Dust
Abby Travis Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

All the little things I've done
Will cease to exist when I'm nothing
Tears that fell things I've made will degrade
When the sun shines
All the thoughts I've thought will slip away
Others might perceive them in another way
What I'm trying to say is...
Let me put it in another way for you

I don't want to be dust
I don't want to be dirt on the ground
Some things last forever
I want to stay around

All the breaths I took
The kinds that shook the earth don't last
Beyond the earth
Thousands may pray
But in the end we'll all go away

Like birds that fly before they die
And stars that shine before they fry
And when I look into the sky
I'm high
Higher than a baby's cry
Or its lullaby
Once inside I took the kind of look
That opens up your mind to pray




I mean it when I say
Love is only half the way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Abby Travis's song "Dust" are a poignant reflection on the transience of human existence. Through her lyrics, Travis conveys a sense of powerlessness that comes from the knowledge that eventually, all things will fade away. She notes that everything she has done, all her achievements, and even her tears will someday cease to exist, ground down over time by the elements. The thoughts and ideas she has had and the impact she has had on the world will soon be forgotten, interpreted differently by others as time passes. The chorus is the key to the message of the song, as Travis poignantly sings, "I don't want to be dust, I don't want to be dirt on the ground, some things last forever, I want to stay around." This is a universal request, an acknowledgement of how painful it is to come to terms with what is inevitable.


In the next verse, Travis takes a more philosophical and abstract tone, reflecting on how fleeting life can be. She notes that the "breaths" she takes, even those that have shaken the earth, don't last beyond her passing. The world will continue to spin and humans will continue to live, but she will no longer be one of them. Travis notes that even if thousands of people pray for her to remain, ultimately everyone must die. The simile she uses - that of birds flying before they die and stars shining before they "fry" - demonstrates the universality of death. Everyone will experience it at some point, no matter who they are.


Overall, "Dust" is a compelling and thought-provoking song that touches on themes of mortality and human frailty. Travis's lyrics seek to capture the fleeting nature of life and the pain that comes with that reality.


Line by Line Meaning

All the little things I've done
All my actions in life, no matter how small or big, will come to an end eventually.


Will cease to exist when I'm nothing
When I die, all of my past accomplishments and memories will fade away as I no longer exist.


Tears that fell things I've made will degrade
The things that I have created and the tears I have shed will eventually wear out and lose their value over time.


When the sun shines
Being reminded of the existence of the sun is a sobering reminder of the impermanence of life.


All the thoughts I've thought will slip away
My lifetime of thoughts, ideas and interpretations of the world will be forgotten by others, as time goes by.


Others might perceive them in another way
My thoughts or intentions may be interpreted in a different, unintended way by others.


What I'm trying to say is...
The artist is trying to express a deeper message that encapsulates the temporary nature of life and our existence.


Let me put it in another way for you
The artist is going to provide an alternative perspective to help convey their message further.


I don't want to be dust
The artist does not want to be forgotten or to fade away with time.


I don't want to be dirt on the ground
The artist doesn't want to be seen as having little value, just like dirt on the ground.


Some things last forever
The artist acknowledges that not everything fades away, some things persist and are everlasting.


I want to stay around
The artist wants their presence to continue long after they have gone.


All the breaths I took
Every breath taken is one step closer to no longer existing in this world.


The kinds that shook the earth don't last
The significant or impactful things we do are still temporary and ultimately forgotten once time passes.


Beyond the earth
Once we are no longer part of this earth, our actions and accomplishments no longer matter in the same way.


Thousands may pray
No matter how many people pray for us or remember us, we are all ultimately forgotten over time.


But in the end we'll all go away
The inevitability of death ensures that all beings, no matter how great or insignificant, will depart from this world leaving only memories and legacies behind.


Like birds that fly before they die
Birds flying aimlessly with a limited time to live is a metaphor for the artist's limited time on Earth.


And stars that shine before they fry
The image of stars shining before their destruction is a metaphor for the artist's desire for their actions and accomplishments to shine before they cease to exist.


And when I look into the sky
Gazing up into the sky and seeing the vast universe makes one realise that existence is so brief in comparison to the enormity of space and time itself.


I'm high
The artist is experiencing a transcendental moment of realisation and awe towards the universe.


Higher than a baby's cry
The artist is on a spiritual level above that of a young child's.


Or its lullaby
The artist may be referring to the fact that death for a child is a peaceful experience, as indicated by the use of the word 'lullaby,' which is a calming song.


Once inside I took the kind of look
The artist has experienced an intense spiritual or introspective moment that has led to a greater understanding of life's fleeting nature.


That opens up your mind to pray
The experience has led the artist to a greater sense of spirituality, and a need to pray for greater understanding or enlightenment.


I mean it when I say
The artist is being earnest and sincere in expressing their message.


Love is only half the way
The artist implies that love can help to give meaning to our temporary existence, but it is only part of a larger picture of impermanence and existentialism.




Contributed by Julian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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