Living Saints
Polar Bear Club Lyrics
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The welling up waxes and wanes
It's not fair and it hasn't been
All my friends are living saints
It's been killing me for weeks
A garden weed that cracks concrete
It hasn't been fair for long
Growing up isn't moving on
Do you miss our broken reason or the nights spent treating
Troubles and normalcy to bottles and comedies?
You forgot your necklace upstairs on purpose
It was your golden ticket scam and it always made us laugh
Do you see me as your acquaintance?
Your death by time, age and long distance?
Broken picture frame
The welling up waxes and wanes
It's not fair and it hasn't been
All my friends are living saints
It's been killing me for weeks
A garden weed that cracks concrete
It hasn't been fair for long
Growing up isn't moving on
All my friends are living saints
Living saints, living saints
Broken still but never breaking ties
Broken still but never breaking
Broken still but never breaking ties
Moving on
I never pictured this
Disperse in fall and don't reminisce
See it's just not fair
Not everyone's moved on
The song "Living Saints" by Polar Bear Club speaks of the difficulties and hardships of growing up and the nostalgia that comes with it. In the first verse, the singer describes cutting his fingers on a broken picture frame, alluding to the pain and unresolved emotions that come with memories from the past. He then goes on to say that it hasn't been fair for a long time, and that all his friends are living saints. This could mean that they are able to handle the hardships of life and move forward, or that they have a certain level of maturity that he feels he lacks.
The bridge speaks of longing for times when the group of friends would gather together to drink and laugh, and one friend's necklace that had become a running joke. The singer wonders if he is now just an acquaintance to his friend and if time, age, and distance have inevitably caused them to drift apart. The chorus repeats the idea that it's not fair that not everyone can move on from the past, and that it's been a struggle for a long time.
Overall, "Living Saints" is a reflective song that acknowledges the difficulties of growing up and the emotional pain that comes with it. The singer expresses a sense of longing for a time when things were simpler and more carefree, but ultimately accepts that time moves on and not everyone can move forward at the same pace.
Line by Line Meaning
I cut my fingers on a broken picture frame
I am physically injured by something that was once a part of a memory or a moment in time that has now been lost or broken.
The welling up waxes and wanes
My emotional pain fluctuates and changes in intensity over time.
It's not fair and it hasn't been
Life has not been kind or just, and this feeling has persisted over time.
All my friends are living saints
Those closest to me have exhibited remarkable qualities of kindness and compassion, qualities often associated with saints.
It's been killing me for weeks
I have been struggling emotionally for an extended period of time.
A garden weed that cracks concrete
A small, seemingly insignificant thing can have a powerful impact on something much larger or more significant.
Growing up isn't moving on
Simply getting older does not necessarily mean that we are moving past our emotional struggles or traumas.
Do you miss our broken reason or the nights spent treating
Do you miss the flawed logic or reasoning that guided us in the past, or do you miss the moments when we tried to distract ourselves from our problems with alcohol or laughter?
Troubles and normalcy to bottles and comedies?
Did we use alcohol and humor as a way to cope with our shared difficulties and normal life experiences?
You forgot your necklace upstairs on purpose
You intentionally left behind something that carried significance or meaning as a way of changing or escaping from a situation or memory.
It was your golden ticket scam and it always made us laugh
It was a joke or scheme that you came up with, and it always brought us joy or amusement.
Do you see me as your acquaintance?
Do you now view me as a mere acquaintance or someone who is no longer close or important to you?
Your death by time, age and long distance?
Have the passing of time, growing older, and physical distance between us caused you to emotionally withdraw or change towards me?
Broken still but never breaking ties
Although we have experienced significant difficulties and changes, we remain connected or loyal to each other.
All my friends are living saints
Those closest to me have exhibited remarkable qualities of kindness and compassion, qualities often associated with saints.
Moving on
Despite the challenges we have faced, we are finding ways to emotionally grow and change.
I never pictured this
I could not have imagined the difficulties or struggles we would encounter.
Disperse in fall and don't reminisce
Like the leaves of a tree that fall to the ground, we are moving away from our shared past and memories without dwelling on them.
See it's just not fair
The challenges and difficulties we have faced are not just or deserved.
Not everyone's moved on
Although we are trying to emotionally grow or change, not everyone is able or ready to do so.
Contributed by Camilla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@benjaminbass2607
i miss the way everything used to be.. its so hard growing up.
@mw2Roach1
Tommy Parsons amen brother it fucking sucks lol i was 14 when this released.I’m 22 now
@pulpfiction2122
I got introduced to you guys in, I think 09, you've been my favorite bad ever since.
I was just talking about you to a friend, he asked what song he should listen to. Here I am after an hour of listening to song after song, still can't pick "the best one"
@Vegeta42
still listening- 2023
@KeLim3Pie
Was looking through my memories on FB and I shared this video 11 years. So had to give it a listen today.
@Juliiiiiiiiiiiiiiian
This is one of the most creative and entertainig music videos I have ever seen!
@TheCondensedVersion
This was the best line-up they ever had. Miss going with my friends to their shows.
@cameron5dollars
One of those bands that I just don't really like recorded, but they are just absolutely AWESOME live! I remember from Warped. He was just like, "I hope you guys don't mind, but I'm gonna jump around like an idiot now," and he did so. It was great!
@weareahailstorm
I saw them live a few days ago, and all I can say is wow. They were so full of energy.
@MrSagekeber
whoever made this video deserves a really long hug.