What Happens Now? Lyrics

Lyric discussion by DementedPuppy 

Cover art for What Happens Now? lyrics by Porcupine Tree

I think this is about someone who has lost all hope in life and simply does not value it anymore. They are describing what they COULD do. They could blow themselves up in an airplane, because they simply don't care anymore. He asks himself, "What happens now?" because he doesn't empathize with the people who would be hurt if he did something major like that. It's a passive "So what?" kind of attitude.

He simply sees it as blowing himself up across the heavens, and toys with the idea...

I think this song has the musical sound and style of FOABP, but lyrically it has nothing to do with the concept. It's a song about wanting to believe there is something after we die, but facing the fact we don't know, and facing rational thinking: probably not.

the 1st part is about materialism, a common way of illuding yourself that leaving your belongings or your creation makes you in some way live forever.

The 2nd part is about religion, the most popular lie about death, simply saying "you don't really die, you are going to a better place.

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