Staind “It’s Been Awhile” released

It’s Been Awhile Staind

Writer(s): Aaron Lewis, Mike Mushok, Johnny April, Jon Wysocki (see lyrics here) Released: March 27, 2001 First Charted: April 7, 2001 Peak: 5 BB, 4 RR, 6 A40, 9 AA, 120 AR, 116 MR, 15 UK, 4 CN, 24 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, 0.4 UK, 0.97 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 0.83 radio, 347.11 video, 501.71 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Staind formed in 1995 in Springfield, Massachusetts. The original lineup consisted of Aaron Lewis (vocals, rhythm guiar), Mike Mushok (guitar), Johnny April (bass), and Jon Wysocki (drums). They released their debut album, Tormented, in 1996. That album failed to chart, but the follow-up, Dysfunction, reached #74 and went double platinum. The band’s pinnacle of commercial success came with their third album, 2001’s Break the Cycle. The album reached #1, was certified for sales of five million, and generated five hits on the mainstream and alternative rock charts. The album’s lead single, “It’s Been Awhile,” gave the band its first taste of pop success, reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a monster on the mainstream and alternative rock charts, spending 20 and 16 weeks at #1 respectively. The group’s sound “fit the post-grunge motif of bands like Linkin Park and Papa Roach, but was more mellow, giving the lyrics a more visceral feel.” SF As their most successful hit, “It’s Been Awhile” became a celebrated song in the post-grunge and nu-metal movements. The song ranks in the top 5 of the Dave’s Music Database lists of both genres. Billboard’s Eric Aiese praised the band for handling the ballad well, saing they pack ‘a lot of punch into the cut.” WK Aaron Lewis wrote the song prior to the release of Dysfunction and performed it with a short-lived, acoustic side project called J-Cat. WK in the song, the narrator is “beating himself up because he lost the one woman who could cure his addictions, temper his nerves, and get him on his feet. He sees himself repeating the same self-destructive cycle over and over, and now realizes it’s been awhile since he was whole.” SF Resources: SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 1/27/2026.