Vonray was a modern rock band from Orlando, Florida. The group formed around singer/songwriter Vaughan Rhea, originally from Tennessee, who had come to Orlando playing as an acoustic coffeeshop act. Inspired by grunge music, Rhea put together a band with his brother, Dave, and began playing somewhat harder sounding tunes, though still acoustic-based. Soon after, the band was opening for Third Eye Blind and Seven Mary Three, among other national acts, and released an independent debut album, Panes, as VonRa in 1997. A second independent album release, VonRa, followed in 1999, and a third, Fame, came in 2001.
As major-label attention increased, the band scored a high-profile slot opening for fellow Florida-based rockers, Creed, in summer of 2002. The band was signed to Elektra Records in late 2002 and, under the moniker "Vonray," saw their first major label release on Elektra Records in early 2003 (April 8). The band charted a single hit in the US in 2002 with the song "Inside Out," which was featured on the WB Network's television show Smallville, on which the band made an appearance, and its soundtrack; "Inside Out" subsequently peaked at #32 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart and at #31 on Billboard's Top 40 Mainstream chart. A second single, "I'll Show You," followed but received little promotion from the label and failed to chart. Due to Elektra Records then merging with Atlantic Records, promotion for the band all but ceased, and the band was dropped from the label soon after. A casualty of the merger, Rhea and the band went on hiatus in October 2003.
One step closer to where I might have started off yesterday
Life it seems to lead me 憆ound in circles yeah but that抯 ok
I can抰 worry 慴out what I抳e been missing
If I could I抎 take it back
I found out the hard way
Just exactly what I lack
(chorus)
If I have to decide? That抯 OK
I tell myself this time? That抯 Ok
That抯 Ok
Watch me go I know this road is gonna take me on a holiday
Written on your face the look of desperation got to get away
Once I thought for sure I had the answer
Then it slipped right through my hands
But you and I both know
There抯 (plenty of)(always) things that we don抰 understand
(chorus)
That抯 Ok? That抯 Ok
(bridge)
Wake up people it抯 time to start livin?
Take these thoughts as a sign of the times
You can抰 worry about what you抳e been missing
Come alive . You can come alive
One step closer to where I might have started off yesterday
(chorus)
A simple life is what you need
But you just see things different
Youæ?®e turning whispers into screams
Itæ?¯ crazier å? veryday
And things have never been the same
Since that awkward moment
I ask you why you have to take
The muddy road å? veryday
I can see it clearly now
Love is never easy
(chorus)
Where is this light you hope Iæ?£l find
Weæ?®e hopelessly locked up inside
Thereæ?¯ no way out no way to win
You say Iæ?¦ indifferentå?¢ just think youæ?®e
Strange
You line youæ?®e dreams up the a shelf
You just sit and watch them
You wish I was somebody else
Off your feetå?»wept away
But change is never welcome here
And it makes me wonder
How circumstances turn to fear
Another placeå? nother day
Can you see it clearly now
Weæ?®e running out of reasons
(chorus)
Where was I when all this changed
Too bad thereæ?¯ nothing left to say
You think Iæ?¦ indifferent
I just think youæ?®e strange
(Double chorus)
You tell me Iæ?¦ indifferent
I don't believe all the things I hear
All these things I hold so dear
I won't take for granted
I'd always thought that you'd be there
Now it somehow seems unfair
You're asking me to take it
And do you see the danger?
Its creeping up beside...
Because you're turning me inside out
You're breaking all these promises we made
Maybe time will make it right
Our picture taken yesterday
Slowly starts to fade away
There's got to be an answer
There's no use being afraid to see
What my life was meant to be
And take me so much higher
And do you see the danger?
It's creeping up behind...
Because you're turning me inside out
You keep breaking all these promises we made
Maybe time will make it right
Because you're turning me inside out
It's taking all my strength and will to stay
Maybe time will make it right
And do you feel the danger?
It's creeping up beside...
