Be Calm

Fun fact (pun slightly intended): Nate wrote this song in Portland, OR. He said he was visiting with his girlfriend (I think he said he was visiting her parents? But I could be mistaken.) and he walked past a homeless man singing the lines "be calm."

:]

This song brought me to tears. Sort of the opposite of its point, but yeah. I absolutely love it beyond words. He's just so intense when he sings "be calm" that I can't.

When someone tells you about what they are going through in their life the best way to respond is to not only give advice but to show them that you can relate by telling them about your similar experience and how you handled it. I think this is what "Fun." did in this song. The verses are his experience and the chorus is how he dealt with it. I love the way the lyrics and music fit so perfectly through every part of the song. With Nate Ruess the music often gives you more info of what was going through his mind then the lyrics.

"As I walk through the streets of my new city my back feeling much better, I suppose I've reclaimed the use of my imagination for better or for worse, I've yet to know" This is just a simple story of what was going through his head as he started out his day.

"but I always knew you'd be the one to understand me, I guess that's why it took so long to get things right. Suddenly I'm lost On my street On my block Oh why, Oh why Oh why haven't you been there for me?" As he walks along the street he begins to think deeply about his life. He starts wondering why things aren't going as he had expected he tries to move to the root of his problems and so doing becomes overwhelmed. He stops wondering where he is going or why he's going there. He continues to walk on and on as his mind races in circles with no answer in sight.

"Can't you see, I'm losing my mind this time? This time it's for real, I can see All the tree tops turning red The beggars near bodegas grin at me I think they want something" Then he opens his eyes. Stops walking around blindly and tries to figure out where in the world he is. Nothing is familiar. Nothing is right, the real world no longer makes sense because he's been living on the inside of his thoughts for so long.

"I close my eyes, I tell myself to breathe and be calm." When he comes to his breaking point he knows himself well enough to know how to handle it. He has obviously been in this situation before and knows what he needs to do. He has to stop. and Be Calm in order to cope with his thoughts.

"Be calm. I know you feel like you are breaking down. I know that it gets so hard sometimes. Be calm." Now he pauses his narration to tell the listener that he can relate.

I'm scared that everyone is out to get me. "These days before you speak to me you pause." "I always see you looking out your window." "After all, you lost your band, you left your mom." Now, he begins to think about the decisions he has made recently. He cannot figure out if he made the right choice. He has different aspects of his personality talking to him in his mind and making him second guess his decisions.

"Now every single crack, every penny that I pass, says I should either leave or pick it up But with every single buck I've made I'm saddled with bad luck that came" Now because his mind is telling him that he keeps messing up he can no longer make even the most inconsequential of decisions like picking up a penny off the sidewalk. He is finding that even though one part of his life might be going alright (his career) everything else is falling apart, in his head.

"the moment I was baptized or when I found out one day I'm gonna die if only I could find my people or my place in life a when they come a'carolin' so loud, so bright, the theremin will lead us to a chorus where we'll all rejoice and sing a song that goes: Oh be calm." His brain is continuing to over-complicate life. Once he begins to think about the issues of the world he cannot stop and as he becomes overwhelmed he begins to worry over the never ending question that has pushed the wisest of men to their limit "What happens when we die?". Then, through the muddle of thoughts crowding his mind, his sub-conscious pushes through with a small sliver of light that reminds him to be calm. That it will be alright.

"Be calm. I know you feel like you are breaking down. I know that it gets so hard sometimes, Be calm. Take it from me, I've been there a thousand times. You hate your pulse because it thinks you're still alive and everything's wrong It just gets so hard sometimes Be calm." Once again he relates his experiences to the listener. Telling them that it did work out in the end even if there was a time when at his lowest he no longer wanted to live.

"I don't remember much that night, Just walking, thinking fondly of you Thinking how the worst is yet to come" Here, he goes back to his narration of his walk that began in the morning with simple everyday thoughts. The day, because of his panic-attack has been a whirlwind of excitement (portrayed by the music) but now we are back to his narration of walking along the street. He has already resigned himself to the fact that his relationship will not last and is now just thinking about how he is and will continue toenjoy it as long as it lasts. The music in the section is really extraordinary because it shows how after his panic-attack even these loud harsh chords are calming when compared to his adrenaline rush. An example of this would be if you went into the lobby of a venue holding a Megadeth concert after being involved in a mosh pit. Your mind would be calm even with the intense music still blaring because when compared to what you just finished experiencing the lobby is an oasis of tranquility.

"When from that street corner came a song And I can't remember the man, The panhandler or his melody. The words exchanged had far exceeded any change I'd given thee." I'm not completely sure about this ending but I believe he is telling the listener where he got the advice that he was giving them. After Nate's long day walking he sees a street musician and drops him a bit of money. The man either said or (more likely) played something that touched Nate. That made him control his thoughts, and be calm.

"Oh be calm. Be calm. I know you feel like you are breaking down. I know that it gets so hard sometimes, Be calm." He really wants the listener to learn from his mistakes and handle similar situations by calming down and letting go.

Although there are no lyrics in this point of the song I believe the ending deserves an interpretation because it is so unique. The beauty is in the minor key that gives it a realistic, crushing ending. He is trying to say that this is not going to be the end of your struggles but you must always persevere on.

I love this song! I can't wait for the album! Here are some corrections:

"I've reclaimed the use of my imagination."(verse 1)

"Every single crack, every penny that I pass, says I should either leave or pick it up."(verse 2)

"You hate your pulse because he still thinks you're alive."(chorus)

"And I can't remember the man, the man who wrote this melody"(bridge)

just a correction:

"all the treetops turning red" (v1) as opposed to "the tops of trees are turning red".

i love nate. i'm diggin the music change when he says "i'm scared that everyone is out to get me"

<3

he is so clearly describing a panic attack, and then telling himself to calm down.

i like to describe Fun as "the format on anti-depressents". or perhaps, with therapy. he using coping skills to help him and he's found a new sense of happiness.

This is the song my brother and I listen to when we have panic attacks. It's nice to finally have a song that's telling us to 'Be Calm' when either of us are on the edge.

Personally, I think Nate is a song-writing genius. And with genius comes a little insanity, right? A few of his songs just sound like, "Who could even put these feelings into words, let alone songs?" Everyone feels like losing their minds at some point, and fun. really encompasses that in this song.

He's shouting"be calm" with such an excited voice, which made me cry and i really ....i don' t know how to describe this feeling, Nate gave me all i want in his songs. I am a foreigner and i'm not good at English, his songs not only help me with English, but also show me what is the right attitude towards life. I looooove him so much