Still Earth
Arborist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But we waste our lives focusing on the future.
We are so concerned about what's to come
That we are oblivious to what's happening at this moment to those around us.
We expend every last second in constant worry of what will be next--
Of where we will go when our souls depart.
Will our footsteps leave an eternal mark?
But death catches us by surprise, and the ones we were supposed to love leave this life.
Proclaiming that we cared so much and that the moments shared will always be remembered,
But then we continue forward as if nothing ever happened.
And it makes me sick.
But I must admit, I'm just as guilty.
So when I'm buried in this still earth,
I hope that no one will remember.
Because that's what I deserve.
The lyrics of Arborist's song "Still Earth" reflect on the idea of time and how we often become so consumed with planning for the future that we fail to appreciate the present and what is happening around us. The song suggests that we waste our lives worrying about what is to come, focusing on leaving our mark on the world and what will happen when we die, rather than being present with those around us. The line "We expend every last second in constant worry of what will be next--Of where we will go when our souls depart" is particularly poignant, highlighting our tendency to be so consumed with what's to come that we forget to live in the moment.
The song turns darker towards the end as the lyrics reflect on death and the impact it has on those left behind. The lines "But death catches us by surprise, and the ones we were supposed to love leave this life. The world ceases to turn as we pay our hypocritical respects" suggest that we often only appreciate the value of those around us when they are gone, and that we are guilty of being hypocritical in our grief as we forget our loved ones all too quickly. The song ends on a somber note, with the lyrics reflecting on the desire to be forgotten when we die because we feel we do not deserve to be remembered.
Line by Line Meaning
Time is only temporary,
The concept of time is fleeting and short-lived.
But we waste our lives focusing on the future.
Rather than living in the moment, we spend our time worrying about what's to come.
We are so concerned about what's to come
Our preoccupation with the future leaves us unaware of the present.
That we are oblivious to what's happening at this moment to those around us.
We are so consumed with our own worries that we are completely unaware of the experiences of others around us.
We expend every last second in constant worry of what will be next--
We spend all our time preoccupied with the unknown future.
Of where we will go when our souls depart.
We worry about the unknown beyond death.
Will our footsteps leave an eternal mark?
We wonder if we will leave a lasting impact or be forgotten.
But death catches us by surprise, and the ones we were supposed to love leave this life.
Despite our worries, death still comes as a surprise and we are left grieving the loss of loved ones.
The world ceases to turn as we pay our hypocritical respects,
We pretend to care about the lost loved one, but life goes on around us as if nothing has changed.
Proclaiming that we cared so much and that the moments shared will always be remembered,
We put on a show, claiming to care deeply and remember the moments shared, but it is just a façade.
But then we continue forward as if nothing ever happened.
Despite our claims of mourning, we carry on with our lives as if the lost loved one's life never mattered.
And it makes me sick.
The hypocrisy and shallowness of our society disgusts the singer.
But I must admit, I'm just as guilty.
The singer admits to their own guilt and hypocrisy in the situation.
So when I'm buried in this still earth,
The singer envisions their own death.
I hope that no one will remember.
The singer wishes to be forgotten and not remembered for their own hypocrisy.
Because that's what I deserve.
The singer believes that their own hypocrisy and shallowness deserves to be forgotten.
Contributed by Caroline O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.