Because you're turning me inside out
You're breaking all these promises
Keep breaking all these promises
Because you're turning me inside out
You're breaking all these promises we made
Maybe time will make it right
Because you're turning me inside out
It's taking all my strength and will to stay
There抯 a hole in the neighborhood where I go
When I feel misunderstood
I sit alone and wonder
What I am who I am
There抯 a picture down the hall reminds me
Of when I almost had it all
When it falls I pick it up
And put it back
Chorus
It抯 not like me to fall apart
I put my soul out on the table
You take me in
And only then I start to climb
I got a friend I like to see and it seems
I like her and she likes me
But it always leads
To a falling out, a falling out
There抯 a chapter in a book and every page
Helps me take a second look
It抯 only then I find
The shelter from the pain
(chorus)
Bridge
There抯 a fool in my head
Telling me I抦 not myself
Is it wrong for me to believe
That I could walk out of this dream
Work hard all your life. Gain a friend or two
'cause you know you might just need them
If your dreams are real.
Take time for yourself - find a special place
Or a time where they won't find you,
Something they can't steal.
Come in, have a chair. Man we love your sound
Yeah we love your hair. Come on boy,
Can you fill these shoes?
Step back, take a look. You could rule the world
With your style, your hooks. Come on boy,
You just can't refuse.
(Chorus)
Oh yeah here it comes.
Take a little more than the people give you.
Oh yeah, livin' like a game.
Oh no, there it goes.
Where is all the love that the people showed you?
Oh no where is all this fame?
I've seen the good times.
The limousines and cigars and fine wines
That only lead to the scars and hard times
That seem to come my way.
Payin' dues is a hard life.
Give a little more to the people who have made you.
What you are today.
Invisible swords and ropes with rings
Invisible chords and strings
Just another puppet on a wire
I carry water in my hands
I run along miles of sand
We were making X's where you eyes were
There's a part of me
That blames you
There's a part of me
That knows you make me safe
There's a part of me
That hates you
For loving me that way
Another 100, 000 years of rope
Is tying us to the bedpost
Everybody learns to fly in circles
Why is this so obvious
To everyone around, but us
Everybody loves to watch a circus
There's a part of me
That blames you
There's a part of me
That knows you make me safe
There's a part of me
That hates you
For loving me that way
I'm gonna make a wish
To the giver of gifts
Please just let me go
Please just let me go
Please just let me go
Please just let me go
There's a part of me
That blames you
There's a part of me
That knows you make me safe
There's a part of me
That hates you
For loving me that way
There's a part of me
That blames you
There's a part of me
That knows you make me safe
There's a part of me
That hates you
For loving me that way
I pretend you sit in front of me.
I know this conversation well (well)
Back and forth between reality
And what I抳e come to believe is all I have
Words are just a form of emptiness
When there抯 no one there to hear (me)
I see the bottom of this empty glass
It抯 staring back and I can feel the pain
I see tomorrow in your eyes
I抦 learning to cry
I抣l take it in stride
I抦 learning to fly
I抦 learning to hold my head up high
This fascination with what might have been
Always seems to leave me cold
I抳e gone so far and now I抦 back again
The need to be (feel) alive is all I know
I see tomorrow in your eyes
I抦 learning to cry
I抣l take it in stride (after all these years)
I抦 learning to fly
I抦 learning to hold my head up high
I Will hold up my hands
When I don抰 think I can
There抯 a peace right outside
In the light
I抦 learning to cry
I抣l take it in stride (after all these years)
I抦 learning to fly
I抦 learning to hold my head up high
I抦 learning to cry
Don抰 keep it inside (learn to face my fears)
I抦 learning to try
I抦 learning to hold my head up high
I抦 learning
Once you told me that you? d be there? til the end of time
Now it seems you? ve got another thing on your mind
Every step I take seems to get you closer
Now you've finally crossed that line
Superficial game of mental hide and seek again
Taking chances with the ones you always called your friends
Trying hard to find piece of mind
Now time takes its toll again
Don? t think, you? ve left me stranded
I? ll be miles from where you found me
I only hope you feel my discontent
I can? t help but think that this is how it should have been
Making light of all this hell that I? ve been living in
Taking chances never was my best defense
But tell me how else can I win?
Expectations fall apart I? m on my own again
I? m seeing clearly for the first time in my life my friend
Your perception? s just a little out of touch
Now time, it helps you understand
Don? t think, you? ve left me stranded
I? ll be miles from where you found me
I only hope you feel my discontent
My discontent
My discontent, yeah
Superficial game of mental hide and seek again
Taking chances with the ones you always called your friends
Trying hard to find this peace of mind we started with
You never let me in
Now time takes its toll again
Don? t think you? ve left me stranded
I? ll be fine if time allows it
I always saw right through your best intent
Your best intent
Don? t think you? ve left me stranded
I? ll be miles from where you found me
I only hope you feel my discontent
My discontent
Well, I can see right through this veil
Thinly strewn across your face
Whisper something in my ear
I only need a trace
Well, I can only read your mind
When you look into my eyes
A little deeper and we'll find
What we've both been looking for
Why are you hiding
Behind all this silence?
