Metric – Help, I'm Alive

General CommentI think this song has to do with performing. She's not jaded enough yet to be okay with showbiz criticism, she's alive and emotional, and she's afraid that if she stumbles or messes up, they'll "eat her alive". and i guess you could make it apply to other things, other than performing

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  @morij2

General CommentHah, this song always makes me thing she's being chased by zombies.

The first four lines is her running from zombies and heart beating like a hammer is them chasing after her cuz of her heartbeat.

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  @Figdbl
  0

  Dude same! It makes me think she's being chased by zombies too. Great minds think alike?

  Flag gengen319on May 11, 2009  

  +1

  No, you're just fucking stupid

  Flag mavericks8321on July 12, 2009  

  0

  Naaaah, it's totally about zombies. Because zombies are the shit.

  Flag SundriedSmileon August 19, 2009  

  0

  The first time i heard this song was in the begining of the show vampire diaries haha so i have it stuck in my head its vampires.

  Flag LaCritiqueon November 09, 2009  

  -5

  Even though this song clearly states the Zombie scenario early, unfortunately it doesn't go into the outbreak nearly enough to be interesting. By the end all i know is her heart won't stop beating like a hammer and i am always wishing the Zombies got her 3 minutes earlier.

  Flag tatenbwon February 09, 2010  

  +1

  Totally. I also first imagined a zombie attack scenario. Of course, I knew it was metaphorical, but I still sometimes imagine it that way =P

  Flag BellaZon May 20, 2012  

Song MeaningThis song, like many songs by Metric, by Emily Haines, is about fear. In fact, it's about the fear of fear. It could be drug induced (the lyrics share a close resemblance to typical panic attacks on drugs or hypochondriasis).

When people are afraid of fear, they tend to watch their pulse, a lot... Every increase is interpreted as a sign of a health condition. Because they know their fear is a bit hypochondric, they ask others to feel their pulse.

After a while the bravery comes in, which is the chorus. But because they keep thinking they get afraid again, and so on.

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  @Maccura

General CommentThe zombie interpretation is obviously the best interpretation.

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  @fishquawk

Song MeaningDudes. This is obviously a song about zombies.

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  @montmorency

General CommentThis song is about Emily Haine's nerves about moving to a new place-where she wrote Fantasies-and even though it sounds like a song about a post apocalypse world with zombies, it's not. It's about how it feels to live in a new place with new people and new faces. Fantasies is wonderfully basic for Metric.

"Take my pulse the pace is on a runaway train" means her heart is pounding because she's afraid. That's literal.

"If you're still alive" If you haven't died because of my absence.
"My regrets are few" then i don't regret doing this.
"If my life is mine" If this truly is MY life,
"What shouldn't I do?" Then why shouldn't i do what i want?
"I get wherever I'm going" I get wherever i want to go on my own without anyone's help.
"I get whatever I need" I get what i really need on my own.
"While my blood's still flowing" while I'm still alive--moving hasn't killed me.
"And My heart's still beating like a hammer" And my heart's still pounding because I'm nervous as hell.

I tremble
They're gonna eat me alive
If I stumble
They're gonna eat me alive

-- If I mess up, the people in this strange, new place, are going to socially eat me alive. And i'll be nothing here.

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  @LoveIsAPlace
  0

  No, its definitely about Zombies mate.

  Flag lulucfanon May 29, 2009  

  +1

  there becomes a point in life that you need to put everything on the line to see if you will be a success or a failure. This song is about that fear and drive that comes to you when you do this. It just isn't about moving but facing those fears of success or failure. Read My initial thought. You are right on. The musical changes also match the feelings you have when you are facing these challenges in life. Good evaluation.

  Flag farnhamassocon June 03, 2009  

My Interpretationi think this song could about preforming sober for the first time in a long time. i think the first verse is her saying how scared she is to preform sober.
i think the title is referring to her really feeling and being "alive" without drugs.

and perhaps the lines.

"If my life is mine
What shouldn't I do?
I get wherever I'm going
I get whatever I need
While my blood's still flowing
And my heart still beats.. "

are about drug use and how she's asking why does it matter if she does drugs because she's still living and breathing.

*shrugs*

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  @mumblecoreeee
  +1

  I think this song is more about the experience of feeling alive when your exposed from your personal safety net, whatever that might be to you.
  
  There is a freedom of taking risks, if only for the moment, and your body responds to that of your heart, metaphorically and literally.

  Flag CountingCoupon April 08, 2009  

  0

  I def agree with this interpretation bc when I heard it that's what I thought, too. I mean she's asking if the person is still alive. Like she's checking their pulse and status.

  Flag breinson August 15, 2009  

General CommentOh I'm mad for her gentle voice...

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  @shockdelica

General Commenti think this song is about a panic attack, at least thats how i interpret it.. in the chorus the lines say how she can get wherever shes going and whatever she needs, but she still feels like her heart wont stop beating

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  @pinacolada

Song MeaningThis song reminds me of the struggle of being with a controlling person, and then realizing you have a right to your own life and being alive. When you break out of one of these relationships it feels so amazing, but you know if you let that person in at all or slow down (or stumble) your break from them they will consume you and pull you right back to being a voiceless zombie (being eaten alive). I remember my anger towards him and trying to break it off without hurting him. It was "Hard to be soft, Tough to be tender" It the end my anger won out.

I remember waking up and listening to my ex-fiance and I was thinking " Hey I'm here! I have my own thoughts! There is someone in here" I felt so trapped and like I was in this prison, rattling the bars.

I remember the judgment I received from both him and family when I started to live my own life. Leaving him, I was a little reckless with my heart and health. None of it seemed to matter, because I was free and I was alive.

I remember my anger towards him and trying to break it off without hurting him. It was "Hard to be soft, Tough to be tender" It the end my anger won out.

I wish I had, had this song then. Because at the time I went from such a low caged feeling to such a high free feeling that it would have been nice to relate to someone.

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  @pixidelight