The Fear

This is one of my favourite songs at the moment. It's beautifully written and performed. I do however have a different opinion of it's meaning to those already suggested, and i'm pretty certain this is the intended interpretation:

I think the song deals with the uncertainty of life and is about reaching our own "divine purpose." It seems that the narrator/singer is worried that he will go through life and have nothing to show for it, thus dying without having achieved anything. It also suggests that this fear of not becoming somebody, or amounting to anything can ultimately consume and depress us.

There is lot of imagery which suggests being insignificant, irrelevant or unimportant in the course of life and in relation to the enormity of the world:

"JUST a blade in the grass, spoke unto the wheel JUST a grain in the morning air, dark shadow on the hill"

He indicates uncertainty of direction and lifestyle choice:

"I been worryin' that my time is a little unclear"

This lack of direction or quest to success can distract us and alienate us from those we love:

"I been worryin' that I'm losing the one's I hold dear All this apathy you feel, will make a fool of us all"

And ultimately, this fear will consume us:

"I been worryin' that we all live our lives in the confines of fear"

He then suggests that really we can only amount to what we have earnt; we are responsible for our own decisions and that to an extent, we have some control of our aspirations and future if we have the right approach:

"I will become what i deserve"

I think this is what Ben was thinking when he wrote it and I intepret it this way because I have often wondered myself about my purpose and weather I will achieve/have achieved a fulfilled life. But really the idea is that if you can find happiness and self righteousness in your own heart, then that is an achievement of lifetime in itself.

Hopefully this sheds some light on the song, baring in mind this is just another opinion! I also think MayaMoo's comment is a more accurate copy of the lyrics. By the way, his album "every kingdom ep" is absolutely amazing and full of songs equally as wonderful as "the fear" so you should go and buy it! Really can't wait to see him on his UK tour too!

My, my cold hearted child, tell me how you feel Just a blade in the grass, spoke unto the wheel My, my cold hearted child, tell me where it's all gone All the luster of your bones, those arms that held you strong

I've been worrying that my time is a little unclear I've been worrying that I'm losing the ones I hold dear I've been worrying that we all, live our lives In the confines of fear

My, my cold hearted child, tell me how you feel Just a grain in the morning air, dark shadow on the hill My, my cold hearted child, tell me where it all falls All this apathy you feel will make a fool of us all

I've been worrying that my time is a little unclear I've been worrying that I'm losing the ones I hold dear I've been worrying that we all live our lives In the confines of fear

Oh, I will become what I deserve Oh, I will become what I deserve Oh, I will become what I deserve Oh, I will become what I deserve

I've been worrying I've been worrying I will become what I deserve I've been worrying My time is a little unclear I will become what I deserve

I've been worrying, I've been worrying That my time is a little unclear I've been worrying, I've been worrying That I'm losing the ones I hold dear I've been worrying, I've been worrying That we all live our lives In the confines of fear

I feel like this song is about letting your fears hold you back and hating yourself for it juxtaposed against the knowledge of what you have the potential to become, and living on edge, unable to achieve happiness until those confines of fear are broken.

I think this song is about a man who is in a relationship and feels that he and his partner are drifting apart and that he close to losing the ones he holds dear (wife, kids, family etc.).

He feels like he's a spare part around her and that he doesn't know why he is still around... that's why his time is a little unlclear.

Inevitably, he want to leave but is living in the confines of fear, the unknown, life without the ones that he loves (or used to love).

My interpretation and absolutely relevant to my life right now because - 'I will become what I deserve'.

With only 650,000 hours on average to live my life, all I want to be is happy - what would you do without the confines of fear?

I don't think this song is about a love-relationship.

I like fredsk877's interpretation but when I heard the song I thought it would express something different.

Isn't it possible he meant:

"I've been worryin' that we all live our lives in the confines of fear" completely different? It also could mean he is afraid that some day nobody will be able to feel or articulate fear. That we all will be "cold hearted" as the child which is well used as a synonym for all people.
"this apathy" describes the only "feeling" we will show. So we will not only lose ourselves but also "the ones I hold dear".

Besides I think the last refrain is very important for the meaning of this song:

"I've been worrying, my time is a little unclear I've been worrying, I'm losing the ones I hold dear I've been worrying, we all live our lives in the confines of fear"

He shows it really happened. And with the paradox we aren't up to feel fear but the Narrator's fear came true.

(Sorry for my bad English, I hope somebody will understand what I mean.)

i think this song's about a break-up. The guy has broken up with his girlfriend out of fear- he starts thinking too much about what was happening and he has scared himself out of the relationship. he regrets doing what he did to the girl and considers how she must feel. upon reflection he realises how he hurt her and declares that 'he will become what he deserves' for what he did to her....

maybe not....i dunno this is what i get ?!?!??!!?

"We all live our lives in the confines of fear"

This line is so true; too many people don't succeed in life due to fear and being afraid to do certain things, which could potentially be brilliant.

I think this song's message is about not letting unrealistic or unreasonable fears set off your body's flight or flight response and acknowledging that the body's response to these types of fears are a conditions of the human mind, the ego. We need to recognize the point at which a reasonable fear becomes unreasonable and where our reactions become excessive and show face in the form of many forms... unease, anxiety, nervousness, tension , dread, phobia... etc.

Be kind to yourself :)

Fantastic song. The meaning I think it's pretty explicit..

"I've been worrying that were all living our lives in the confines of fear"

Fear to leave your job and start a venture. Fear to leave a relationship that's not right. Fear to follow your dream.

But Ben speaks of a desire and drive to reach our full potential:

"I will become what I deserve"

The beauty of this song is it speaks plainly, and is written with a driving tempo that leaves the listener with a sense of determination. Couldn't be performed any other way.

Howard highlights the fact when we discover how small and insignifant we actually are that we become cold and apathetic. This can makes us feel as if we have no real purpose and we give up. We then shelter ourselves in our fears like herd animals living in a crowd with our sole purpose to avoid risk until we eventually die, one by one.

Howard challenges this infectious thought by reminding us that we "become what we deserve". Here he calls out to challenge us to step out and take some risk in life. . . Despite our fears. If we die a purposeless empty life its because we deserve it. With "that" as our possible ends, we really have much less to lose than we think. He bekons us to go beyond the herd-think, or to simply stay cold and apathetic.