I just need some time
If you would give me a chance I'd show you
If you would take me away I'd go with you
'Til the end of days when no one else
Listens to a word you say, well, I'll show you
Well, I can feel you by my side
Every time that you're away
The only way I can survive
It's just another day
I take a sigh of sweet relief
Well, s you walk into the room
Well, as you enter I'm complete
Gone tomorrow all too soon
A change in the season
Gives me a reason
To keep it alive
If you would give me a chance I'd show you
If you would take me away I'd go with you
'Til the end of days when no one else
Listens to a word you say, well, I'll show you
Well, I'll show you
If you give me some time
I'd make it all right around you
Give me a chance to open your hands
Well, if you would give me a chance I'd show you
If you would take me away I'd go with you
'Til the end of days when no one else
Listens to a word you say, well, I'll show you
If you would give me a chance I'd show you
If you would take me away I'd go with you
'Til the end of days when no one else
Listens to a word you say, well, I'll show you
Listens to a word you say, well, I'll show you
Seventeen nights and fourteen days
I spent time in a hollow cave on the lower east sideå?¼he lower east side
A long way back to your front door I stepped inside
And on the floor was a letterå? ust a letter
With my hands all wet I slowly bent
Had this twisted feeling inside my head
I didnæ?° tell herå? here I was going
I never quite remember why I do the things I do
When Iæ?¦ sick and tired å? or myself
Sheæ?¯ the kind to sneak inside and twist your mind
You want to take a bite
But then you spit it outå?¢ spit it out again
On a solitary chair she placed in the corner
If I gather up the strength and get a little bolder
Will I open up? Iæ?³e got to open up å?¼his letter
Chorus
Free me. Itæ?¯ not worth dying for. If I gave a little more would this be fine?
Tell me. What am I trying for?
Youæ?³e already slammed the door and left me behind.
After counting all the words I felt your pain
But I had to sit down and read it again
To let it sink in. Did it sink in å? t all?
Itæ?¯ hard to hold back this raging desire to light it all up
And sit by the fire and watch it burnå? ut now the tables turn
The only way back to the way it began
Is to take another look and try to understand
See it through your eyeså?¬ow I realize
Yeahå?¶eahå?¶eahå?¶eah
(Chorus)
Itæ?¯ been seventeen nights and fourteen days that Iæ?³e been alone
So I thought Iæ? write you a letter
Hiding in the grass I see what's left of a lost society.
Held fast in the grips of a worldwide monarchy.
With the film under their skin,
They're free to buy and trade and spend,
And everyone's entitled to the right to equal deadly sin.
(Chorus)
Arising is an unstoppable wave,
crushing those who won't behave.
Those who won't bend their knee
become a new age spirit slave.
Right is bad, the darkness reigns.
Everyone's on the spirit's plain.
No one doubts the afterworld no one dares to explain.
The leader is the new worlds' friend.
Death is on, they're all in.
Their souls are on the battlefield they don't know
they can抰 win.
(Chorus)
But those who heed with eyes up high
Can see the beauty in the sky.
Rejoice the time has come for your holy souls to fly.
Fly high away
Don't feel lonely now, I'm right beside you,
Well I get closer, but you push me away,
I've been back for you, I don't deny it
Something tells me that you want me to stay
Don't you see what I've become?
I've been to the edge, don't worry, don't scare me,
Rising above, this fear, that I carry
Scream at the top of my lungs, till you see me here
Well I feel confident, when I rely on,
What brought faith and love, not blindside,
Don't feel bad for me, Don't deny my love,
If you want me to, ya know I'll stay
Don't you see what I've become?
I've been to the edge, don't worry, don't scare me,
Rising above, this fear, that I carry
Scream at the top of my lungs, till you see me here
Been to the edge, Been to the edge,
I feel alive
I feel so much for you, I don't deny it,
But if you want me to, I'll walk away,
I've been to the edge, don't worry, don't scare me,
Rising above, this fear, that I carry