Premise to interlude
Wait til all bones protrude
You're con-vexed, you're convert
There's a stain on your shirt
Semi-sweet, semicide
The remorse you can't hide
Now we molt past our skin
And make room to begin

Symmetry
You must work in symmetry
You must earn their empathy

Symmetry
You must work in symmetry
You must earn their empathy

Down down cities fall down on me

The final chrysalis
Self-controlled consciousness
Now it feels imminent
Done for your benefit
Eat right out of their hand
Its concaved all your glands
We're encouraged to forget
Preference to be force fed

Symmetry
You must work in symmetry
You must earn their empathy

Symmetry
You must work in symmetry
You must earn their empathy

Down down cities fall down on me

You must earn our empathy
You must earn our empathy
You must earn our empathy
You must earn our empathy


Lyrics submitted by xxzxcuzxyou

Empathy Lyrics as written by Ethan Kath Alice Glass

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Empathy song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    I actually agree with InfidelityWeTrust in some way. I can see how you got this from listening to this song.

    To me, personally, the song meaning is that we, as humans are similar to insects.

    For example: In the first verse of the song she says "wait till all bones protrude", when insects grow their bones change, grow push out. In that same verse she continues to say "now we molt past our skin" we are growing into a new skin like a Caterpillar grows into a Butterfly.

    The second verse she says "The final Chrysalis" A chrysalis is a cocoon, we are evolving. In the chorus she repeats "You must work in symmetry. You must earn their empathy" - Human life isnt that different from Ants, There are different species living on one planet, they work together but fight other colonies (Just like the war working together as people fighting another colony.)

    In the second verse again we hear this: "the final chrysalis self-controlled consciousness now it feels omminent done for your benefit eat right out of their hand its concaved all your glands we're encouraged to forget preference to be forcefed"

    when I read this I interpret, "In the final stage, when we believe we control our own brains.. It feels fantastic, perfect, done for you benefit, You follow everything I tell you to do, and you think its good for you, I encourage you to forget what we have done and prefer you to do what i say" this could be said by the "queen" a.k.a the government, like we have been brainwashed into thinking War is good as it will resolved out issues, everything we see in the media is good.

    When the chorus is saying. We are fighting to be repected by everyone, and to be in the 'popular' crowed. Cloning ourselves to be like someone else, we are working in symmetry, trying to earn their empathy.

    The only thing that stumps me is the part about cities falling down? Could this be War, literally cities falling down, Or could it mean something more deeper and more emotional.

    This is my personal view on what the meaning behind this song is. Everyone is entitled to their own whether it is about sex, Or a pre-apocalyptic world. Its up to you. Just enjoy the song.

    JustJosephhon February 16, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This album pales in comparison to the first in my opinion but there are definitely some excellent songs such as this one. I love the sound of this song, the lead synth part through most of the song sounds awesome.

    ShadowsxCollapseon May 01, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song really reminds me of a pre-apocalyptic world. a person living in a large city. she has a desk job. she doesn't know anybody. her life is monotonous. she tries to be exactly like her colleagues to gain their empathy. she is becoming thinner or maybe even anorexic. and then it comes to light that everyone is just trying to fit in with everyone else. a world full of clones that just exist. civilisation begins to collapse. only a few at the very top who control us benefit. not just the lyrics but the music also, gives me this impression.

    InfidelityWeTruston May 06, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    beginning is somewhat "you can't lose we turn on perfection because of fate, we can't win to dissipate in our skin they'll set us free, tear us down are you alone? you can't win now we've won cause our skin and they've proved to be kin"

    anausteregentlemanon April 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Fucking love this song. Amazing!

    zombiewakeupon April 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    my favourite off the new album!

    Devilbirdon April 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This album pales in comparison to the first in my opinion but there are definitely some excellent songs such as this one. I love the sound of this song, the lead synth part through most of the song sounds awesome.

    ShadowsxCollapseon May 01, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    now now guys, play nice

    i definitely get some dystopian themes here, very 1984-ish. "we're encouraged to forget / preference to be forcefed" etc.

    madeofchalkon July 24, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Alice said it was about remaining a chrysalis forever and something about lovers or something changing, idk the only thing i remember is it's about being a chrysalis

    FFAINTINGSPELLSSon April 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    I think it's about an eating disorder(s) and perfectionist personalities that usually follow

    fainthcon April 03, 2015   Link

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