Afterburner
Boris Lyrics


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When you feel the chill -- 'flame, watered-down"
It's always like this -- "too lazy"
When you feel you're going insane -- "flame, watered-down"
It's always like this -- "just pour it down"
Overflow
Take a sip
Now, look at me
You'll be knocked out
It's been like this,
I've always found it's like this
Image, can't control, let it overflow -- "indeed"
Image, can't control, let it overflow -- "isn't it?"
a bunch of them falling down happily and randomly
When you feel the chill -- "disappear"




When was it that it was like this -- "disappear"
When was it that it was like this -- "flame, watered-down"

Overall Meaning

In Boris's song Afterburner, the lyrics are open to interpretation but seem to convey a sense of loss of control, both over oneself and one's surroundings. The first stanza, "When you feel the chill, it's always like this / When you feel you're going insane, just pour it down," suggests that in times of distress, the singer turns to something "watered-down," likely alcohol, to numb their emotions. The repetition of "flame, watered-down" could represent the feeling of the alcohol as a temporary solution that fades quickly like a dying flame.


The second stanza introduces the idea of overflow, perhaps of emotions or substance. "Image, can't control, let it overflow" suggests that the singer is struggling to maintain a certain image or control over their life and that they need to let themselves go and feel their emotions fully. The line "a bunch of them falling down happily and randomly" could be a reference to the singer's friends or acquaintances who are able to let loose freely, while the singer feels trapped behind their facade.


The last stanza repeats the first two lines of the first stanza, suggesting that the cyclical nature of feeling lost and numb is unending. The repetition of "when was it that it was like this" could be a reflection on the singer's past, thinking about a time when they were in control and felt alive. Overall, the lyrics seem to convey a sense of disillusionment with oneself and the world, and a search for something to numb the pain.


Line by Line Meaning

When you feel the chill
Feeling a sense of coldness, which is metaphorically represented by a flame that has been weakened by the addition of water.


It's always like this
The occurrence of feeling the chill, that is represented by the flame, being weakened with water is a recurring feeling that is difficult to shake off.


When you feel you're going insane
Feeling mentally unstable, which is again metaphorically represented by a flame that has been weakened by water.


It's always like this
The feeling of mental instability is also a recurring feeling that is difficult to shake off, similar to feeling the chill.


Overflow
When the emotions become too much and cannot be contained.


Take a sip
To consume something that will cause the overflow of emotions.


Now, look at me
The effects of these overflowing emotions are visible and can be seen in the singer.


You'll be knocked out
The intensity of the emotions are so strong that it is overwhelming and can knock someone out.


It's been like this, I've always found it's like this
The artist has experienced this overflow of emotions frequently and has come to expect it.


Image, can't control, let it overflow
The emotions are so intense that the person cannot control the imagery that comes along with it, and it is better to let it overflow.


a bunch of them falling down happily and randomly
The imagery that comes with the overflow of emotion is of many things falling down in a haphazard and pleasant way.


When you feel the chill
Re-experiencing the feeling of coldness that is compared to the weakened flame from before.


When was it that it was like this
Questioning when the feeling of chill was actually present.


When was it that it was like this
Re-experiencing the previous feeling of mental instability that is compared to the weakened flame from before.


flame, watered-down
Reiterating the metaphor of the flames that have been weakened due to the addition of water.




Contributed by Noah A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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