The Great Divide
311 Lyrics


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It's like I stepped into a dream
I think you know what I mean
A reality break to a place unseen things
Come alive stupefied mind quarantined
From sleeping then awaken to somewhere in between
Ay, I'm on a cloud parfait
I jump into the valley of the far from mundane
My knees buckle a chuckle chuckle
Muthafucka I get back up like there never was a scuffle

Strange like a tale from Brothers Grimm
They're watching you we can't look at them
Living life out here like on a limb
One or the other sink or swim
Maximum velocity yet speeding up so rapidly
There's no where else I'd rather be, for me

They keep you high, they won't let you come down
Distract the facts ma'am, that's the plan now
Where you work, where you lurk, what you search
Climb too much get off of that perch
Virtual reality your nightmare
On the grid, kid, getting nowhere
Get ahead, leave behind lose your mind
Find in time a nowhere rhyme

Chemicals up in the atmosphere
Another meteor is falling near
Buried in the headlines disappear
I'm not the type to live in fear
You dream but I know you're awake
Explaining a nightmare you couldn't shake
Maybe the Kool-aid that you drank today

We're breaking away from the past
Reaching a new plane at last
Regardless of what cards get played
No one can keep you afraid

Unless you wanna be
You make that choice indubitably
They wanna play my emotions
But I'm like the ocean
Too calm to get upset by somebody's notion

Future makers, organ takers
A non-human intelligence is guiding
Worlds colliding, far away star system
I string DNA where I need 'em

What we gonna get with a zero field
Gotta have the one to make it real
I tell ya that more will be revealed
The mystery don't bother me
Everyday masquerade
There's always too many plans we laid
Keep going faster down the grade we made

We're breaking away from the past
Reaching a new plane at last
Regardless of what cards get played
No one can keep you afraid

We're always beginning
As sure as we're spinning
For it's never ending from here
After all this time
I am sorry I'm not sorry
Hate me later
There's something greater
From the petty here and now

Venture on
The sketch is not completely drawn
Travel wide
It's not hiding inside
Venture on
The sketch is not completely drawn




Travel wide
It's out beyond the great divide

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of 311's song, "The Great Divide," present the theme of breaking away from the past, venturing into the unknown, and embracing change. The song starts with the singer's reflection of how he feels like he has stepped into a dream of somewhere in between where things come alive, and his mind is free to roam. The singer recognizes that the world isn't always what it seems, and that reality can quickly turn into a nightmare. The song is an invitation to break free of these constraints and find something greater.


"Living life out here like on a limb" suggests that taking risks and being vulnerable is necessary to grow and evolve as a person. This idea is echoed in the lines "We're breaking away from the past, reaching a new plane at last." The chorus further reinforces the message, stating that no one can keep you afraid unless you choose to be. The song ends with the invitation to venture beyond the "great divide," which could represent a metaphorical divide between the past and the future or symbolize the unknown territories that await.


Overall, "The Great Divide" is a song that celebrates the journey of self-discovery and encourages listeners to embrace change and step out of their comfort zones.


Line by Line Meaning

It's like I stepped into a dream
The experience feels surreal and unlike reality.


I think you know what I mean
The listener can relate to and understand the feeling.


A reality break to a place unseen things
The experience is like a break from real life to a new, undiscovered place.


Come alive stupefied mind quarantined
The mind is both overwhelmed by the new experience and isolated from reality.


From sleeping then awaken to somewhere in between
The transition from sleep to the new experience feels like a new world in between reality and dreams.


Ay, I'm on a cloud parfait
The singer feels like they're on top of the world.


I jump into the valley of the far from mundane
The singer takes a leap into a new experience far from ordinary.


My knees buckle a chuckle chuckle
The artist is momentarily thrown off-kilter but laughs it off.


Muthafucka I get back up like there never was a scuffle
The artist is quick to recover from the moment of unease and resumes their confidence.


Strange like a tale from Brothers Grimm
The experience feels like a dark and twisted fairy tale.


They're watching you we can't look at them
The singer feels like they're being observed by an unknown entity.


Living life out here like on a limb
The artist feels like they're precariously living on the edge.


