The Cost Of Living
Athletics Lyrics


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We're getting older,
and yesterday is catching up
to our plans of getting out of this alive.
We're all alone here with nowhere left to hide.
I've never been so scared
to breathe and open up my eyes.
A new day is breaking off the mold.
Our bodies left us hours ago.
The second hand takes first again.
My fingers, too late to grab ahold of what's ahead,
and my feet are dragging far behind.
My lungs are bleeding.
Without their help, I'm bound to die.
The air is much too thin.
My will is too weak to survive.
A new day is breaking off the mold.
Our bodies left us hours ago.
The second hand takes first again.

My will is too weak to survive.
The second hand takes first again.
My will is too weak to survive.
The second hand takes first again.
My will is too weak to survive.
The second hand takes first again.
My will is too weak to survive.
The second hand takes first again.
My will is too weak to survive.
The second hand takes first again.
My will is too weak to survive.
The second hand takes first again.

Where the fuck are we going?
Why aren't we home?
This coast is a graveyard.
We have nowhere to go.
I've been sleeping in interludes
synched up to the rain,
that is plaguing this Summer,
that is causing this pain.
To the North is a light,
to the West there is hope.
We are drowning in debts.
We're in need of a rope




to hold onto or fit to our necks.
My will is dead

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Athletics' song "The Cost Of Living" speak about the fear of getting older and the realization of mortality. The first lines illustrate the feeling of being caught by time, with plans that might not come to fruition. The singer is scared to open his eyes and face the truth of the situation. The second verse deals with the physical consequences of aging, with the body failing to keep up with what the mind wants. The air is too thin and the lungs are bleeding, representing the struggle to stay alive. The chorus repeats the line "My will is too weak to survive, the second hand takes first again" to show that even though the will to live might be present, time and physical limitations overpower it.


The last verse highlights the confusion and feeling of not belonging, with the singer questioning their surroundings and feeling lost. The reference to a graveyard and the need for a rope to hold onto or fit to their necks enhance the feeling of despair and hopelessness. The final line "my will is dead" highlights the ultimate realization that we all will face death and the futility of fighting it.


Line by Line Meaning

We're getting older, and yesterday is catching up to our plans of getting out of this alive.
As we age, we become aware that we're running out of time and that the past continues to affect our present lives.


We're all alone here with nowhere left to hide.
Even though we're surrounded by others, we all feel a sense of isolation and exposure.


I've never been so scared to breathe and open up my eyes.
The prospect of facing reality is daunting and anxiety-inducing.


A new day is breaking off the mold. Our bodies left us hours ago. The second hand takes first again.
Despite the feeling of being trapped in the present, time is still moving forward, leaving us behind.


My fingers, too late to grab ahold of what's ahead, and my feet are dragging far behind.
Time is passing too quickly, and we feel unable to keep up with or reach our goals.


My lungs are bleeding. Without their help, I'm bound to die. The air is much too thin.
We feel suffocated by the weight of our problems and the world around us, putting us at risk of metaphorical 'death'.


My will is too weak to survive.
We feel powerless and overwhelmed by our circumstances, leading to nihilistic thinking.


Where the fuck are we going? Why aren't we home? This coast is a graveyard. We have nowhere to go.
We feel lost and directionless, with nowhere to feel truly safe or at ease.


I've been sleeping in interludes synched up to the rain, that is plaguing this Summer, that is causing this pain.
Our mental state and external circumstances coincide unpleasantly, leading to feelings of sadness and discomfort.


To the North is a light, to the West there is hope. We are drowning in debts. We're in need of a rope to hold onto or fit to our necks.
Despite feeling lost and desperate, we still cling to the hope that something better is out there, but we also feel trapped by our problems and need assistance to escape.


My will is dead
We feel completely hopeless and helpless, with no sense of agency or control over our lives.




Contributed by Tyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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