Imaginary

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General information

Written by: A. Lee, B. Moody and D. Hodges

This song lasts about the entire span of Evanescence's recording history. Originally released on the original Evanescence EP in 1998, "Imaginary" has evolved through 7 different versions. Amy Lee wrote the song and it apparently refers to her old room. The song is interpreted as finding a place to escape personal troubles and the outside world.

Amy has stated during an MTV interview in December 2003 that she would like "Imaginary" to be the fourth single from Fallen. However, "Everybody's Fool" was released. "Imaginary" had actually been released as an airplay single in Spain in 2004. The song debuted and peaked at #17 on the charts. The video was a clip from Live in Cologne.

"Imaginary" was played during Evanescence's Fallen and The Open Door Tours. It was played at Evanescence's secret New York gig on November 4, 2009, and was later added to the setlist of the Evanescence Tour in 2011 and 2012.

Versions

Studio versions:

Imaginary [Fallen version]

• Recording date: August - November 2002
• Status: Released
• Released on:

Fallen (track #7)

"Imaginary" promotional single

• Length: 4:17

Imaginary [Mystary version]

• Recording date: August - November 2002
• Status: Released
• Released on: Mystary EP (track #5)
• Length: 4:18

Imaginary [Fallen pre-master]

• Recording date: August - November 2002
• Status: Unreleased
• Length: 5:09

Imaginary [Origin version]

• Recording date: 1999
• Status: Released
• Released on: Origin (track #3)
• Length: 3:32

Imaginary [Evanescence EP version]

• Recording date: 1998
• Status: Released
• Released on: Evanescence EP (track #3)
• Length: 4:01

Imaginary [Demo version #1]

• Recording date: 2001–2002
• Status: Unreleased
• Length: 3:18

Imaginary [Demo version #2]

• Recording date: 2001–2002
• Status: Unreleased
• Length: 3:27

Live versions:

Imaginary [Live]

• Performing period: 2000 – August 14, 2004
• Status: Released
• Recording date: May 25, 2004
• Released on: Anywhere but Home (track #12)
• Length: 5:25

Imaginary [Live Evanescence EP version]

• Performing period: May 7, 1999
• Status: Unreleased
• Example: Concert at Vino's Bar in Little Rock, Arkansas

Imaginary [Live 2006–2012]

• Performing period: October 5, 2006 – December 8, 2007; November 4 and November 8, 2009; August 17, 2011 – November 9, 2012
• Status: Unreleased
• Examples: Izod Center, New Jersey (December 4, 2007); Pepsi On Stage, Porto Alegre, Brazil (October 4, 2012)

Imaginary [Origin lyrics 2012]

• Performing period: October 7 and October 11, 2012
• Status: Unreleased
• Example: Chevrolet Hall, Recife, Brazil (October 11, 2012)

Imaginary [Acoustic]

• Performing date: January 13, 2003
• Status: Unreleased
• Length: approximately 3:55

Download

• Imaginary (Evanescence EP)
• Imaginary (Origin)
• Imaginary (Mystary EP)
• Imaginary (Demos and Fallen Pre-Master)

Lyrics

Fallen, Mystary and Fallen pre-master versions

Aaah... Paper flowers
Aaah... Paper flowers

I linger in the doorway
Of alarm clock screaming monsters calling my name
Let me stay
Where the wind will whisper to me
Where the raindrops as they're falling tell a story

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby [paper flowers]
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me [paper flowers]

Don't say I'm out of touch
With this rampant chaos, your reality
I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge
The nightmare I built my own world to escape

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby [paper flowers]
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me [paper flowers]

Swallowed up in the sound of my screaming
Cannot cease for the fear of silent nights
Oh, how I long for the deep sleep dreaming
The goddess of imaginary light

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby [paper flowers]
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me [paper flowers]

Aaah... Paper flowers
Aaah... Paper flowers

Origin version

Swallowed up in the sound of my screaming
Cannot cease for the fear of silent nights
Oh, how I long for the deep sleep dreaming
The goddess of imaginary light

