in the hurry of the past
i forgot to make it last
simple choices made too fast
vie or die, i didn't count
i'm alarmed and i can't help from
crashing onto this island we've become
words for fighting, words for fun
they've all melted into one
on the tip of every tongue
like the new name for the sun
i'm alarmed and i can't recover from
crashing onto this island we've become
alright now, don't decide about that now
oh how can you blame the only one
ever stay, ever stay, ever stay around and you would
never say never say all the harms been done
and you were
all so gone oh so long, so long
did you make it all wrong, so wrong
did you wait oh so long, so long
did you take it all wrong, so wrong

Overall Meaning

Built to Spill's song "Alarmed" is about the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with feeling like you've lost control over your life. The lyrics describe how the singer has rushed through important decisions and now finds themselves on an "island" where all the words and names feel mixed up and meaningless.

The opening lines, "in the hurry of the past / i forgot to make it last," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer feels like they've made choices too quickly and now they're facing the consequences. They're "alarmed" at how they've ended up on this metaphorical island, where nothing makes sense anymore. The repetition of "crashing onto this island we've become" reinforces the feeling of being trapped and helpless.

As the song progresses, the lyrics become more fragmented and surreal. The line "words for fighting, words for fun / they've all melted into one" suggests a loss of distinction between things that were once clear-cut. The new name for the sun feels like a symbol for this confusion and disorientation. The repetition of the phrase "so long" in the final lines adds to the sense of regret and frustration.

Overall, "Alarmed" is a powerful reflection on how it feels to be lost and directionless. The lyrics create a vivid image of being stuck on an island, cut off from the world and unsure of how to move forward.

Line by Line Meaning

in the hurry of the past
Amidst the fast-paced life I once had

i forgot to make it last
I overlooked the importance of longevity in my choices

simple choices made too fast
I hastily made uncomplicated decisions without much thought

vie or die, i didn't count
I failed to calculate the outcomes of choosing one option over the other

i'm alarmed and i can't help from crashing onto this island we've become
I'm anxious about the disintegrated state of our relationship and can't prevent myself from deteriorating further

words for fighting, words for fun they've all melted into one
The lines between hostile and playful expressions have blurred into a single category

on the tip of every tongue like the new name for the sun
This expression or concept has become a common fixture in our daily discourse

alright now, don't decide about that now
Hold off on making a conclusion for the time being

oh how can you blame the only one ever stay, ever stay, ever stay around and you would
It's unfair to attribute fault to just one person. Please don't leave; always stay around

never say never say all the harms been done and you were
There's still a chance to heal and restore our relationship

all so gone oh so long, so long did you make it all wrong, so wrong did you wait oh so long, so long did you take it all wrong, so wrong
It's been a long time since we've felt connected. Did you cause this downfall? Did you just stand by and let it happen? Did you misunderstand everything that's gone wrong?

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