Dying Youth

How does anyone get this to be about a couple or a relationship? You clearly haven't followed these guys from their very early days. Jesse's lyrics are much enigmatic than that—but out of all of their songs, Dying Youth is perhaps the most self-explanatory.

Like the title suggests, the song is about getting older and realising that you're slowly losing hold of something precious, something you'll never get back: your youth. It's about self-reflection, reflecting over life and acknowledging that you, too, will cease to exist some day ('older and aware of a hidden universe').

"I can't let you go, slow down, don't leave." The chorus is directed at youth. Here, youth is subjectified. He's not ready to let go of those joyful days, yet he's come to the realisation that ultimately everyone's powerless against time;

"Those who are looking backwards chose to live as statues". So the only thing we can do is to not wail over our lost days and not get stuck in past mistakes (hence the 'live as statues') but to forgive ourselves, move forward and acknowledge that life will end for everyone, we'll just have to pray "to be inspired" and at the least pray to stay young at mind.

The lyrics above are incorrect. Here are the correct lyrics straight out of the album booklet:

Deep under the surface I keep the love Older and aware of a hidden universe I've prayed to be young, and prayed to be inspired The words of your tongue blister like fire

[Chorus:] I can't let you go, slow down Don't leave Dying days of my youth Overtake me

There is a glimpse of death in your eyes I am not prepared to let out those cries I've prayed to stay young, but soon will be expired So lost in denial

[Chorus]

Breach in her womb, sheltered from strife Bearing the gifts, and burdens of life I've prayed to stay young, but soon will be expired An age of innocence, long since gone

[Chorus]

Those who are looking backwards Chose to live as statues Frozen, fractured, youthful laughter, fades

[Chorus x2]

I don't see this theme the same way that you do, kjb. Yours sounds like it just about hits the nail on the head, but what I get from this amazing song is this:

The person cannot let go of his past, and he doesn't wish to forget those things, hence the "slow down, don't leave."

"The days of innocence long since gone" shows that he misses those days, and he wants to keep those memories of innocence.

"Those who Are looking backwards Chose to Live as statues Frozen fractured Youthful laughter Fades"

The sick reality here is that there are people who cannot let go of their past, and they eventually become so fixated on it that they're are like "statues" since they cannot stop looking to their past. However, eventually everything does fade.

This is just what I've interpreted, however, and your interpretation also seems as though it could be right!

Only way to find out exactly what it means is to talk to the band! ;)

I think the cover art is from this song. It's about wanting to be young and innocent like you used to be, but of course you can't go back. Someone is struggling with a relationship because they long for the past.

I think it is about coming to the end of your time, and looking back on life wishing that you were young again.

I'm guessing this is about having a child and immediately growing up from the experience. It is a difficult thing to do and requires much from one who is not completely ready. Having children of your own destroys the innocence of youthfulness. One must grow up, despite their wishes to not.

It's about nostalgia. I'm sure all people miss their youth where there were no responsibilities and everything was easier.

I agree with Dr J. I think he nailed it down right there.

I think this is simply about loss of innocence.

Great song though. Easily one of my favorites of theirs.

I don't know why but I think this is about a boy who wishes he had never been born but at the same time wishes that he could just return to being a kid because he never really had a childhood. I can sort of relate to this. plus the line about looking backwards, choosing to live as statues makes me think that you're dwelling so much on what could have been that you're not getting anywhere, not moving forward [running in place]<- not intentionally added, by the way.

sad and powerful song; definitely one of my favorites.