One or the other sink or swim
The singer feels like they must succeed or fail based on their own willpower alone.


Maximum velocity yet speeding up so rapidly
The situation is rapidly gaining momentum and moving quickly.


There's no where else I'd rather be, for me
Despite the unknowns, the singer is excited to be where they are.


They keep you high, they won't let you come down
The new experience seems addictive and never-ending.


Distract the facts ma'am, that's the plan now
The artist feels like they're being manipulated and distracted.


Where you work, where you lurk, what you search
The singer feels like all aspects of their life are being monitored and scrutinized.


Climb too much get off of that perch
The singer advises not to get too caught up and need to take a break.


Virtual reality your nightmare
The artist feels like the new experience is like living in a never-ending, inescapable dream.


On the grid, kid, getting nowhere
The artist feels trapped in the system and unable to progress.


Get ahead, leave behind lose your mind
The artist fears that in order to progress, they may have to compromise their own sanity.


Find in time a nowhere rhyme
The experience may seem directionless and meaningless at first, but over time will reveal itself.


Chemicals up in the atmosphere
The environment around the artist is changing.


Another meteor is falling near
There's a new or sudden danger approaching.


Buried in the headlines disappear
The danger or issue is hidden and not getting attention.


I'm not the type to live in fear
The singer is not going to let fear rule their life.


You dream but I know you're awake
The artist acknowledges that others may not believe in the experience they're having.


Explaining a nightmare you couldn't shake
The experience may be scary or disturbing to others.


Maybe the Kool-aid that you drank today
Others' disbelief may come from skepticism or ignorance.


We're breaking away from the past
The singer is moving forward from past experiences.


Reaching a new plane at last
The artist is achieving a new level or state in their life.


Regardless of what cards get played
Regardless of any obstacles or setbacks.


No one can keep you afraid
The artist is not letting others control their emotions or thoughts.


Unless you wanna be
It is up to the individual to choose their own emotions and reactions.


You make that choice indubitably
It is a fact that the individual has control over their own choices.


They wanna play my emotions
The singer feels like others are trying to manipulate them.


But I'm like the ocean
The singer is calm and steadfast in the face of external influence.


Too calm to get upset by somebody's notion
The singer is not going to let others' opinions or desires affect them.


Future makers, organ takers
There are powerful people or entities controlling the future and taking from others.


A non-human intelligence is guiding
There is a force greater than humanity that is directing events.


Worlds colliding, far away star system
The experience feels like multiple realities are coming together.


I string DNA where I need 'em
The singer has control over their own life and destiny.


What we gonna get with a zero field
The artist questions what can be achieved with nothing.


Gotta have the one to make it real
The artist believes that something must be present to make a change or achieve something.


I tell ya that more will be revealed
The artist believes that there is more to come and learn from the experience.


The mystery don't bother me
The singer is not disturbed by the unknowns and mysteries surrounding the experience.


Everyday masquerade
Everyday life can feel like a facade or performance.


There's always too many plans we laid
Life seems to be overly planned and structured.


Keep going faster down the grade we made
Society is moving faster and faster down a predetermined path.


We're always beginning
Life is constantly evolving and starting anew.


As sure as we're spinning
Just as the earth continues to rotate.


For it's never ending from here
Life and the future are full of abundant possibilities.


After all this time
Despite everything, time continues to move forward.


I am sorry I'm not sorry
The singer is unapologetic for the choices they've made.


Hate me later
Others may not approve now, but that is not a concern for the artist.


There's something greater
The artist believes there is a higher purpose or goal.


From the petty here and now
The mundane concerns of the present are not important in the grand scheme of things.


Venture on
Continue to move forward and explore.


The sketch is not completely drawn
There is still unknown possibility and opportunity.


Travel wide
Explore and discover new things.


It's not hiding inside
The singer believes there is something to be found and it's not impossible to find.


Venture on
Continue to move forward and explore.


The sketch is not completely drawn
There is still unknown possibility and opportunity.


Travel wide
Explore and discover new things.


It's out beyond the great divide
The singer believes there is a world of infinite possibilities to discover outside of the current reality.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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