This is a very powerful song. The lyrics allude to two themes- perception vs. reality and authenticity.
Perception vs. reality---
The first line says, "Borderline dead inside" I don't mind falling to pieces.
He may be talking about the gap between people at war vs. civilian life; what politicians feed us and what really goes on, the media vs reality, ect. He doesn't mind falling to pieces because he knows the world is full of smoke and mirrors blinding us from an ultimate truth which few decide to face– soldiers or warriors.
He then says, " count me in, violent, and feeding the sickness"
All of which might relate to him giving up on hope. War is the ultimate sickness, yet it is also part of reality and occurs on a daily basis- He has given up believing things will get better.
The next part is super important because it's the main chorus of the song.
Show me what it's like
To dream in black and white,
So I can leave this world tonight.
This is his plea to everyone fighting in war; the people who have chosen to face reality head on and live in the authentic world; hence show me what it's like to dream in black and white.
Black and white refers to the cold facts about reality, war, and the truth behind lives lost. He is not fighting, but he desperately wants to feel the soldier’s pain- he wants to understand and feel the pain of facing and seeing death first hand. He wants a glimpse into their reality and humanity.
full of fear
everclear
I'll be here
fighting forever
curious
venomous
you'll find me
climbing to heaven
nevermind
turn back time
you'll be fine
I will be left behind
The next part of the song talks about the reasons why this soldier has chose to face death. He is full of fear just like everyone else would be, yet he remains vigilant and strong because he wants his friends and family to be fine. He knows there is a chance nobody will remember his death because he'll be left behind, yet he chooses to fight. Ultimately, the soldier is at peace with himself because he has lived an honest and true life. He knows he will be climbing to heaven and is at peace with himself and decisions because he lived an authentic life.
Holding on too tight.
Breathe the breath of life,
So I can leave this world behind.
When the battle has arrived everyone is clinging to their lives. This would be a natural reaction to panic during battle and holding on tight to your life in uncertainty, yet the soldier must breath the breath of life and continue on no matter how scary reality is– all he can do is keep breathing and continue on. There are faces of sadness and happiness with his decision; on one hand he is free from his mind to leave this world behind, but it is tragically at the cost of life.
It only hurts just once.
They're only broken bones.
Hide the hate inside.
This is clearly about death. He recognizes it will be quick and will only have to deal with the pain once. He cleanses himself of all the hate because there is nothing left. He doesn't have time to waste hating because he has found some type of peace in his soul.
The last new line is " holding on to time"
This seems like an obvious plea to cherish what time we do have and make the best of it. Live life to the fullest and suck reality in.
I think the line
Show me what it's like
To dream in black and white,
refers to how soldier's perspectives on things change. I realized early on when I went to war that the enemy is only my enemy. I am my enemy's enemy. I think hes "bad" and I'm "good", and he thinks the same from his perspective. I soon started to realize if two people can think the opposite thing is "good" then there really is no such thing as good or bad, black or white. Cut and dry distinctions don't exist. That extrapolates to everything in life and makes it...
I think the line
Show me what it's like
To dream in black and white,
refers to how soldier's perspectives on things change. I realized early on when I went to war that the enemy is only my enemy. I am my enemy's enemy. I think hes "bad" and I'm "good", and he thinks the same from his perspective. I soon started to realize if two people can think the opposite thing is "good" then there really is no such thing as good or bad, black or white. Cut and dry distinctions don't exist. That extrapolates to everything in life and makes it much more depressing of a life.
He has realized this same thing and wants to go back to the simpler perspective of things being either black or white, good or bad, righteous or evil.
This is a very powerful song. The lyrics allude to two themes- perception vs. reality and authenticity.
Perception vs. reality---
The first line says, "Borderline dead inside" I don't mind falling to pieces.
He may be talking about the gap between people at war vs. civilian life; what politicians feed us and what really goes on, the media vs reality, ect. He doesn't mind falling to pieces because he knows the world is full of smoke and mirrors blinding us from an ultimate truth which few decide to face– soldiers or warriors.
He then says, " count me in, violent, and feeding the sickness"
The next part is super important because it's the main chorus of the song.
Show me what it's like To dream in black and white, So I can leave this world tonight.
full of fear everclear I'll be here fighting forever curious venomous you'll find me climbing to heaven nevermind turn back time you'll be fine I will be left behind
The next part of the song talks about the reasons why this soldier has chose to face death. He is full of fear just like everyone else would be, yet he remains vigilant and strong because he wants his friends and family to be fine. He knows there is a chance nobody will remember his death because he'll be left behind, yet he chooses to fight. Ultimately, the soldier is at peace with himself because he has lived an honest and true life. He knows he will be climbing to heaven and is at peace with himself and decisions because he lived an authentic life.
Holding on too tight. Breathe the breath of life, So I can leave this world behind.
When the battle has arrived everyone is clinging to their lives. This would be a natural reaction to panic during battle and holding on tight to your life in uncertainty, yet the soldier must breath the breath of life and continue on no matter how scary reality is– all he can do is keep breathing and continue on. There are faces of sadness and happiness with his decision; on one hand he is free from his mind to leave this world behind, but it is tragically at the cost of life.
It only hurts just once. They're only broken bones. Hide the hate inside.
This is clearly about death. He recognizes it will be quick and will only have to deal with the pain once. He cleanses himself of all the hate because there is nothing left. He doesn't have time to waste hating because he has found some type of peace in his soul.
The last new line is " holding on to time"
This seems like an obvious plea to cherish what time we do have and make the best of it. Live life to the fullest and suck reality in.
I think the line Show me what it's like To dream in black and white, refers to how soldier's perspectives on things change. I realized early on when I went to war that the enemy is only my enemy. I am my enemy's enemy. I think hes "bad" and I'm "good", and he thinks the same from his perspective. I soon started to realize if two people can think the opposite thing is "good" then there really is no such thing as good or bad, black or white. Cut and dry distinctions don't exist. That extrapolates to everything in life and makes it...
I think the line Show me what it's like To dream in black and white, refers to how soldier's perspectives on things change. I realized early on when I went to war that the enemy is only my enemy. I am my enemy's enemy. I think hes "bad" and I'm "good", and he thinks the same from his perspective. I soon started to realize if two people can think the opposite thing is "good" then there really is no such thing as good or bad, black or white. Cut and dry distinctions don't exist. That extrapolates to everything in life and makes it much more depressing of a life.
He has realized this same thing and wants to go back to the simpler perspective of things being either black or white, good or bad, righteous or evil.