Barely Breathing
200 North Lyrics
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I'm slowly waiting for an answer
I woke up to find the things I'm searching for will never make me human
Black skies circle,
I have to take control
I have to break the cycle
If one thing confines me,
I have to blame myself there's no one left to blame but me
the truth can ruin everything
I'm looking forward now,
I'm forgetting everything
I hope I have the heart to try and fail
I have received this life and I'll defend it with valor
I have received this life and I can't take it for granted
How can we live destined to fail when I can barely breath
We have a choice, it's in our hands
Will we stand firm or will we wilt with age
These thoughts have plagued me for so long
That I've confused my thoughts for reality
We search for things we can't attain
Money kills status fades and when we wake up we'll be dead
The song "Barely Breathing" by 200 North is a song about the struggles of trying to find meaning in life while feeling suffocated and trapped by the expectations and limitations of society. The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and hopelessness, as the singer reflects on the futile search for material success and external validation. The opening lines "Barely breathing, watching the sky" suggest a feeling of suffocation and a desire to escape, while the line "I'm slowly waiting for an answer" implies a sense of anticipation and longing for something to change.
The next few lines provide an insight into the singer's state of mind, as they express their realization that the things they've been searching for will never make them feel truly alive or human. The mention of "black skies circle" and the need to "take control" suggest a feeling of being overwhelmed and trapped, while the line "I have to break the cycle" implies a desire to break free from the constraints of society and the expectations of others. The following lines, "If one thing confines me, I have to blame myself there's no one left to blame but me", convey a sense of resignation and self-blame, as the singer recognizes that their own fears and insecurities are holding them back.
The song then takes a turn towards a more hopeful message, as the singer reflects on the power of truth and the importance of living life with purpose. The line "I'm looking forward now, I'm forgetting everything" suggests a sense of renewed energy and determination, while the lines "I hope I have the heart to try and fail / I have received this life and I'll defend it with valor" convey a sense of courage and resilience. The final lines of the song, "Money kills status fades and when we wake up we'll be dead", serve as a reminder that the pursuit of material success and external validation is ultimately futile, and that true fulfillment can only be found by living life with purpose and authenticity.
Line by Line Meaning
Barely breathing, watching the sky
I'm struggling to continue living, and I'm looking up towards the sky in search of answers.
I'm slowly waiting for an answer
I'm patiently waiting for something to give me clarity.
I woke up to find the things I'm searching for will never make me human
Despite my search for something that will make me feel alive and 'human,' I've realized that these things can never truly fill that void.
Black skies circle,
I'm surrounded by darkness and negativity.
I have to take control
I need to take charge of my life and my situation.
I have to break the cycle
I need to escape the patterns and habits that have been holding me back.
If one thing confines me,
If there's something holding me back,
I have to blame myself there's no one left to blame but me
I can only hold myself responsible for my own limitations and shortcomings.
The truth can ruin lives,
Sometimes, the truth can cause more harm than good, even destroy lives.
the truth can ruin everything
The truth can destroy the things we hold dear or value.
I'm looking forward now,
I'm choosing to focus on the future rather than dwell on the past.
I'm forgetting everything
I'm trying to let go of the things that have been holding me back or causing me pain.
I hope I have the heart to try and fail
I'm hoping that I'm brave enough to take risks despite the possibility of failure.
I have received this life and I'll defend it with valor
I will protect and cherish this life that I've been given, and I'll do so with courage and determination.
I have received this life and I can't take it for granted
I know that life is a precious gift, and I don't want to waste any of it.
How can we live destined to fail when I can barely breath
It doesn't make sense to live a life that's doomed to failure when just staying alive is a struggle.
We have a choice, it's in our hands
We have the power to choose our paths in life, and it's up to us to take responsibility for those choices.
Will we stand firm or will we wilt with age
Will we stay strong in the face of adversity, or will we give up and let age and time defeat us?
These thoughts have plagued me for so long
I've been struggling with these thoughts and questions for a long time.
That I've confused my thoughts for reality
I've been so lost in my own thoughts that I'm not sure what's real and what's not.
We search for things we can't attain
We often spend our lives chasing after things that are out of reach or impossible to achieve.
Money kills status fades and when we wake up we'll be dead
Pursuing money and status can be dangerous, as these things can never bring true fulfillment, and eventually, we'll all die and leave it all behind.
Contributed by Olivia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@davidryan834
This song has been a go to for me for FUGGIN YEARS! it's a gahtdam part of me at this point in life !! 🤘
@joshsyracuse4004
Holy shit!! Some one stole the CD from me years ago. Thank god for whoever had the foresight to put it on YouTube back then. I thought I'd never hear them again..
@787Dusty
THIS IS SOOOO AWESOME, they need more songs up here, i love this!
@shadowdouglas450
They have two cds a split and this whole cd should be on you tube:) if not i can put them up. Played with this band alot they have live stuff on here as well:)
@JRLastActionHero
Takes me back to the embassy better days
@shadowdouglas450
Yes them Skrewloose Bloodbourne Bored beyond Belief we had a great scene :)
@1idkmybffjill1
so good!
@FosaComun
Fuck, what a song and what a band. I was fully in this kind of emotive hxc/metalcore back in the days and brings me good memories.
@pastamama7810
shit, the treasures you can find here...200 North, what a good band, so underrated ! Let see if I can find some Nothing Gold Can Stay now!
@cloudstrifeishottxx
i love it!