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby [paper flowers]
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me [paper flowers]

I linger in the doorway
Of alarm clock screaming monsters calling my name
Let me stay
Where the wind will whisper to me
Where the raindrops as they're falling tell a story

If you need to leave the world you live in
Lay your head down and stay a while [paper flowers]
Though you may not remember dreaming
Something waits for you to breathe again [paper flowers]

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby [paper flowers]
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me [paper flowers]

EP version

Swallowed up in the sound of my screaming
Cannot cease for the fear of silent nights
Oh, how I long for the deep sleep dreaming
The goddess of imaginary light

In my field of paper flowers
And candy cloulds of lullabies [flowers]
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me [flowers]

I linger in the doorway
Of alarm clocks screaming monsters calling my name
Let me stay
Where the wind will whisper to me
Where the raindrops as they're falling tell a story

If you need to leave the world you live in
Lay your head down and stay a while [flowers]
Though you may not remember dreaming
Something waits for you to breathe again [flowers]

Demo version #1

Aaah... Paper flowers
Aaah... Paper flowers

I linger in the doorway
Of alarm clock screaming monsters calling my name
Let me stay
Where the wind will whisper to me
Where the raindrops as they're falling tell a story

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby [paper flowers]
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me [paper flowers]

Don't say I'm out of touch
With this rampant chaos, your reality
I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge
The nightmare I built my own world to escape

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby [paper flowers]
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me [paper flowers]

You can lead the world you live in 'cause inside
You may not remember
But something waits for you to breathe again

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby [paper flowers]
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me [paper flowers]

Demo version #2

I linger in the doorway
Of alarm clock screaming monsters calling my name
Let me stay
Where the wind will whisper to me
Where the raindrops as they’re falling tell a story

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby [paper flowers]
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me [paper flowers]

Don't say I'm out of touch
With this rampant chaos, your reality
I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge
The nightmare I built my own world to escape

If you need to leave the world you live in
Lay your head down and stay a while [paper flowers]
Though you may not remember dreaming
Something waits for you to breathe again [paper flowers]

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby [paper flowers]
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me [paper flowers]

Acoustic version

Aaah... Paper flowers

I linger in the doorway
Of alarm clock screaming monsters calling my name
Let me stay
Where the wind will whisper to me
Where the raindrops as they're falling tell a story

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me

Don't say I'm out of touch
With this rampant chaos, your reality
I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge
The nightmare I built my own world to escape

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me

Swallowed up in the sound of my screaming
Cannot cease for the fear of silent nights
Oh, how I long for the deep sleep dreaming
The goddess of imaginary light

If you need to leave the world you live in
Lay your head down and stay a while
Though you may not remember dreaming
Something waits for you to breathe again

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me

Spanish radio single

"Imaginary" was released in Spain as a very limited edition radio promo single, under the Sony label, in October 2004.

It features an one-track CD inserted in a black cardsleeve with a cover image that belongs to the same photoshoot of "Everybody's Fool single". It is the rarest non-WUJC single ever released by the band and, for sure, the most valuable one. Online auctions usually reach more than $250 and very few copies have been seen in the past years. Most of them are still in near-mint condition due to the fact they have been stocked all along within Spanish radio stations warehouses.

Imaginary [Live in Cologne (in 2003)] was shown on Spanish Music TV at the same time as "Imaginary" had airplay in Spain.

Promo single

Status: Out of Print
Label: Sony BMG
Cat.no: 281003

Around 50-100 of these discs exist. Sightings are very rare. Catalog No. 281003.

1. Imaginary [Album version] (4:16)

• 
  Front cover
• 
  Back cover
• 
  Disc

Guitar tabs & sheet music

• Piano sheet music (Origin version) - arranged by Kyle Marcolini
• Piano sheet music with guitar tabs
• Piano sheet music - transcribed by Devin Eastman midi file
• Demo intro piano sheet music - arranged by Michael McWilliams