The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness Lyrics

Lyric discussion by ali1053051 

Cover art for The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness lyrics by National, The

A system is a name for the group of identities/personalities who make up the whole person of someone who has dissociative identity (previously known as multiple personality) disorder. So I'm guessing that's what the song is about. Also, the system/whole person often refers to themself/selves as we, as crops up in the lyric. The various identities are sometimes in agreement and sometimes in conflict. Some might be awake while others sleep. Total darkness is when they all dream.

@ali1053051 if this where only about the title of the song then I would say you are on to something, but your theory fails to address any of the rest of the song. I tried applying it myself, but couldn't.

@ali1053051 My interpretation still holds up. The alters and/or host are aware of each other, sometimes communicating. They have previously agreed to keep their condition secret - often happens. But one of them, probably the dominant one, has found religion, confessed to God, is praying at night.

@ali1053051 is spot on. I have DID and this song is a perfect explanation of the feelings we have and live with daily. The lines "We said we’ve never let anyone in. We said we’d only die of lonely secrets" refer to the purpose of alters. Their job is to protect the individual from any memories of the traumas they experienced. As @ali1053051 says an individual will refer to themselves as we/they. I have done this my entire life without knowing or receiving a diagnosis until two years ago. The alters may not be aware of the other alters and...