The Fear
Ben Howard Feat. Monica Heldal Lyrics
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Just a blade in the grass, a spoke unto the wheel
My, my cold hearted child, tell me where it's all gone
All the luster of your bones, those arms that held you strong
Oh, I been worryin' that my time is a little unclear
I been worryin' that I'm losing the one's I hold dear
I been worryin' that we all live our lives in the confines of fear
My, my cold hearted child, tell me how you feel
Just a grain in the morning air, dark shadow on the hill
My, my cold hearted child, tell me where it all falls (tell me where all falls)
All this apathy you feel will make a fool of us all
Oh, I been worryin' (I been worryin'), that my time is a little unclear
I been worryin' (I been worryin'), that I'm losing the one's I hold dear
I been worryin' (I been worryin'), that we all live our lives in the confines of fear
Oh, I will become what I deserve
Oh, I will become what I deserve
Oh, I will become what I deserve
Oh, I will become what I deserve
I've been worryin', I've been worryin'
(I will become what I deserve)
I've been worryin' my time is a little unclear
(I will become what I deserve)
I've been worryin', I've been worryin'
That my time here's a little unclear
I've been worryin', I've been worryin'
That I'm losing the ones I hold dear
I've been worryin', I've been worryin'
That we all, live our lives, in the confines of fear
The lyrics of Ben Howard's "The Fear" paint a vivid picture of an individual who has succumbed to a life of apathy and fear. The song is essentially a conversation between the individual and another person who is trying to understand the melancholy and detached nature that the former has adopted. The opening lines, "My, my cold hearted child, tell me how you feel Just a blade in the grass, a spoke unto the wheel" suggest that the person is not only closed off, but also feels powerless and defeated in the face of the world's hardships.
As the song progresses, we learn that the singer is consumed by a fear shared by many individuals: that they are losing what is most important to them. Howard's repetition of the phrase "I been worryin'" reinforces how consumed the individual is with this fear, and how pervasive it is in their life. This fear also makes them feel trapped, as it is a "confine" that limits their ability to experience life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
My, my cold hearted child, tell me how you feel
Asking a detached and numb person to express their emotions
Just a blade in the grass, a spoke unto the wheel
Feeling insignificant and powerless in the grand scheme of things
My, my cold hearted child, tell me where it's all gone
Asking someone who has lost their sense of wonder and joy to reflect on when and why they lost it
All the luster of your bones, those arms that held you strong
Remembering a time when you felt strong and alive, before you became jaded and disenchanted
Oh, I been worryin' that my time is a little unclear
Feeling uncertain and anxious about the future
I been worryin' that I'm losing the one's I hold dear
Fearing that the people you care about are slipping away from you
I been worryin' that we all live our lives in the confines of fear
Believing that fear is a common obstacle to living a fulfilling life
Just a grain in the morning air, dark shadow on the hill
Feeling ephemeral and insubstantial, like a fleeting thought or a passing breeze
My, my cold hearted child, tell me where it all falls (tell me where all falls)
Asking a person who has given up on their dreams to explain what led them to that point of surrender
All this apathy you feel will make a fool of us all
Criticizing someone for their lack of zeal and motivation, and warning that such apathy can have dire consequences for everyone
Oh, I will become what I deserve
Believing that your actions will have a direct impact on what kind of life you will have
I've been worryin', I've been worryin'
Admitting to feeling burdened and troubled
(I will become what I deserve)
Repeating the mantra that your actions will dictate your future
That my time here's a little unclear
Feeling unsure about how much time is left in your life or what you should do with it
That I'm losing the ones I hold dear
Fearing that you are losing the people you care about most
That we all, live our lives, in the confines of fear
Believing that fear is a universal and pervasive force that limits our potential and prevents us from living fully
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benjamin John Howard, Chris Bond
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ManofUlster
Nobody creates atmosphere like Ben Howard. The Burgh Island EP has such a distinct tone and mood, especially this track. There’s something transcendent about it.
@djae6083
What an amazing choice of wording. "There's something transcendent..." Exactly. 100%. He is of a being that we don't even know, let alone understand of
@yancrazy
Ben is amazing no doubt but Bon iver is on a par. Would love for them to tour together
@carolineramier3741
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🤞🙏
@ngocduc4483
@@yancrazy Justin is no way near Ben’s level to me
@ceciliakanaan7634
No words can express the way I feel when I'm listening to ben's songs.
@MrElsaphan
It’s a transcendence
@kendjana
I know right!
@conda35
True, never get tired of him. Hope he gets to Australia again one day ! 😊
@tomwolfe7782
As an agnostic atheist, musicians like Howard are the closest thing I have to spiritual leaders whose music is like church to my mind.