Vocalist Robin Hawkins reported this was the track he was most happy with l… Read Full Bio ↴Vocalist Robin Hawkins reported this was the track he was most happy with lyrically is "By My Side", screaming out "Is this the end of the world, i can't tell, its been like this so long" the song is about introspection and examining yourself to find out what you really want to be in life, as well as growing up.

By My Side
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The things that run in my blood
I just gave up so fast
I've got nothing left to give

Secrets don't keep themselves
I'm sick of hiding the answer
From the question here

What did I find in my head had no conviction
And the fire that had gone out
That lit up when the radio signal went out

Is this the end of the world?
I can't tell, it's been like this so long
Is this still you by my side?
I can't decide if you were here at all

Is this the end of the world?
Is this the end of the world?

Let's look back
I can't remember when the last time
Anything I said meant anything

But things change, things change
Things change just as I slipped
Into the gaps between reception bars
And I found myself wanting

Is this the end of the world?
I can't tell, it's been like this so long
Is this still you by my side?
I can't decide if you were here at all

Is this the end of the world?
Is this the end of the world?

Don't look back and set traps
For myself to keep me on track
Don't backtrack, realize that
The best defense is attack

Is this the end of the world?
I can't tell, it's been like this so long
Is this still you by my side?
I can't decide if you were here at all

Is this the end of the world?
Is this the end of the world?

Overall Meaning

In "By My Side", Automatic sings about a feeling of emptiness and disconnection from the world and the people around them. The song starts with the lines "The things that run in my blood / I just gave up so fast / I've got nothing left to give", indicating a loss of motivation and energy. The next lines speak of secrets and hiding answers, about feeling lost and without conviction. The chorus echoes the uncertainty and confusion of this state, with the repeated question of "Is this the end of the world?" and the inability to tell if someone is still by the singer's side or if they were ever there to begin with.

This feeling is juxtaposed with a sense of nostalgia and longing for something more, as seen in the lines "Let's look back / I can't remember when the last time / Anything I said meant anything". However, instead of dwelling in the past, the singer urges themselves to move forward and not set traps or backtrack, but rather to attack and defend themselves against this emptiness.

Overall, "By My Side" is a melancholic yet hopeful song about struggling with feelings of isolation and confusion, but ultimately finding a way to keep moving forward.

Line by Line Meaning

The things that run in my blood
My deep-seated habits and traits that I've inherited from my ancestors

I just gave up so fast
I quickly lost my will to continue putting in effort

I've got nothing left to give
I have expended all of my energy and resources

Secrets don't keep themselves
I cannot expect to keep my secrets and not face consequences

I'm sick of hiding the answer
I am tired of concealing the truth

From the question here
From this issue that requires an answer

What did I find in my head had no conviction
I realized that my thoughts lacked strong beliefs or purpose

And the fire that had gone out
My passion or motivation had disappeared

That lit up when the radio signal went out
Which only ignited again once all other distractions were absent

Is this the end of the world?
Am I faced with a catastrophic situation or is it just my perspective?

I can't tell, it's been like this so long
I am unable to distinguish the severity of this situation because it has persisted for so long

Is this still you by my side?
I am unsure if you are still present as my supporter or if I am alone

I can't decide if you were here at all
I am unsure if you have ever truly been supportive or if I have just imagined your presence

Let's look back
Let's review the past and reflect on it

I can't remember when the last time
I cannot recall the last instance

Anything I said meant anything
My words had lost their significance or meaning

But things change, things change
However, circumstances and situations evolve over time

Just as I slipped into the gaps between reception bars
Just like how I lost signal or disconnected from communication

And I found myself wanting
I realized I was lacking or needing something

Don't look back and set traps
Avoid reminiscing and creating obstacles for myself

For myself to keep me on track
To enforce discipline and direction in my own life

Don't backtrack, realize that
Do not revert to old ways, instead acknowledge that

The best defense is attack
The most effective way to protect oneself is through strategic offense

Is this the end of the world?
Am I truly facing an insurmountable situation?

Is this the end of the world?
Is this truly the end or is there still hope?

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALEXANDER PENNIE, IWAN GRIFFITHS, JAMES FROST, ROBIN HARRY HAWKINS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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