Identity Crisis
[Thrice] Lyrics
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Private wars on my soul waged
Heart is scarred by dual volitions
Juxtaposed and both engaged
Kindle flame, a test of faith
Pray help me see it through
I put all my trust in you
Refine hate and love
Fall afresh on me
End this crisis of
Identity
Draw this darkness out like poison
Stab, retrieve, again decline
Help me drive the dagger deeper
Trace with me explicit line
Take this blade, a test of faith,
And strike me deep and true
I put all my trust in you
Refine hate and love
Fall afresh on me
End this crisis of
Identity
This is my voice, all shadows stayed this is my heart, upon the altar laid
Please take all else away, hear my cry, I beg, I plead, I pray
I'll walk into the flame, a calculated risk to further bless your name
So strike me deep and true, and in your strength I will live and die both unto you.
The lyrics to Thrice's song "Identity Crisis" delve deep into the turmoil of the human psyche, specifically the struggle between inner demons and the desire to maintain a outward persona of strength and control. The lyrics speak of private wars on one's soul, and the duality of our nature - a dual nature which is both scarred and engaged in our hearts. The idea of faith is invoked, as if seeking guidance or help from a higher power to navigate these internal struggles.
The chorus contains a plea for something to end the crisis of identity - a crisis which is a fundamental struggle for many people. The idea of refining hate and love, and falling afresh on the singer, is a clear acknowledgment of a desire for change, growth, and self-improvement. The second verse again utilizes the metaphor of a dagger, and the idea of a test of faith. Itâs like the singer is daring their darker side to emerge fully and to bring forth the hurt that's inside them, so they can confront it head-on. The bridge of the song is a powerful moment of sacrifice, in which the singer offers to walk into the fire to further bless the name of the one that they trust. This final act of trust and devotion speaks to the powerful need many of us have to believe in something and the lengths to which we will go to be true to our beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
Image marred by self-infliction
My self-destructive behavior has left me with a distorted self-image
Private wars on my soul waged
I am struggling internally, fighting with my inner demons
Heart is scarred by dual volitions
My heart is wounded by two opposing desires that are both pulling me in different directions
Juxtaposed and both engaged
These two desires are in direct conflict with each other, but I am still engaged with both of them
Kindle flame, a test of faith
I am asking for a challenge to test my faith and help me overcome my struggles
Pray help me see it through
I am asking for divine assistance to help me overcome my challenges
I put all my trust in you
I am placing my faith in a higher power to guide me through my struggles
Refine hate and love
Help me improve my feelings of both love and hate, and turn them into something more positive
Fall afresh on me
Let me start anew with a clean slate
End this crisis of Identity
I want to find clarity and resolution to my inner conflict and confusion
Draw this darkness out like poison
I want to confront and rid myself of my negative emotions and behaviors
Stab, retrieve, again decline
I am struggling to break free from my negative patterns and habits
Help me drive the dagger deeper
I am asking for a deeper level of self-examination and reflection to help me grow and change
Take this blade, a test of faith
I am asking for another challenge to help me grow and develop my faith further
And strike me deep and true
I am asking for a transformative experience that will help me turn my life around
This is my voice, all shadows stayed this is my heart, upon the altar laid
I am being honest and raw with myself and with a higher power, admitting my innermost struggles
Please take all else away, hear my cry, I beg, I plead, I pray
I am asking for guidance and support to help me overcome my challenges, and I am willing to sacrifice everything else to achieve this
I'll walk into the flame, a calculated risk to further bless your name
I am willing to take a risky path to prove my faith and devotion to a higher power
So strike me deep and true, and in your strength I will live and die both unto you.
I am putting my life in the hands of a higher power, and I trust that through their guidance and strength, I will live a fulfilling life and find peace even in death.
Lyrics Š Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUSTIN MICHAEL KENSRUE, EDWARD CARRINGTON BRECKENRIDGE, JAMES RILEY BRECKENRIDGE, TEPPEI TERANISHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
buddyroach
I'm 35 and I still don't know who the fuck i am. All I know is I constantly self reflect now and look back at how I handled situations like having a conversation and can't help but cringe at how socially awkward i felt and how weird I mustve come off to other people. Or how they may misunderstand my behavior for something negative when really I am just very uncomfortable and don't know what to do. This video helped me understand a little bit on how and why I'm like this today. Still don't know who I am though and I probably never will.
Baddawg 313
What are you?
buddyroach
@Baddawg 313 I honestly don't know. For all I know, I could be an interdimensional higher being under the influence of a drug that alters time and this life I'm currently in here is just a big hallucinogenic trip the higher being is experiencing.
mscutie3000
I do the same.
Mashael Al-Jehani
we all are Lost, my friend :)
Zakary Laroche Bouthillette
Something that might help you find yourself is to dive into a new world. Maybe let go of your current job, or lifestyle if that is possible. Just discover without knowing what the f youâre doing. Maybe travel in a country with limited amount of money and just let life lead the way.
Ricardo Lane
I also want to apologize for anybody who witnessed or was a victim of my extremist behavior, midlife identity crisis, drug and alcohol abuse over the past several years. Everything I went through mentally, ideologically and physically only shaped me into the young hard working black man that I am today. I still have a lot of growing to do, but am proud of my self for how far I have come as a person. I have finally found myself in this crazy world. One thing I still need to work on is my attitude and anger problems. For anybody that reads this, take my advice and donât let anybody be a victim of your own problems and just have good intentions and and strive to be a better you each day. Lets all work on ourselves for a better and more global order of things, but first it starts with ourselves.
Lone-Wolf-XCII
Hahaha! 5:11 - 6:10 pretty much sums up most psychology undergraduates XD It's always hard to find a decent psychologist (or especially psychiatrist) but when you do it is usually because they are cool and have a great rapport with you :) Nice video - keep up the great work!
iamdreaway
First of all I would like to say that this is the best video on identity crisis out there đđđđž. It was enthusiastically well explained! đđž
Halima
Andrea's Hall-Way the crying part killed me!đđđđ