Courage
Glen Phillips Lyrics
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I didn't have too much to say
I was needing some inspiration
And you just got in my way
I took a shot at an easy target
You were too stunned to say anything
You were the unsuspecting martyr
You were not the most dangerous game
Bring my courage back now
Bring it back to me
I'm tired of being afraid of what I can't change
I want to be living free
Well it could be that I was mistaken
Or maybe I deceived myself
But it's hard to understand somebody
Doesn't want to understand himself
There's an ocean of unlatched windows
And a world of unlocked homes
The only reason anybody can still feel safe
Is most people still knock on the door
Bring my courage back now
Would you bring it back to me
I'm tired of being afraid of what I can't change
I want to be living free
I don't want to be a prisoner
Bound in these chains
Don't want to be a prisoner
I want to be free again
And though we all return to dust
There's a lot of us in a terrible rush
Some take the road to Damascus
Some take the road to Hell
I'll take Highway One to the evergreens
And everything will turn out well
Bring my courage back now
Would you bring it back to me
I'm tired of being afraid of what I can't change
I want to be living free
I don't want to be a prisoner
Bound in these chains
Slave to my fear
I want to be free again
I want to be free again
In this song, Glen Phillips describes the feeling of being stuck and helpless in a situation, and the need to regain courage in order to break free. He begins by admitting that he didn't have much to say at the start of a conversation, but then took a shot at an easy target, which turned out to be someone who didn't deserve it. This person became a martyr, but not a dangerous one, which implies that the real problem is not external but internal. He then asks for his courage back, as he is tired of being afraid of what he can't change and wants to be living free.
The second verse delves deeper into the issue, as the singer admits that he might have been mistaken or deceived himself, but the real problem is that it's hard to understand someone who doesn't want to understand himself. He paints a picture of an ocean of unlatched windows and unlocked homes, where people still knock on the door because most of them are still decent human beings. However, he is tired of being a prisoner bound in chains of fear and wants to be free again.
The chorus repeats the request for courage, as the singer asserts his desire to be free and not a prisoner bound in chains of fear. The final verse juxtaposes the idea of returning to dust, which implies the end of life, with the idea that many people are in a terrible rush. The singer then chooses a different road than the one that leads to Damascus or Hell, and takes Highway One to the evergreens, which symbolizes a new path and hope that everything will turn out well.
Line by Line Meaning
At the start of the conversation
At the beginning of this interaction
I didn't have too much to say
I didn't have much to contribute to the conversation
I was needing some inspiration
I was lacking motivation or creativity
And you just got in my way
You hindered my progress or train of thought
I took a shot at an easy target
I criticized or attacked someone who didn't deserve it
You were too stunned to say anything
You were taken aback and didn't respond
You were the unsuspecting martyr
You were unfairly victimized in this situation
You were not the most dangerous game
You were not a real threat
Bring my courage back now
Help me regain my confidence or bravery
Bring it back to me
Restore it to me
I'm tired of being afraid of what I can't change
I'm exhausted from fearing things out of my control
I want to be living free
I desire to live without restrictions or limitations
Well it could be that I was mistaken
Perhaps I was wrong about something
Or maybe I deceived myself
I might have misled myself
But it's hard to understand somebody
It's challenging to comprehend others
Doesn't want to understand himself
Who doesn't want to comprehend their own self
There's an ocean of unlatched windows
There are endless opportunities that people are leaving open
And a world of unlocked homes
People's lives are accessible yet still secure
The only reason anybody can still feel safe
One feels secure only because most people still knock on the door
Is most people still knock on the door
People still respect each other's boundaries
Bring my courage back now
Help me regain my confidence or bravery
Would you bring it back to me
Can you help me restore it to me
I don't want to be a prisoner
I wish not to be constrained
Bound in these chains
Trapped or limited
Don't want to be a prisoner
I refuse to remain captive
I want to be free again
I want to have the power to control myself and my environment again
And though we all return to dust
And despite the fact we all face mortality
There's a lot of us in a terrible rush
Many people are in a hurry or rush through life recklessly
Some take the road to Damascus
Some have a transformative experience that changes their perspective
Some take the road to Hell
Some make choices or engage in behaviors that lead to ruin
I'll take Highway One to the evergreens
I'll choose a peaceful or scenic route
And everything will turn out well
And things will end positively
Slave to my fear
A person who is controlled by their anxiety
I want to be free again
I want to gain the ability to control myself and my environment again
Lyrics © COMPASS RECORDS GROUP INC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GLEN PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind