Nothing Ever Happened
Deerhunter Lyrics
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You learn to talk, you learn to shout
Focus on depth that was never there
Eliminate what you can't repair
Nothing ever happened to me
Nothing ever happened to me
Nothing ever happened to me
Life just passing, flash right through me
See through the wind to awakened stream
Adjust your eyes to the state of things
Focus on depths that was never there
Nothing's easy nothing's fair
Nothing ever happened to me
Nothing ever happened to me
Nothing ever happened to me
Life just passing, flash right through me
I never, saw it coming
Waiting for something, for nothing
I never, saw it coming
Waiting for something, for nothing
The lyrics to Deerhunter's song Nothing Ever Happened capture the sense of ennui and disillusionment that can come with the realization that life seems to be passing by without any significant events. The singer in the song is dreaming, but there's no escape from the mundanity of their day-to-day existence. They have learned to talk and shout, but there's a sense that these actions are futile and don't lead to any true connection or meaning. The lines "Focus on depth that was never there / Eliminate what you can't repair" hint at a sense of emotional detachment and perhaps even a desire to escape.
The chorus, which repeats the line "Nothing ever happened to me," reinforces the idea that the singer feels stuck in a kind of purgatory, where nothing of significance seems to occur. The lines "See through the wind to awakened stream / Adjust your eyes to the state of things / Focus on depths that was never there / Nothing's easy nothing's fair" suggest a kind of disillusionment with the world at large, and perhaps a sense that the singer feels powerless to effect any real change.
The final lines of the song, "I never saw it coming / Waiting for something for nothing," hint at a sense of resignation and perhaps even despair. The singer seems to have lost hope in the possibility of anything truly meaningful or transformative happening. Overall, the lyrics to Nothing Ever Happened capture a sense of existential malaise and the desperate desire for something, anything, to happen.
Line by Line Meaning
Only when I dream but there's no way out
Only in dreams, where there are no boundaries, can I honestly express myself
You learn to talk, you learn to shout
Through experience, I have learned how to be assertive and make my voice heard
Focus on depth that was never there
I tend to obsess over details and meanings that do not necessarily exist
Eliminate what you can't repair
I strive to let go of things that cannot be fixed or changed
Nothing ever happened to me
I feel as though I have never experienced anything impactful or significant in my life
Life just passing, flash right through me
Time seems to pass by quickly and I feel as though I am not fully present for it
See through the wind to awakened stream
I try to look past superficial appearances and see things for their true essence
Adjust your eyes to the state of things
I try to recognize and adapt to the reality of situations as they exist, rather than holding unrealistic expectations
Nothing's easy nothing's fair
Life is tough and unpredictable, and I have learned not to expect things to be easy or always work out in my favor
I never, saw it coming
Waiting for something, for nothing
I was caught off guard by unexpected events, and I often find myself waiting for things to happen without taking action myself
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: BRADFORD COX, JOSH FAUVER, MOSES ARCHULETA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind