Out of Mana

Out of Mana means out of "power," often in a supernatural sense. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mana

I think this song is what this whole album is about. Its about gaining control of your life. And the warning, the instruction, the inspiration, not to lose control once you have it.

Verse 1: Get control of your life. Acknowledge and confront your fears and flaws. Do things in your life that people say you can't. But don't go to "sleep," be awake, be aware, be YOU.

Chorus: Don't run out of power, And I can take care of myself, I don't need you (music, fame?). I have control, I can take it from here.

Verse 2: I'm not sure, but I think Lacey is saying, we did what you wanted, we translated our dreams and ambitions and thoughts into song for you, perfected them. Free love, reaping the benefits (i.e. girls on tour)? Weeknights at the gym though? not sure.

Chorus 2: A good bit is the same but an equally good portion is inaudible or thus far not properly posted above.

Anyway just my preliminary thoughts and by no means definitive. Good song, top 3 on the album.

The end of this song is what my soul was looking for. The struggling with not feeling good enough and wanting to give someone your all and still feeling that it’s not enough. I love brand new’s ability to put emotion like that into words so eloquently.

Out of Mana means out of "power," often in a supernatural sense. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mana

I think this song is what this whole album is about. Its about gaining control of your life. And the warning, the instruction, the inspiration, not to lose control once you have it.

Verse 1: Get control of your life. Acknowledge and confront your fears and flaws. Do things in your life that people say you can't. But don't go to "sleep," be awake, be aware, be YOU.

Chorus: Don't run out of power, And I can take care of myself, I don't need you (music, fame?). I have control, I can take it from here.

Verse 2: I'm not sure, but I think Lacey is saying, we did what you wanted, we translated our dreams and ambitions and thoughts into song for you, perfected them. Free love, reaping the benefits (i.e. girls on tour)? Weeknights at the gym though? not sure.

Chorus 2: A good bit is the same but an equally good portion is inaudible or thus far not properly posted above.

Anyway just my preliminary thoughts and by no means definitive. Good song, top 3 on the album.

The overall composition of the song tied in with the lyrics has made me start to view this as sort of a digital versus analog commentary. Or better put, virtual versus visceral. The first portion of the song is heavy in digital effects, even on the vocals. The lyrical themes center around video games, infinite lives, and the cultivation of perfect bodies (a perfect shell, lacking inner development). There is plenty of academic research showing that while the digital world has people talking more than ever, we are all feeling increasingly isolated. We "built Babel together" because everyone is speaking, but no one is understanding each other. "Hell is digital" because it is hallow, empty. If you have infinite lives, it doesn't matter what you do. No experience carries any meaning. No failure is crushing. No success is sweet. You can do it all again tomorrow anyway.

This is contrasted by the rough, lo-fi acoustic outro that is accompanied by visceral/body-focused lyrics (skin of my teeth, go without water or sleep). He's back in the real world but is feeling so disillusioned that he's not sure he's even here. Yet, he recognizes that this is real. What happens here is final. You've only got one chance. Death will come. "No reset."

To me it sounds like he's saying "all praise player 1, infinite lives in the time of karma"