So this is what it's like to be human
And I should know
A second never felt so long
I tried to put the pieces in their place
Not a man or god,
But somewhere in between;
The body's a machine

It takes a toll too high to see another life
Flash before your eyes
The highway won't just stop itself
If you're alive
There's no more time to think of the might-have-beens
As the old ship sinks
A new horizon waits
But not today

I try to pull myself together
I'm just used to seeing the chest rise and fall
Point taken, man, just breathe again
Hitting the brakes so hard
At the sight of blood and steel
It tends to make things real

It takes a toll too high to see another life
Flash before your eyes
The highway won't just stop itself
If you're alive
There's no more time to think of the might-have-beens
As the old ship sinks
A new horizon waits

They told me I'd see angels
In their place flashing lights
I'm seeing my mirror image in pieces
No sound, but can you hear me?
I'm screaming out my lungs
I don't believe this
I hope you hear this

It takes a toll too high to see another life
Flash before your eyes
The highway won't just stop itself
If you're alive
There's no more time to think of the might-have-beens
As the old ship sinks
We have mountains to climb
This is my Everest

Overall Meaning

The Swellers's song "This Is My Everest" is a powerful representation of the fragility of human existence, and the brevity of life. The lyrics speak to the idea that we are all vulnerable, regardless of our status as mere mortals or seemingly all-powerful gods. The lyrics "Not a man or god, but somewhere in between; The body's a machine" draw attention to the fact that while we may have control over our physical bodies, we are ultimately at the mercy of fate.

The chorus emphasizes this idea further, with the lines "It takes a toll too high to see another life flash before your eyes; The highway won't just stop itself if you're alive". These lines highlight the suddenness with which life can be taken away, and the powerlessness that comes with this inevitability. The phrase "flash before your eyes" is often used to describe the experience of seeing one's life pass before them when faced with imminent danger.

The second verse continues to explore these themes, with the lines "Hitting the brakes so hard, At the sight of blood and steel; It tends to make things real". Here, the singer is acknowledging the visceral reality of physical harm and the way it can quickly redefine one's sense of self and perception of the world. The final lines of the song, "We have mountains to climb; This is my Everest", speak to the strength and resilience of the human spirit, suggesting that even in the face of enormous challenges, we are capable of rising to the occasion.

Line by Line Meaning

So this is what it's like to be human
Experiencing emotions and sensations that come with being human

And I should know
The singer has personal experience

A second never felt so long
Time seems to slow down in moments of crisis

I tried to put the pieces in their place
Attempting to make sense of what is happening

Not a man or god, But somewhere in between;
Feeling powerless but not completely hopeless

The body's a machine
The body can be seen as a tool or instrument to carry out tasks and respond to situations

It takes a toll too high to see another life
Witnessing death or injury can have a severe impact on mental and emotional wellbeing

Flash before your eyes
A moment of seeing one's life or experiences flash before their eyes

The highway won't just stop itself
The world keeps moving despite one's personal distress

If you're alive
Acknowledging one's own survival

There's no more time to think of the might-have-beens
No time to dwell on what could have been done differently

As the old ship sinks
Accepting the end of something familiar or comfortable

A new horizon waits
Opportunities for growth and change exist beyond the present moment

But not today
Not ready to face those opportunities yet

I try to pull myself together
Attempting to regain composure and control

I'm just used to seeing the chest rise and fall
Having experience with the sight of life and death

Point taken, man, just breathe again
Recognizing the importance of taking a moment to breathe and regroup

Hitting the brakes so hard
Reacting to a sudden and dangerous situation

At the sight of blood and steel
The violent and harsh reality of a situation

It tends to make things real
The gravity of a situation becomes all too apparent

They told me I'd see angels
Expectations of a different reality or outcome

In their place flashing lights
Instead, confronted with emergency responders and equipment

I'm seeing my mirror image in pieces
The experience has shattered one's sense of self or identity

No sound, but can you hear me?
Feeling alone and isolated even in a chaotic situation

I'm screaming out my lungs
Feeling intense emotion and pain

I don't believe this
In disbelief and shock over what has happened

I hope you hear this
Expressing a desperate desire for understanding and connection

We have mountains to climb
Recognizing that life will continue to present challenges and hardships

This is my Everest
This current experience is the most difficult and demanding thing I have ever faced

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JONATHAN DIENER, JONATHAN ADAM DIENER, NICHOLAS BRIAN DIENER, NICK DIENER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@TheOtherCaleb

7w↑2

This is one of the best pop/skate-punk albums of the early 2000s and it’s not on apple music or Spotify anymore. 😢

@Kingswaystheonlyway

3y↑11

Such an underrated band. My Everest is a masterpiece

@nomar1862

3y↑3

On bro. Swellers never had a bad song

@ChannelHandler88

2y↑2

Right? Crazy how this is so unknown, this album in particular has so many great songs. I love the guitar work. It's not basic as pop punk but it's not experimental or anything to the point of getting boring; perfect album in my eyes.