Music Review: 3 Doors Down "Here Without You"

Here Without You
Album: Away From the Sun
Year: 2003

Brad Arnold is far away from his girlfriend and hasn't seen her for a long time. In order to cope with the seperation, he dreams of her in the glum "Here Without You."

A lonely guitar strums, creating an isolated tone. Arnold has been away from his girlfriend for at least three months. He's been told he'll be coming home soon but it has hardened him. He doesn't believe it to be true anymore. When he first entered his career, he didn't think it would mean being absent from his family and leaving his life behind. However, when he sleeps he dreams of his girlfriend and he's home again. ("A hundred days have made me older/Since the last time that I saw your pretty face/A thousand lies have made me colder/And I don't think I can look at this the same/But all the miles that seperate/Disappear now when I'm dreaming of your face.")

In the chorus, he says that although she's not with him she's still exists inside him. He wonders what she's doing every moment. He sees her every night in his dreams and it comforts him. It helps him to pull through the solitude. ("I'm here without you baby/But you're still on my lonely mind/I think about you baby/And I dream about you all the time/I'm here without you baby/But you're still with me in my dreams/And tonight it's only you and me.")


In the second verse, he mentions that each day he travels further away from home. For him, seeing a person leave is as welcoming as them saying hello. It means they will get to return to their life. He's read that life is supposed to be something to cherish and appreciate. However, he has nothing to hold onto. He's become disillusioned with his job. He wishes his life will become meaningful again. ("The miles just keep rollin'/As the people leave their way to say hello/I've heard this life was overrated/But I hope that it gets better as we go.")

In the bridge (which is sung after the chorus), he adds that nothing will make him stop loving his girlfriend. Even if it's been a tough day and he has gotten in written up numerous times, it doesn't matter. He has someone back home to return to and who loves him. ("Everything I know, and anywhere I go/It gets hard but it won't take away my love/And when the last one falls/When it's all said and done/It gets hard but it won't take away my love.")

The strings kick into high gear for their brief solo.

The chorus ends the single.

A couple months ago, fellow JU'er Texas Wahine wrote about going to a 3 Doors Down concert (read it if you haven't already.) In it, she said people in the military could relate to the song. After reading the article and hearing the song again with it in mind, I can see why. He's unsure of when he will be home. The character in the song is gone for months at a time in what seems to be another country. His co-workers come and go all the time. I'm curious if Arnold was thinking of the men and women who are serving in the military when he wrote the song.

The heartbreaking "Here Without You" is a touching power ballad. Radio hasn't had a great power ballad from a rock band in a while and "Here Without You" fills that void.

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