Not Afraid (demo)

Our Lady Peace

Song Category Released
Live Count 0 Performances
Lyrics
Driving down the one way road Some courage and the radio Drive until my eyes can see Tonight I leave this world behind Tonight all my mistakes are mine Tonight the road will carry me I'm not afraid, I'm not alone I'm just hanging on for way too long Let me out, let me live Let me stumble when I fall You noticed this, noticed you But tonight I feel I'm breaking through Let me out, let me stumble when I fall [?] A better time and a better space Dream until the world to be And are you feeling oh you go you know I'm feeling bored, I guessed I know [?] I'm not afraid, I'm not alone I'm just hanging on for way too long Let me out, let me live Let me stumble when I fall You noticed this, noticed you But tonight I'm close to breaking through Let me out, let me stumble when I fall Let me out Let me live Let me know your reason is You wanted more You wanted it You wanted the simple things I guess Again, again It's like the stars are falling up It's like the sky hits the ground It's like the wind that is calm It's like an earthquake and it makes no sound I swear, I swear, I swear I'm not afraid, I'm not alone I'm just hanging on for way too long Let me out, let me live Let me stumble when I fall You noticed this, noticed you But it's the simple things I, simple things I need Simple things I need Simple things I need Simple things I need Simple things I need Simple things I need Simple things I need Simple things I need Simple things I need I need I need I need I need I need
Discography
Summary 0 Albums / 0 Promos / 0 Singles
Live Performance History

No live performances recorded.

Song Notes
Not Afraid was conceived in a circular shaped venue in Brussels, Belgium during a soundcheck while touring for Gravity. Not sure why my brain stores pictures and information such as this, but perhaps because it was my first ever experience (I believe) of writing with OLP. I think that the excitement and novelty of the time for both OLP and myself is apparent in the track. It was new experiences for both of us, and we were pumped (still are!).

Admittedly, this song has been a contested one in our camp. While at first I would say we were all equally excited about it, as we worked in the studio, the desire to make it “even better” caused frustration. I think that Bob Rock thought we had something really special with it and was pushing us to take it someplace even higher, and somewhere along the way something was lost. It happens. Such is life, such is the process of making a record. What you are hearing here is the original version that we cut at Bob’s studio on Maui, in an infant state of production. The band agreed that this, instead of the later, more finished version, was the one that we’d rather share with you--rough, bare, unfinished edges and all.

On a technical note, it’s an interesting musical phrase because the opening guitar lick is very much based on one chord, but when the bass enters it plays a different note than that chord. In layman’s terms, it’s kind of musically “wrong”, and that’s why it’s compelling, at least to me.

We were so excited initially by Not Afraid that we decided to perform it, instead of “Innocent”, live at the Juno awards one year. The only problem was that the only ones who knew we weren’t playing Innocent come showtime were us. We haven’t been invited to perform on the Junos since. I’m not sure if that is why. Possibly.

-Steve