutch in the cathartic “Call Me When You’re Sober.”
An irrefutable piano and Lee’s scarred vocals open the single, setting a frank tone. The chorus begins in the song. In it, her boyfriend has called her again to talk about himself. She tells him she doesn’t want to hear about his problems over the phone anymore. He only contacts her to weep about his drug dependency. Through the tears, he says he wants to stop taking it but doesn’t know how. Then, once he’s finished talking about it, he hangs up the phone. He never asks about her and how she’s doing at all. She feels as though she matters little to him. They don’t spend any time together and he won’t make himself available for her. She tells him that if he really does want to be with her then come to her house. Otherwise, decide if she’s a girlfriend or a therapist.
In the first verse, she wonders if it will be good for him to hit rock bottom. He would have a chance to realize what a mess his life has become. Then, he could think back to the person he was before the drugs – smart, logical, compassionate. He would be ashamed of his actions and be motivated to get clean. However, she knows isn’t going to happen. They aren’t in love, just using each other to not be lonely. She can’t take the toll on her confidence on anymore. She sees through him now. His sudden willingness to have a committed relationship with her is only a ploy for her to stay.
An antagonized guitar solo follows.
The chorus is sung again.
In the second verse, she says she often felt responsible for his addiction. She thought if she had told him about a rehab center or had stayed on longer than maybe he wouldn’t light up anymore. When he would call to say he was still using, she couldn’t look any of her friends or family in the eye. She had felt she had failed as his girlfriend. She tells him that he uses his addiction as a way to garner sympathy and let people enable. She adds that his cynicism arises from other people not buying into the victim role he enjoys to play.
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, she says he only bothers to phone her when he’s drunk. It’s when he’s afraid to lose her; he will pay her some attention that will make her reconsider. She tells him they aren’t a couple any longer. Her life was going great before she met him. She believed in herself and thought romance was possible. Now, those views are dust. She says he loved the drugs and not her. She never was the guiding force in his life.
In the final chorus, she tells him he take the box packed with his some of clothes and the few gifts he gave her. She has given him the out he’s wanted.
When Amy Lee first met her boyfriend, he wasting no time in telling he loved her. She thought it was sweet, despite the fact she had only known him less than a week. He warned her about his addiction but reassured her he wanted to stop. But after their first couple times they hangout, they were simply dating by phone. His voice would be slurred as he would tell her that he didn’t want to drink or get high anymore. Six months later, she’s drained and crying nonstop. He’s gotten to be too much for her.
Lee’s afflicted, sore vocals are resilient yet devastated. She can’t be an enabler anymore nor can she let him bring her down than he already has. She’s tired from being jerked around. She’s disillusioned about relationships and believes love is selfish and a cruel act. The innonence she once had is gone and she wishes more than anything, to have it back.
The combative arrangement fights and strikes without abandon, saving any bits of self-esteem on the ground. It doesn’t stray too far away from the band’s original formula. However, it makes an incredible emotional impact that wasn’t there in previous singles.
The explosive “Call Me When You’re Sober” is the band’s first perfect single.
Album: The Open Door
Year: 2006
Amy Lee refuses to be her boyfriend’s crutch in the cathartic “Call Me When You’re Sober.”
An irrefutable piano and Lee’s scarred vocals open the single, setting a frank tone. The chorus begins in the song. In it, her boyfriend has called her again to talk about himself. She tells him she doesn’t want to hear about his problems over the phone anymore. He only contacts her to weep about his drug dependency. Through the tears, he says he wants to stop taking it but doesn’t know how. Then, once he’s finished talking about it, he hangs up the phone. He never asks about her and how she’s doing at all. She feels as though she matters little to him. They don’t spend any time together and he won’t make himself available for her. She tells him that if he really does want to be with her then come to her house. Otherwise, decide if she’s a girlfriend or a therapist.
“ Don't cry to me/If you loved me/You would be here with me/You want me/Come find me/Make up your mind.”
In the first verse, she wonders if it will be good for him to hit rock bottom. He would have a chance to realize what a mess his life has become. Then, he could think back to the person he was before the drugs – smart, logical, compassionate. He would be ashamed of his actions and be motivated to get clean. However, she knows isn’t going to happen. They aren’t in love, just using each other to not be lonely. She can’t take the toll on her confidence on anymore. She sees through him now. His sudden willingness to have a committed relationship with her is only a ploy for her to stay.
“Should I let you fall?/Lose it all?/So maybe you can remember yourself/Can't keep believing/We're only deceiving ourselves/And I'm sick of the lie/And you're too late.”
An antagonized guitar solo follows.
The chorus is sung again.
In the second verse, she says she often felt responsible for his addiction. She thought if she had told him about a rehab center or had stayed on longer than maybe he wouldn’t light up anymore. When he would call to say he was still using, she couldn’t look any of her friends or family in the eye. She had felt she had failed as his girlfriend. She tells him that he uses his addiction as a way to garner sympathy and let people enable. She adds that his cynicism arises from other people not buying into the victim role he enjoys to play.
“Couldn't take the blame/Sick with shame/Must be exhausting to lose your own game/Selfishly hated/No wonder you're jaded/You can't play the victim this time/And you're too late.”
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, she says he only bothers to phone her when he’s drunk. It’s when he’s afraid to lose her; he will pay her some attention that will make her reconsider. She tells him they aren’t a couple any longer. Her life was going great before she met him. She believed in herself and thought romance was possible. Now, those views are dust. She says he loved the drugs and not her. She never was the guiding force in his life.
“You never call me when you're sober/You only want it cause it's over/It's over/How could I have burned paradise?/How could I - you were never mine.”
In the final chorus, she tells him he take the box packed with his some of clothes and the few gifts he gave her. She has given him the out he’s wanted.
“So don't cry to me/If you loved me/You would be here with me/Don't lie to me/Just get your things/I've made up your mind.”
When Amy Lee first met her boyfriend, he wasting no time in telling he loved her. She thought it was sweet, despite the fact she had only known him less than a week. He warned her about his addiction but reassured her he wanted to stop. But after their first couple times they hangout, they were simply dating by phone. His voice would be slurred as he would tell her that he didn’t want to drink or get high anymore. Six months later, she’s drained and crying nonstop. He’s gotten to be too much for her.
Lee’s afflicted, sore vocals are resilient yet devastated. She can’t be an enabler anymore nor can she let him bring her down than he already has. She’s tired from being jerked around. She’s disillusioned about relationships and believes love is selfish and a cruel act. The innonence she once had is gone and she wishes more than anything, to have it back.
The combative arrangement fights and strikes without abandon, saving any bits of self-esteem on the ground. It doesn’t stray too far away from the band’s original formula. However, it makes an incredible emotional impact that wasn’t there in previous singles.
The explosive “Call Me When You’re Sober” is the band’s first perfect single.