Never Ending Math Equation
Modest Mouse Lyrics
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And oh my God I feel so damn old
I don't really feel anything
On a plane, I can see the tiny lights below
And oh my God, they look so alone
Do they really feel anything?
Oh my God, I've gotta gotta gotta gotta move on
Where do you move when what you're moving from
Is yourself?
The universe works on a math equation
that never even ever really ends in the end
Infinity spirals out creation
We're on the tip of its tongue, and it is saying
We ain't sure where you stand
You ain't machines and you ain't land
And the plants and the animals, they are linked
And the plants and the animals eat each other
Oh my God and oh my cat
I told my Dad what I need
Well I know what I have and want
But I don't know what I need
Well, he said he said he said he said
"Where we're going I'm dead."
The lyrics of Modest Mouse's "Never Ending Math Equation" explore existential themes of time, identity, and purpose, using mathematical language to underscore the song's philosophical musings. The singer begins by reflecting on his own perception of age, admitting that although he feels old, he doesn't really feel anything at all. He observes the world from a detached vantage point on a plane, musing on the tiny lights far below and wondering if those people feel as lost and alone as he does. The singer then laments his own sense of stagnation and the difficulty of moving on from oneself, rhetorically asking where one can move when the thing one is trying to escape is oneself.
The song then pivots to a cosmic level, with the singer suggesting that the universe operates according to a "math equation" that never ends. This evokes ideas of infinity and the cyclical nature of existence, with creation spiraling out from the infinite pattern. The singer imagines humanity on the precipice of this pattern, and imagines the universe itself pondering our existence. He notes that we are neither machines nor land, and that even the plants and animals are interconnected in their consumption of each other. The final lines of the song suggest a sense of resignation and uncertainty about the future, with the singer's father admitting his own mortality and the singer still unsure of what he truly needs.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the same as I was when I was 6 years old
I haven't changed much from my childhood self
And oh my God I feel so damn old
Although I feel like I'm still a child, I'm starting to feel old
I don't really feel anything
I'm experiencing a lack of emotions
On a plane, I can see the tiny lights below
I have a view of the small lights from above
And oh my God, they look so alone
The lights seem isolated and lonely
Do they really feel anything?
I wonder if they have emotions like I do
Oh my God, I've gotta gotta gotta gotta move on
I feel a strong urge to leave and move forward
Where do you move when what you're moving from
Is yourself?
If the thing that needs to change is me, where can I go to make that change?
The universe works on a math equation
that never even ever really ends in the end
The universe operates according to a never-ending mathematical formula
Infinity spirals out creation
Infinite possibilities lead to the creation of the universe
We're on the tip of its tongue, and it is saying
We ain't sure where you stand
As human beings, we're unsure of our place in the grand scheme of the universe
You ain't machines and you ain't land
We're not just machines or inanimate objects
And the plants and the animals, they are linked
There is a connection between all living things
And the plants and the animals eat each other
The natural cycle of life involves animals consuming plants and other animals
Oh my God and oh my cat
I told my Dad what I need
I'm expressing my desires to my father
Well I know what I have and want
But I don't know what I need
I am aware of my possessions and desires, but I'm unsure of what I truly need
Well, he said he said he said he said
"Where we're going I'm dead."
My dad reminds me that we're all mortal and have limited time on earth
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC JUDY, ISAAC BROCK, JEREMIAH GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind