David Cook – Permanent

General CommentThe first verse & chorus are from Adam's point of view & the second verse is from David's point of view.

Is this the moment where I look you in the eye? - Adam facing the possibility of his own death

Forgive my broken promise that you�ll never see me cry
And everything, it will surely change even if I tell you I won�t go away today
Will you think that you�re all alone
When no one�s there to hold your hand?
And all you know seems so far away and everything is temporary rest your head
I�m permanent ---- Adam is the oldest brother (David's the middle one & Andrew is younger) so he's trying to be strong for his younger brothers

I know he's living in hell every single day
And so I ask oh God is there some way for me to take his place
And when they say it�s all touch and go I wish I could make it go away ----Now David's talking, pretty self-explainitory...

But still you say----The key phrase in the whole song IMHO because it proves that Adam was the one talking in the first verse/chorus

Will you think that you�re all alone when no one�s there to hold your hand?
When all you know seems so far away and everything is temporary, rest your head
I�m permanent
I�m permanent

Is this the moment where I look you in the eye?
Forgive my promise that you�ll never see me cry

& I am POSITIVE it's I'm -all- the way through the song.

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  @cookiefan324
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  I agree, and with the "Is this the moment where I look you in the eye" is refering to death, like a story, he is actually saying "Is this the moment where I look Death in the eye"

  Flag chubbynubz1on December 31, 2013  

General CommentThis is a really good song. I've only heard a few from his new album so far, but of all of the ones I have heard, this one seems the most...personal. I'd love to knowo which songs he had the most influence in when they were written. It seems to me that he wrote the majority of this one because of the topic. I think this song references his brother's battle with cancer. He's telling his brother that even though his condition may be changing and he can be "ok" one day and "poor" the next, he will remain permanent and always be there for him. This is such a beautiful song...here's my interpretation of the lyrics:

Is this the moment where I look you in the eye? - Could possibly be a reference to the thoug that it may be his brother's (Adam I think is his name) final moments

Forgive my broken promise that you’ll never see me cry - Even though he promised he'd never cry, he'd always be strong, he can't help but cry now

And everything, it will surely change even if I tell you I won’t go away today - No matter what he does, he can't stop his brother's cancer from progressing, even if he stays by his side

Will you think that you’re all alone
When no one’s there to hold your hand? - Self-explanatory, he fears his brother thinks he's all alone in his battle with cancer

And all you know seems so far away and everything is temporary rest your head
I’m permanent - His life before cancer may seem so far away because he's been battling for so long, but he should just rest because no matter what, David is permanent, he will always be there for him

I know he’s living in hell every single day - He knows his brother has to deal with a living hell of pain every day

And so I ask oh god is there some way for me to take his place - As most loved ones do when someone they love is dealing with a lot of pain, he pleads with God to let him take Adam's place

And when they say it’s all touch and go I wish I could make it go away - When the doctors say it's all "touch and go" and they don't know what his condition will be like day to day, David wishes he could do something, anything, to just make it go away

But still you say
Will you think that you’re all alone when no one’s there to hold your hand?
When all you know seems so far away and everything is temporary, rest your head
I’m permanent
I’m permanent - repeat of everything said earlier

Is this the moment where I look you in the eye?
Forgive my promise that you’ll never see me cry -repeat of everything said earlier

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  @xXRavenxTressesXx
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  I always thought that "will you think that your all alone, when no ones there to hold your hand?" meant that Adam will always be with David, not physically, but mentally, in his heart, in his memories.

  Flag chubbynubz1on December 31, 2013  

General Commentfantastic song and yes it has to do with his brother adam. :(
david is an amazing artist who has portrayed his feelings fantastically

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  @milz

General CommentDamn, this song. It's beautiful, so emotional. Nearly cried when I first heard it and truly listened to the lyrics. Man, it's obvious the song is about someone dying. The lyrics are just so real I guess, the way the song ends with Is this the moment where I look you in the eye? Forgive my promise that you’ll never see me cry' it was just whoa. The song just ends there and it';s part of why it really is so emotional, it makes one hell of an impact. Truly a favorite on his self titled besides Life on the Moon.'

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  @Evanescence+MCRLuvr

General Commentthis song is great. he wrote it for his brother, adam, i'm pretty sure.

it's probably talking about how he's afraid for adam. you can see that when he says "forgive my broken promise that you'll never see me cry." that also could lead people to belive its about how he's trying to stay strong in front of his brother. also he doesn't want adam to think he's going to give up hope for him or that he'll leave him- "I'm permanent", hence the song title. finally it could be about how he want's it all to be over and want's his brother to stop suffering- "i know he's living in hell every single day..."

in my opinion its probably all three of those and more. but yea, it's about his brother obviously.

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  @musicismyboyfriend33

General CommentI think the first post is a pretty good interpretation. However, you may want to consider that in the second chorous the words change from "I'm" permanent to "You're" permanent. Kind of changes the song, huh? Might be nice if people actually listen to a song before posting the lyrics. I know it's onnly one word, but it totally changes the dynamic of what is being sung about. Good luck posting future lyrics.

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  @comspeccic
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  I don't think it necesarily cancels out the other interpretations of the song.
  
  this song was written for/ about his brother adam (has cancer) David sang it on American Idol, and got really emotional. I'm pretty sure his brother passed away.
  
  My grandpa died of cancer- and I agree fully with everyone. The change from "i'm permanent," to "you're permanent" could be a reference to what happens after someone dies from cancer. For a long time the only real thing is them sick. You feel that you have to be strong for them when they can't. With the change from David singing about himself, to his brother (you're) it could be a reference to the fact that no matter what happens the influence that he has had on David's life will never be forgotten, and that Adam comforted him- not the other way around.

  Flag kirstismiles13on July 23, 2010  

My OpinionThis song, is probably one of the most beautiful songs, i've ever heard. It never ceases to bring me to tears everytime I hear it. and the high notes give me chills. This really is an all out amazing song. and David Cook singing it just makes it all the better.

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  @ZebuCow

General CommentI've listened to it and I always here "I'm" not "your". Plus the official lyrics on David Cook's site also never lists a "your".

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  @fluffybundles

General Commentit sounds almost like a conversation between david and his brother, and his brother is worried, not for himself, but for david, because he won't be there to support his baby brother like he always has been. so he's reassuring david that he'll always be there, in spirit if not in person. and then it switches to david, who sees the suffering his brother goes through and wishes he could make it go away or even switch places with him, but his brother is still saying that no matter what happens, it'll be okay. david isn't at peace with things but his brother is, and david was so moved and inspired he wrote a song.

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  @freeasabird16

General CommentSomething real quick to add on to my other comment: the lyrics to this song kind of match up and expand on his lyrics to the song AC that he wrote. The lyrics for that song are on this site as well.

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  @xXRavenxTressesXx
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  Something you might want to consider. The correct lyrics on the second round of the chorous are "you're" permanent, not I'm permanent. Kinda changes things, huh? Sometimes, I wish people would really pay attention. It's only one word, but it does change the entire outlook on the song.

  Flag comspeccicon December 31, 2008  

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  There is no "You're" in the 2nd. It is "I'm" the entire song. Sometimes, I wish people would really pay attention.

  Flag Chisoxfan311on July 04, 2011