Carry Me Away

Background

Cypress Hill started to work on their eighth studio album in 2005 but finally entered the studio in 2008.

On October 2, 2008, Billboard published an article on which Sen Dog says the band had finished 30 songs for the album, among them, a collaboration with Mike Shinoda.

On December 17, 2008, Mike Shinoda posted on his blog a video about producing a new Cypress Hill song where he also talked about how he first heard of the group: "Back in 1991, I saw Cypress Hill’s “How I Could Just Kill A Man” on YO! MTV Raps, and was instantly hooked. I asked for the CD for Xmas, but my mom saw the song titles (“Pigs,” “Hole In The Head,” “Light Another”) and decided that I shouldn’t be listening to lyrics like those."

About the song, he said: "I didn't do a verse on it, just music / production. It's a slightly darker, laid-back track, but has a great vibe. I wanted to get back to the mood from their first three albums, without trying to sound like Muggs (not that I could, that dude has made some classics). I made a track from guitar, bass, mellotron, and drums (and even played a little harmonica) to give it a vintage sound, then sampled my own performance. It sounds like I sampled it off of vinyl, but it's actually all original music. Pretty fun."

Another Billboard article from February 27, 2009, revealed the album was on mixing stage.

On December 09, 2009, Mike was questioned during a LP Underground chat about his recent collaborations. He said: "Collabos - I just did a song for Cypress Hill that might end up on their new album, coming soon. I sang on it and did the beat (no rapping!)"

On April 7, 2010, Mike Shinoda was questioned during a LP Underground chat about a leaked Cypress Hill song called "Carry Me Away" for which he was credited. He said: "Oh yeah, so that song is real. I worked on it with them a long time ago. It was one of the first songs done for the album."

Later that same day, he made a post on his personal blog about the track: "Some of you have started hearing the leak of my new track with Cypress Hill, “Carry Me Away.” Lots of good reviews, which is always nice. I met the guys sometime around the year they joined us for the Projekt Revolution Tour. I’ve been a fan of Cypress since their first album (which I had to sneak out to buy because my mom wouldn’t let me listen to songs with titles like “How I Could Just Kill A Man,” “Pigs,” and “Hole In The Head.” For our collaboration, I sang the chorus and produced the music (no samples–all original instruments, BTW), and they did the verses. Look for more updates about the song and their album here: http://cypresshill.com"

Originally scheduled to be released on March 23, 2010 (exactly six years since the release of their last album), Rise Up was postponed to April 6, then again to April 20, 2010.

Versions

Note: Only the date of the very first release of each version is listed.

Title	Album	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Carry Me Away	Rise Up	4:07	2008	April 13, 2010	Features vocals by Mike Shinoda.
Carry Me Away	Rise Up (Clean)	4:07	2008	April 13, 2010	Censored.

Personnel

• Vocals, Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Mike Shinoda
• Louis Freese (B-Real) – vocals, Executive Producer
• Senen Reyes (Sen Dog) – vocals
• Eric Correa (Eric Bobo) – drums
• Scratches [Additional] – Julio G
• Scratches [Additional], Programmed By [Additional Programming] – Jay Turner

Production (Album)

• Lawrence Muggerud (DJ Muggs) – executive producer
• Recorded By – Jay Turner
• Mastered By – Brian "Big Bass" Gardner

Lyrics

Album Version

I was an outcast, outsider. / Trouble maker;
A lost soul! / Outta control in danger.
Didn't have a care in the world, my feelings were numb
Never showing emotion, it's easy for some.
I don't know how it happened? How I got to this point?
But I needed a way out; I was stuck in a ploy.
I needed another path or I'd self destruct
I was down on my luck; my head was so fucked!
A menace runnin' the streets is what I was
Holdin' my heat and rollin' with the serious thugs
You couldn't tell me a thing, I was like my brother,
Words went in one ear and out the other.
Slangin' and bangin' / with a chip on my shoulder.
"An insane, hit the brain! " Certified street soldier!
So close to the grave, (Oh!)
You at an early age, can't tell you the price I've paid!

Oh, the sky overhead, it's like - a canvas of grey.
I don't know how much time I'll be given to stay.
From the first spring of light, 'til the end of the day
I'm just livin' my life, 'til they come carry me away!

I've been there in LA nights in the block where I came up
My pops used to hate when we hanged with them bangers.
Guess he knew one day that we'll become us
That's just how it is when you live where we come from.
"Fight, don't run! " is the motto we live by
Get 'em on the ground and stomp a mind about ten times!
Sure, we was just kids back then
I had no remorse for what we did back then.
Six of us, one call, we'd all pack in
Hit the strip, and go and get the shit crack in!
Gun wars, and drug deals, I seen 'em happen.
When I started losin' homeboys, I wasn't laughin'!
I looked all around and seen none of 'em there!
That's when I figured out - that nobody cared!
If we lived or die, we'll just get high and ride (Oh!)
And I wasn't gonna let this happen one more time!

Oh, the sky overhead, it's like - a canvas of grey.
I don't know how much time I'll be given to stay.
From the first spring of light, 'til the end of the day
I'm just livin' my life, 'til they come carry me away!

My mother would stand for me every step of the way
She didn't judge me! She told me I'd win some day!
When I was at my lowest, when I had no focus
She pulled me out the gutter, said I wasn't hopeless
Every night she prayed for me I was out on the street
Chillin' on the corner with the hand on my heat!
Eyes open wide for the pigs and foes
It's an every day hazard when you hustle for dough!
So many nights I didn't come home, she thought the worst
Maybe somebody shot me down without any remorse.
Maybe I hurt somebody and I was stuck in a cell
Well I regret all those time that I put her through hell!
When I reflect back on those days, my heart aches
And everybody I lost or let down, I wish I could take it
All back and make it better but I can't, so I try to make amends
And be there, through thick and thin!

Oh, the sky overhead, it's like - a canvas of grey.
I don't know how much time I'll be given to stay.
From the first spring of light, 'til the end of the day
I'm just livin' my life, 'til they come carry me away!

Come carry me away!
Come carry me away!
Come carry me away!
Come carry me away!

Gallery

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