Anathema – A Natural Disaster

"A Natural Disaster" as written by and Daniel Cavanagh....
It's been a long cold winter without you
I've been crying on the inside over you
You just slipped through my fingers as life turned away
It's been a long cold winter since that day
It's hard to find, hard to find
Hard to find the strength now but I try
And I don't want to, I don't want to
I don't want to to speak now of what's gone by
'cause no matter what I say no matter what I do
I can't change what happened
No matter what I say, no matter what I do
I can't change what happened
You just slipped through my fingers
And I feel so ashamed
You just slipped through my fingers
And I've paid


Lyrics submitted by Earthsick84

"A Natural Disaster" as written by Daniel Cavanagh

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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A Natural Disaster song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +2
    General CommentAgreed - she sounds just great. She's also good on "Parisienne Moonlight" off Judgement, and sounds very good on the live dvd as well.

    I don't think, though, that it implies that the narrator screwed anything up in the relationship, or at least that there were no big-time screw-ups. Just a failure to keep the thing going (as in "You just slipped through my fingers").

    I don't agree, either, that it's a particularily depressing song after a break-up. On the contrary, I think it's a great song (and great album, and great band) to listen to after that. Much better sitting home singing along to stuff like this (and later headbanging and airguitaring to Meshuggah), than going out, getting drunk and into fights, or getting drunk and calling the ex up at five in the morning.
    Thorsteinnon April 05, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Commenti feel this song is about a longterm relationship that one party screwed up irreversibly. "its been a long cold winter since that day" that day being the day when it all went down.
    by the way this is an extremely depressing song if you just broke up with someone... i cry every time i hear the part "youve just slipped through my fingers" theres something about her voice that is so sorrowful. If ive ever had depressing thoughts about an ex lover it was during this song.
    ogretagon January 05, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI also think this song is about the death of someone because of the title of the song.

    A Natural Disaster; that's what death is.

    As horrid as it is, its a part of life.
    bing_bangon July 27, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThe title should be corrected to "Natural" not "Natual".


    And i think she says [you just slipped through my fingers and i've failed] and not [I have paid].
    Zee99on November 22, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song is about loss. The loss of someone very dear and very close. It could be a sad break-up or a tragic death.

    Personally, a dear friend of mine tragically and unexpectedly passed away at the young age of thirty recently and this song makes me think of her and my feelings toward her.

    She just slipped through my fingers and I'm crying on the inside but no matter what I do, no matter what I say I can't change what happened
    DirtyDogon February 12, 2019   Link
  • 0
    General CommentYou might well be right, however, my take on the song was that it's the same story as one Last Goodbye from Judgement - given that Leigh and Vince are siblings, I thought it seemed like they'd be singing a duet about the death of their father. You two could be right, but I've always felt Anathema albums to be too dark texturally to be about mere break-ups.

    And yes, headbanging to Meshuggah is one of the most rewarding, and difficult, challenges around. Maybe that's because I always try to follow the guitar and kick rhythms rather than the 4/4 Haake usually plays with his hands...
    gzazon April 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThe song is about a lot of things and then, nothing if you want to think about it that way.
    For me, her vocals do it all.

    There's a certain finality and acceptance, as well as a 'coming to terms with situations' feel to this song.
    You could say that it is negative in a way, because you're despaired of doing anything else.

    But to me, it is better than living in denial. There are certain facts, the acceptance of the inevitability of which, is unavoidable.
    celeste_blackeon October 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWell,why do should she feel ashamed?maybe she has done something wrong?maybe she cheated?
    I think that's the story.someone who cheated in a relationship
    MohsenHZon July 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWell,why do should she feel ashamed?maybe she has done something wrong?maybe she cheated?
    I think that's the story.someone who cheated in a relationship
    MohsenHZon July 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt's about a loved one passing away that you took the time you had with them for granted and in the end you wish you had just gone and seen them. We always assume that there will be a tomorrow. The shame comes from the fact that you more than likely didn't spend time with them for selfish reasons. The day that the person died, you were going to go visit them, but instead changed your mind and went somewhere else.
    satanaesinagogaon August 13, 2012   Link

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