Feels like my legs are giving way - right now, right nowHere on the brink of the dreaded day - right now, right nowRight now - the lost instruction pageRight now - passed down from a distant ageRight now - the missing unknown no one knew to replaceAs brother time advances, sister courage recedesAnd I'm turning deaf to clamour, deaf to clamourI've been drinking down the tinctureFrom a golden cup of dreamsAnd I get so starved for glamour, starved for glamourRight now - the food that fit the billRight now - went down like a poison pillRight now - and fate was the flavour we all had to tasteLike a dark act in a dreamPlayed out against a silent skyLeaves behind a distant clamour, distant clamourWhen a wolf has filled the hillsidesWith his pale and dismal cryIt's because he's starved for glamour, starved for glamour
Some new dawn is breaking over all our headsLeaving us living or leaving us for deadAll because we're starved for glamour, starved for glamourWe want to live, we want to live - right now, right nowRight now, right nowI want to live, I want to live, I want to live

Overall Meaning

"Starved for Glamour" by Marker Starling is a reflection on the desire for a life that is larger than what one currently has. The singer describes feeling as though their legs are giving way and being on the brink of a dreaded day, suggesting the weight of the present moment is overwhelming. They think about lost instruction pages and missing unknowns that no one knew needed replacing, perhaps indicating a sense of societal or personal disorientation. The singer then turns to themes of time and courage, suggesting that as time moves forward, our courage decreases. They describe being deaf to clamour, perhaps an indication of being overwhelmed by the noise of the world around them. They then turn to the idea of being starved for glamour, describing consuming a golden cup of dreams and feeling a deep desire for the food that fits the bill. The singer seems to suggest that everyone has had to taste fate, but there is still a desire for something more, something larger than life. The song ends on a hopeful note with the desire to live, right now.

Overall, the song is a commentary on the human desire for something larger than life, something that elevates us above the mundanity of daily existence. It touches on themes of disorientation, time, courage, and the overwhelming noise of the world around us. The lyrics suggest that despite the difficulties of life, there is still a deep desire to live fully and experience something beyond what one currently has.

Line by Line Meaning

Feels like my legs are giving way - right now, right now
I am overcome with uncertainty and feel like I am about to collapse at this very moment

Here on the brink of the dreaded day - right now, right now

I am on the verge of facing a dreaded event or experience that is happening right now

Right now - the lost instruction page
I am missing important guidance or directions that are necessary in my current situation

Right now - passed down from a distant age
The missing guidance or directions were once known in the past but have been lost over time

Right now - the missing unknown no one knew to replace
We do not know what we are missing, as it was never recognized or replaced

As brother time advances, sister courage recedes
As time passes, our bravery diminishes and we become less willing to face challenges

And I'm turning deaf to clamour, deaf to clamour
I am becoming immune to the noise and distractions around me, possibly due to exhaustion or disillusionment

I've been drinking down the tincture
I have been indulging in something that may bring temporary relief or happiness

From a golden cup of dreams
This indulgence is like a dream, fleeting and possibly unrealistic

And I get so starved for glamour, starved for glamour
I become obsessed with the idea of an extravagant or exciting lifestyle, craving it endlessly

Right now - the food that fit the bill
I consumed something that seemed satisfying or fulfilling, but had negative consequences

Right now - went down like a poison pill
The thing I consumed had a negative impact on me, like a poison

Right now - and fate was the flavour we all had to taste
The negative consequences of our actions seem unavoidable, as if they were our predestined fate

Like a dark act in a dream
Negative consequences of our choices can feel surreal, like a nightmare

Played out against a silent sky
The negative consequences may be quiet or unnoticed, but are still present

Leaves behind a distant clamour, distant clamour
The negative consequences may be far away, but their echoes or impacts can still be felt

When a wolf has filled the hillsides
Metaphor - when something dangerous or predatory becomes omnipresent in our lives

With his pale and dismal cry
Metaphor - the 'cry' could represent the devastating impacts of the danger, which are haunting and bleak

It's because he's starved for glamour, starved for glamour
The 'wolf' (metaphor) is pursuing something he feels he needs, without regard for the consequences

Some new dawn is breaking over all our heads
A new era or change is coming, impacting us all

Leaving us living or leaving us for dead
The change will determine the fate of our lives

All because we're starved for glamour, starved for glamour
Our obsession with wealth, status, and power led us to the current situation

We want to live, we want to live - right now, right now
Despite the challenges we face, we still have a strong desire to survive and thrive, especially in the present moment

Right now, right now
This urgency is prompted by the sense that time is fleeting or the situation is dire

I want to live, I want to live, I want to live
A personal declaration of a strong will to survive and pursue happiness, despite any obstacles