“Destruction Or Strength” is an unused demo from “Shaped By Fire” album, and the song (and related T-shirts) proceeds are going toward helping with relief efforts in Southern California due to Covid-19 crisis of March 2020.
A message from AS I LAY DYING:
These are concerning and unprecedented time...
[Verse 1: Tim Lambesis]
Whether locked up or on top of the world
I felt the same sense of unrest
Pursuing numbers
The approval of others
Outward illusions of success
Just an illusion (illusion)
An illusion masking restlessness
All ending in a downward spiral
[Verse 2: Tim Lambesis]
Rock bottom is all relative
Some people lose their homes
And others lose their heart
The sad truth is i lost them both
‘cause i perilously chose
To compromise my soul
I could not see past all the distraction
(distraction, destruction)
Until everything to hide behind...
Until everything to hide behind was gone
[Chorus: Josh Gilbert & Tim Lambesis]
Now that everything is gone
I’m free, free to see without distraction
There’s nowhere left to hide
As I face what is inside
What is inside
[Verse 3: Tim Lambesis]
Now changing like the tide
Devoid of peace but now finding
What brings serenity
And what can be centering
But it’s not the things it used to be
Because they have been taken
And cannot be retrieved
Now that everything to hide behind
(distraction, destruction)
Until everything to hide behind was gone
[Chorus: Josh Gilbert & Tim Lambesis]
Now that everything is gone
I’m free, free to see without distraction
There’s nowhere left to hide
As I face what is inside
What is inside
[Breakdown: Tim Lambesis]
What is left (what is left)
When you take it all away (when you take it all away)?
A battle between desolation and sorrow
Leaving behind destruction or strength
Destruction or strength
[Refrain: Tim Lambesis]
Destruction or strength
[Pre-Chorus: Tim Lambesis]
Whether locked up or on top of the world
I felt the same sense of unrest
But now it’s gone
[Chorus: Josh Gilbert & Tim Lambesis]
Now that everything is gone
I’m free, free to see without distraction
There’s nowhere left to hide
As I face what is inside
What is inside
[Outro: Tim Lambesis]
Whether locked up or on top of the world
I felt the same sense of unrest
But now it’s gone
(what is inside)
Just an illusion
An illusion masking restlessness
Destruction Or Strength was written by Tim Lambesis & Phil Sgrosso & Nick Hipa & Josh Gilbert & Jordan Mancino.
Destruction Or Strength was produced by As I Lay Dying.
As I Lay Dying released Destruction Or Strength on Fri Mar 27 2020.