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What Is Not But Could Be If Lyrics

What is not but could be if
what could appear in the morning mist
with all associated risk
what is not but could be if

What was not but could have been
was my obsession way back when
now I just remember this
what is not but could be if

what is not but could be if
we could be crossing
this abridged abyss into beginning

and failure's got you in its grasp
and you're reaching for your very last
It's just beginning

one has lived life carelessly
if he or she has failed to see
that the truth is not alive or dead
the truth is struggling to be said

so how do we get out of this?
family shadows all of this
through what is not but could be if
with all associated risk

what is not but could be if
we could be crossing
this abridged abyss into beginning

and failure's got you in its grasp
and you're reaching for your very last
It's just beginning
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Cover art for What Is Not But Could Be If lyrics by Silver Jews, The

Awesome song about the always continuing mysteries of "if" and "could be"m and how they rule our lives whether or not we want them to.

Cover art for What Is Not But Could Be If lyrics by Silver Jews, The

that the truth is not alive or dead the truth is struggling to be said.

Amen.

Cover art for What Is Not But Could Be If lyrics by Silver Jews, The

Amen.

"what is not, but could have been was my obsession way back when"

cocaine

Cover art for What Is Not But Could Be If lyrics by Silver Jews, The

– “The truth is not alive or dead / The truth is struggling to be said”,

from the Yiddish proverb,

“Der Emess lebt nit, der emess shtarbt nit. Der emess ,atert zich.” (The truth is not alive. The truth is not dead. It struggles.)

Cover art for What Is Not But Could Be If lyrics by Silver Jews, The

– “The truth is not alive or dead / The truth is struggling to be said”,

from the Yiddish proverb,

“Der Emess lebt nit, der emess shtarbt nit. Der emess ,atert zich.” (The truth is not alive. The truth is not dead. It struggles.)

Funny, that looks like German to me.

OT: anyone know what "police conversation, 1783" refers to in 'There is a Place'?

Cover art for What Is Not But Could Be If lyrics by Silver Jews, The

"what is not, but could have been was my obsession way back when"

cocaine ? er... I don't think so.

If only he were a rich rocker, he might have written: "What is not, but could have been Was my obsession: heroin..."

Good thing he did rhyme "in the way back" with "I was on crack": tmi.

Enough silliness. The only part of this song I don't like is when he pronounces "associated risk"... DC eat the "ated" in associated too much for my comfort. And now I'm nitpicking. Very good tune.

Cover art for What Is Not But Could Be If lyrics by Silver Jews, The

"so how do we get out of this? family shadows all of this through what is not but could be if with all associated risk"

Seems to be about the fear of the unknown. How do we get out of it? By carrying on unknowingly, "with all associated risk". Seems a positive message to me though, like he feels enlightened by this and he's revelling in it. That's why he keeps repeating himself.

Cover art for What Is Not But Could Be If lyrics by Silver Jews, The

"What was not but could have been was my obsession way back when now I just remember this what is not but could be if

what is not but could be if we could be crossing this abridged abyss into beginning

and failure's got you in its grasp and you're reaching for your very last vicious beginning"

i think this is talking about his previous drug use and overcoming it. that's what i got out of it at least. he could be crossing into a new "sober" life and he just remembers the times when he used to "be obsessed" and held in the grasp of drugs.

Cover art for What Is Not But Could Be If lyrics by Silver Jews, The

Maybe it is very obvious.

What was not, but could have been, was my obsession way back when. (he used to dwell on failures and make excuses)

What is not, but could be if (that is his new motto. If you want something, don't make excuses about it, focus on how it could be if you do something about it.)

Cover art for What Is Not But Could Be If lyrics by Silver Jews, The

"vicious beginning"

I believe it's "It's just beginning".

Great song.