Compass
Counterparts Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The weight came and went and took my will to live
Spoiled by defeat, forced to drown in what's left of me
That's when breathing became routine
And I could feel myself fading

I am stranded
No direction, I am a compass
Constantly spinning
Constantly searching for the end
Never reaching our destination
But the goal was never when
Or where
Or who
It was only you

I appeared in your arms as if I had been born there
You promised you'd never let me go
But I don't know what I believe anymore (what to believe anymore)

Affection allowed me to let the light in
The fear made me whole again
Help me rebuild my broken bones
Help me regain my sanity
But with caution always present
Our pasts manifest themselves
And we act as if this is what we deserve
But I refuse to fail again

I'd force my ghost to write your name in the flowers on my grave
I watched the world give up on me

I used to spend my nights, praying for air in my bloodstream
Now I long to feel your breath pass through my arteries
The goal was never when
Or where
Or who
It was only you

I appeared in your arms as if I had been born there
You promised you'd never let me go
But I don't know what I believe anymore (what to believe anymore)
Fill me with your faith and let me leave

I'm scratching at my skin to take my mind
Off the absence we've created
The lines blur together like the veins in my arms




And I wish I wasn't so alone
You are the difference between hell and home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Counterparts' song Compass describe a sense of being lost and unfulfilled, but with a glimmer of hope that someone else can bring meaning to life. The first verse begins with a despairing tone, describing feeling defeated and hopeless. Breathing, which is a necessary and automatic bodily function, is now routine, indicating a lack of energy or motivation to engage with life. The singer is searching for a direction or purpose to guide them, but they feel stranded and aimless. They are, however, fixated on someone, and the singer emphasizes the fact that the goal has always been that person. The second verse describes a moment of hope and renewal when the singer was able to let light and affection into their life. However, they are also cautious about the past and the potential for failure. The singer confesses a desire for their loved one that seems almost physical, and they are haunted by the fear of being alone. The repetition of the line "the goal was never when, or where, or who" suggests that love is the guiding force in life, even if it is elusive and difficult to understand.


Overall, the lyrics of Compass speak to the human need for direction, purpose, and love. The singer is struggling with depression or some kind of emotional pain, but they convey the possibility of healing through connection with someone else. This desire for connection is expressed in physical terms, such as feeling someone else's breath and warmth, but it is also emotional - the singer wants to believe in someone or something outside of themselves. The song is a meditation on the way in which love can guide and anchor us, even in the midst of confusion and doubt.


Line by Line Meaning

The weight came and went and took my will to live
Defeat and setbacks have robbed me of my motivation to keep going


Spoiled by defeat, forced to drown in what's left of me
Failures have left me jaded and drowning in my own misery


That's when breathing became routine
I've become so numb that even breathing feels like something I just have to do


And I could feel myself fading
I can sense my own slow decline and erosion from within


I am stranded
I am lost and directionless


No direction, I am a compass
I am aimless and searching for guidance


Constantly spinning
I am in a state of perpetual confusion and uncertainty


Constantly searching for the end
I am trying to find some kind of resolution and clarity


Never reaching our destination
We are always falling short of our goals


But the goal was never when
We were never focused on time or deadlines


Or where
Physical location was never the priority


Or who
The focus was never on other people


It was only you
The only thing that mattered was the person I cared about


I appeared in your arms as if I had been born there
Being with you feels natural, like I was always meant to be there


You promised you'd never let me go
You made a vow to always be there for me


But I don't know what I believe anymore (what to believe anymore)
I'm not sure if I can trust in that promise anymore


Affection allowed me to let the light in
Love and care helped me open up and start to heal


The fear made me whole again
Even though I was afraid, the experience allowed me to feel complete


Help me rebuild my broken bones
I need support and care to repair my emotional wounds


Help me regain my sanity
I need help to restore my mental health and well-being


But with caution always present
I'm still wary and careful about opening up too much


Our pasts manifest themselves
Our history and baggage influence our present selves


And we act as if this is what we deserve
We sometimes accept our struggles as punishment we deserve


But I refuse to fail again
I am determined not to give up or be defeated


I'd force my ghost to write your name in the flowers on my grave
I am so committed to you that even after death, I would remember you


I watched the world give up on me
It felt like everyone else had lost hope in me and my abilities


I used to spend my nights, praying for air in my bloodstream
I used to feel suffocated and hopeless, but now I long for something life-giving


Now I long to feel your breath pass through my arteries
I want to feel connected to you on a deep physical level


Fill me with your faith and let me leave
Give me the courage and belief to move forward


I'm scratching at my skin to take my mind
I'm desperate to escape my own thoughts and feelings


Off the absence we've created
Our distance and disconnection is weighing on me


The lines blur together like the veins in my arms
Everything feels hazy and indistinct


And I wish I wasn't so alone
I feel isolated and cut off from others


You are the difference between hell and home
Being with you is the only thing that feels comforting and safe




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Alexander John Re, Brendan Murphy, Eric James John Bazinet, Jesse Diamond Doreen, Kelly Alexander Bilan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@pedroferreira5489

This song is therapy, unbelievable fusion of sadness, anger and hope

@JerryRoweGuitar

Better than 100% of the Metalcore bands and so far the best Melodic Hardcore band i've heard IMO, and i've heard a lot of em. Melo hardcore beats Metalcore any given day,

@Luciferswife

IM SCRATCHING AT MY SKIIIIIIINNNNNNNN, TO TAKE MY MIND OF THE ABSENCE WEVE CREATED. THE LINES BLUR TOGETHER LIKE THE VEINS IN MY ARRRMMMMSSS, AND I WISH I WASNT SO ALONE. YOURE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEELLLLL ANDDDD HOMEEE

@7mgs

this song will never be bad. been a good 6 years and still listening to it

@ShatteredToDust

That build up to the whole "I watched the world give up on me." is perfect

@thepanda973

Counterparts- Compass: You are the difference between hell and home
Solace: I think I live in both my hell and my home

This is why they have quickly become my favorite band

@khalifa13thy

Damn never noticed that thanks g!

@GuitardedDude88

3:51 is so powerful as is the whole album. It`s all the small things in this album that makes it so outstanding, tops any other band in whatever `genre`people want to label them into.

@VoteforPaulo

From 3:18 onwards is soooooo chilling. That slow eerie guitar interlude, then it comes full stop, and then bursts straight into epicness. And the lyrics....my god...so bone-chilling and memorable. I love that outro.

@alinamichelle2531

A+ lyrics wow too good

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