No, I don't think this song has anything to do with death at all.
I think it's more about how, ultimately, we all have the same goals, purpose, intentions.
"We sing the same song, you and I."
As in, we're really not all that different after all. [Think Abracadavers, but more spiritual/mental/emotional, rather than physical.]
We may not always have a perfect grasp on our lives or decisions, but we keep treading water, and eventually get through it.
"We're treading waves to stay alive... there's no one to save us this time."
You have to rely on yourself to get through; you can't just wait to be rescued.
The chorus, I think, is about just letting yourself live.
"I will sing, and you will hear me."
I will live my life, and enjoy it. Yeah, you'll notice me, and maybe even judge me for it.
But hopefully instead, you choose to live life with me.
"Our voices raised are flawed but freeing."
We won't live perfectly; we'll make plenty of mistakes.
But our choices will allow us to be happy being who we really are.
"So we can change and start again."
We'll learn from our mistakes, but keep on going. We'll make a different one next time, and live to have different experiences, thus adding even more choruses to the song that is life.
We'll all be singing our own "choruses", but they'll all come together to create a single coinciding existence.
[Back to, "We sing the SAME SONG." We may be singing/living different parts, but collectively, it's just a single whole.]
And now for the second verse, which is my absolute favorite.
"My life's a painting I've done blind."
This is my favorite lyric out of any song I've ever heard of all time. I am not even exaggerating. This lyric is POWERFUL.
My life is just a collection of decisions and choices I've made, without the privilege of foresight.
I stumbled blindly through my life; but look at the amazing piece of artwork I've created in the process.
"With each brushstroke you'll watch me blur every solid line."
Yeah, maybe some things will already be perfect before I mess them up and blur their edges. But ultimately, that just adds to the portrait's beauty and uniqueness; the blurred edges give it character.
"Over this canvas I have stood, with no one left beside me, no one to decide if it's good."
And when it's all said and done, when my life-painting is complete, who's to tell me if it's good or not?
No one is present/qualified/aware enough to make that determination. But you know what? That's okay.
Because as long as I am proud of what I created, it IS good. In fact, it's perfect.
So, basically, we're all individually unique, but we're all creating a single beautiful result, because our individual accomplishments all blend and influence the rest of them.
Let's just enjoy it [the song, or the painting, or any other metaphor you might choose to use] and support each other.
In my opinion, one of the most powerful songs by an already extraordinarily powerful band.
No, I don't think this song has anything to do with death at all.
I think it's more about how, ultimately, we all have the same goals, purpose, intentions. "We sing the same song, you and I." As in, we're really not all that different after all. [Think Abracadavers, but more spiritual/mental/emotional, rather than physical.]
We may not always have a perfect grasp on our lives or decisions, but we keep treading water, and eventually get through it. "We're treading waves to stay alive... there's no one to save us this time." You have to rely on yourself to get through; you can't just wait to be rescued.
The chorus, I think, is about just letting yourself live. "I will sing, and you will hear me." I will live my life, and enjoy it. Yeah, you'll notice me, and maybe even judge me for it. But hopefully instead, you choose to live life with me. "Our voices raised are flawed but freeing." We won't live perfectly; we'll make plenty of mistakes. But our choices will allow us to be happy being who we really are. "So we can change and start again." We'll learn from our mistakes, but keep on going. We'll make a different one next time, and live to have different experiences, thus adding even more choruses to the song that is life.
We'll all be singing our own "choruses", but they'll all come together to create a single coinciding existence. [Back to, "We sing the SAME SONG." We may be singing/living different parts, but collectively, it's just a single whole.]
And now for the second verse, which is my absolute favorite. "My life's a painting I've done blind." This is my favorite lyric out of any song I've ever heard of all time. I am not even exaggerating. This lyric is POWERFUL. My life is just a collection of decisions and choices I've made, without the privilege of foresight. I stumbled blindly through my life; but look at the amazing piece of artwork I've created in the process. "With each brushstroke you'll watch me blur every solid line." Yeah, maybe some things will already be perfect before I mess them up and blur their edges. But ultimately, that just adds to the portrait's beauty and uniqueness; the blurred edges give it character. "Over this canvas I have stood, with no one left beside me, no one to decide if it's good." And when it's all said and done, when my life-painting is complete, who's to tell me if it's good or not? No one is present/qualified/aware enough to make that determination. But you know what? That's okay. Because as long as I am proud of what I created, it IS good. In fact, it's perfect.
So, basically, we're all individually unique, but we're all creating a single beautiful result, because our individual accomplishments all blend and influence the rest of them. Let's just enjoy it [the song, or the painting, or any other metaphor you might choose to use] and support each other.
In my opinion, one of the most powerful songs by an already extraordinarily powerful band.