3/18/09 Bruford announced his retirement from performing on his web site.
Survival
Bill Bruford Lyrics
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An' somewhere in a field, a life begins
An egg too proud to rape
The beginnin' of a shape of things to come
That starts the run, life has begun, fly fast the gun
The mother flew too late
An' life within the egg was left to fate
The world outside would take it, when it came
And life?s the same, for things we aim, are we to blame?
don't doubt the fact there's life within you
Yesterday?s endings will tomorrow life give you
All that dies, dies for a reason
To put its strength into the seasons
Survival, survival
They take away an' they give you life of their name
The living?s right to live, it?s all that we need to show
The living?s right to know
The egg breaks, all is out
The crawlin' bird begins to scream an' shout
Where is the parent bird
A loneliness arose an' heard its name ringing
For lives begin, survival win, survival sin
So soon the evening comes
An' with it runs the achin' fear of hate
Could someone still remain
Who thinks he still could gain by escapin' fate?
It?s much too late don't underrate, appreciate
don't doubt the fact there's life within you
Yesterday?s endings will tomorrow life give you
All that dies, dies for a reason
To put its strength into the seasons
Survival, survival
They take away an' they give you life of their name
The living?s right to live, it?s all that we need to give
The living?s right to know
Survival, survival
They take away and they give you life of their name
The living?s right to live, it?s all that we need to give
The living?s right to know, it?s all that we have to show
An' we're all goin', an' we're all goin'
An' we're all goin', an' we're all goin'
An' we're all goin' somewhere
The song "Survival" by Bill Bruford is mainly about the cycle of life and the inevitability of death. The opening lines describe the start of life, as sunshine creeps in and a life begins in a field. The "egg too proud to rape" symbolizes the life force, which is too strong to be taken or controlled by anyone else. It is the beginning of a shape of things to come, the start of life's run. However, life is not always fair, and sometimes it is left to fate, as the mother bird in the song flew too late and left life within the egg to chance. The song questions the responsibility of humans in the cycle of life, "are we to blame?", for the things we aim for.
The chorus emphasizes the theme of survival, which is the instinct to continue living despite the odds. The lyrics suggest that life is taken away and given by others, and that the living have a right to live and know. The song also reflects on the idea that everything that dies has a purpose, and that it puts its strength into the seasons. The second verse describes the hatching of the egg and the loneliness that the newborn bird feels in the absence of its parent. This reflects the idea that life can be lonely and difficult, but the instinct to survive prevails.
In the final lines, the song suggests that we are all going somewhere, which can be interpreted as death as the ultimate end of the cycle of life. The song reflects a sense of acceptance and appreciation for the cycle of life and how everything has its purpose, even death.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunshine is creepin' in
The dawn is breaking, the beginning of a new day.
An' somewhere in a field, a life begins
A new life form is starting in an unknown location.
An egg too proud to rape
The egg is strong, and will not easily succumb to fertilization.
The beginnin' of a shape of things to come
A sign of future events, the start of something new.
That starts the run, life has begun, fly fast the gun
The beginning of life's journey, and the fast pacing of events.
The mother flew too late
The parent was not present when the egg hatched.
An' life within the egg was left to fate
The fate of the life inside the egg was uncertain.
Not really knowin' how
With uncertainty and unfamiliarity of the outside world.
The world outside would take it, when it came
The new life form would face challenges in the external environment.
And life?s the same, for things we aim, are we to blame?
Life is consistent in its unpredictability, and we may not be responsible for things that happen.
don't doubt the fact there's life within you
Have confidence in yourself as a living being.
Yesterday?s endings will tomorrow life give you
The conclusion of one day leads to the start of the next.
All that dies, dies for a reason
Everything that comes to an end has a purpose.
To put its strength into the seasons
The end of a life cycle contributes to the natural pattern of changes.
Survival, survival
The need to survive, to thrive.
They take away an' they give you life of their name
The world takes away and provides opportunities, contributing to the overall journey of life.
The living?s right to live, it?s all that we need to show
The existence of living beings is important and worth demonstrating.
The living?s right to know
To be knowledgeable and informed in life is a fundamental right.
The egg breaks, all is out
The egg shell is shattered, revealing the life inside.
The crawlin' bird begins to scream an' shout
The newborn bird is vocalizing and moving about.
Where is the parent bird
The question of the whereabouts of the adult bird.
A loneliness arose an' heard its name ringing
Feeling abandoned and desolate, the bird calls out in search of companionship.
For lives begin, survival win, survival sin
The start of life is an outcome of the survival instinct.
So soon the evening comes
The end of the day arrives quickly.
An' with it runs the achin' fear of hate
Emotion of anxiety and loathing emerges as the day ends.
could someone still remain
Is there anyone else still present?
Who thinks he still could gain by escapin' fate?
Is there someone who believes they can avoid their destiny?
It?s much too late don't underrate, appreciate
Time has passed, and it is important to acknowledge what has been experienced.
An' we're all goin', an' we're all goin'
We are all moving, progressing.
An' we're all goin', an' we're all goin'
We are all heading towards an unknown destination.
An' we're all goin' somewhere
Our journey through life has an eventual endpoint that we will all reach.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDERSON, JON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind