Band members:
Tim Kasher – lead vocals, guitars, organ
Matt Maginn – bass, backing vocals
Clint Schnase – drums, percussion
Ted Stevens – guitars, backing vocals
Patrick Newbery – miscellaneous instruments
1997 - Such Blinding Stars for Starving Eyes
1998 - The Storms of Early Summer
2000 - Domestica
2003 - The Ugly Organ
2006 - Happy Hollow
2009 - Mama, I'm Swollen
2012 - I Am Gemini
2018 - Vitriola
2019 - Get Fixed
Staying Alive
Cursive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm staying alive
Just kicking and screaming
I'm, I'm staying alive
Blood boiling and streaming
There are things
Far to dark to comprehend
Sleep on it one more night
Alive
I'm staying alive
Alive
I'm staying alive
Kicking and screaming
Blood boiling and streaming
Staying alive
Doo do doo do doo do doo do
The worst is over
and now the singer has decided to stay alive. They will fight and struggle, kicking and screaming to stay alive. They are filled with intense passion and emotion, with their blood boiling and streaming. There are things in their life that are too dark to fully understand, but they will not give up. They encourage their "sad old friend" to persevere and sleep on it for another night.
The repetition of "I'm staying alive" emphasizes the singer's determination and resilience. The use of vivid imagery, such as "blood boiling and streaming" paints a picture of their intense emotions. The phrase "Sleep on it one more night" also suggests that the singer realizes that the struggle to stay alive may be ongoing and that each day is a new challenge.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of hope in the midst of struggle and darkness. The singer is determined to not let their circumstances defeat them and will continue to fight for their life.
Line by Line Meaning
I've decided tonight
I have made the decision tonight
I'm staying alive
I am choosing to survive and endure
Just kicking and screaming
I will not go down without a fight
I'm, I'm staying alive
I am determined to live through this
Blood boiling and streaming
I am experiencing intense emotions
There are things
Some things are too difficult to understand
Far too dark to comprehend
These things are so terrible that they defy explanation
Sleep on it one more night
Take some time to rest and reflect
My sad old friend
Addressing someone who is feeling down
Alive
Continuing to live and fight
Kicking and screaming
Refusing to give up or accept defeat
Doo do doo do doo do doo do
Repeating musical sounds
The worst is over
The most difficult part is behind us
I'm staying alive
I am determined to keep going
Staying alive
Enduring and surviving through challenging circumstances
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Clint Frederick Schnase, Gretta Mindy Cohn, Matthew Ryan Maginn, Ted James Stevens, Tim Kasher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gummo6596
I've decided tonight
I'm staying alive
Just kicking and screaming
I'm, I'm staying alive
Blood boiling and streaming
There are things
Far to dark to comprehend
Sleep on it one more night
My sad old friend
Alive
I'm staying alive
Alive
I'm staying alive
Kicking and screaming
Blood boiling and streaming
Staying alive
Doo do doo do doo do doo do
The worst is over
@maximoplf
Left a comment here 10 years ago that this song saved me 18 years ago.
And keeps savin again and again. Thanks Tim and Cursive.
@PageNumber687x
same. went through a very dark period many, many years ago and listened to this song for hope. while i've never quite been back in that same level of darkness as then, i still come back to this song on the rough nights.
@archivalme
Nearly 20 years later and I still sing “the worst is over” after particularly tough times. This song saved me on numerous occasions - music is therapy.
@FutureOverYou
What's so amazing is how few people have ever heard this absolute masterpiece of a song. But for those who have heard it, it touched you all.
@kelseykelsey2559
it saved my life 17 years ago.
@FutureOverYou
Been listening to this song for over 15 years and it's still one of the most beautiful songs I've ever had the pleasure to listen to.
@notsure1350
One of the few songs that could ever quiet my inner monologue that always said "you could always just do a hard right turn on this bridge and it's all over"...
At this point I'm pretty grateful to be alive considering how much energy I spent trying to make sure that wouldn't be possible. Man I was such a wreck when I was young.
Things only changed for one reason. As I lived wishing I could die, I watched as my father lay dying of organ failure and all he could say is "I want to live".
@craigjones9687
From being 16 to 36 now, this is part of me. "The worst is over."
@meghanmoore9719
One of the most powerful songs I've ever heard. I'll continue to carry this through my life. A jewel I love this song it gives me so much to think about.
@andyfranklin3865
This song got me through so many rough times.