Pay Attention
Dan Fajans Lyrics
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The one thing knocking on the door
The one that has you laying on the floor
The one behind the clot
Underneath the chest.
The ghost of a thought
In between the breath and the breath
The one located on the clock
In the spot halfway between the Tick and the Tock
The ox
In front of you that didn’t make you stop
The shock
Dislocated and discharged
But not to the ground
The capacitor’s this large
You build a shelter in a Faraday cage and
Learn to wiggle with the waves as reality sways
If you could pay attention
To the wave inside of you
That sinking
Vibration
Too much to tune into
Frozen by the heat
From the soft concrete
Levitated by the weight of ten suns
The motor in the truck that ran you over and
The one that ran the landing that you stuck are
Both the same damn ones
After lunch and after the episode
After later and after the last of the debts you owed
Flashed past in a blast from the
Stress of held tight but still crashed
Ethical codes
Principles that in a crisis turn vincible
And turn to ice nine when crisis turns to baseline
Can’t tell if it tastes fine
Or whether it’s time
To move the belt to the neck from the waistline
It’s yours but it feels like you heard it through the grapevine
Worded like a verdict to assert with a straight spine
You heard it but the details blurred and emerged submerged
If you could pay attention
To the wave inside of you
That sinking
Vibration
Too much to tune into
Frozen by the heat
From the soft concrete
Levitated by the weight of ten suns
The motor in the truck that ran you over
And the one that ran the landing that you stuck
Both the same damn ones
Slow-mo Moonwalk
Clock moves clockwise
Inside talk moves upwise
Unwise mind floats outside
Brick by brick till the whole world’s capsized
Outsized shame might as well have been baptized
Was yours - might as well have been that guys
Not Chastity, maybe Chastized
Not Destiny, maybe Despised
Fog lifts as the deadlines rise
An old friend with a diamond in his eyes
A wink and a crash and a thick roll of cash
And a drink and a dash and it’s over in a flash
When you pay attention
To the wave that’s passing through
That shaking
Vibration
Up from deep inside of you
The lyrics of Dan Fajans's song "Pay Attention" depict a sense of introspection and self-awareness. The opening lines suggest the presence of something significant, represented by "the one thing knocking on the door" and "the one behind the clot." It seems to refer to a nagging thought or idea that remains hidden beneath the surface, between breaths.
The song continues with metaphors and imagery, such as "the knot located on the clock" or the feeling of being dislocated and discharged but not falling to the ground. These lines suggest a sense of disorientation or confusion, as if the singer is grappling with conflicting emotions or experiences. They build a metaphorical shelter in a Faraday cage, which symbolizes protecting themselves from the overwhelming waves of reality.
The chorus emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the inner turmoil and emotions that exist within oneself. The sinking vibration referred to here could represent feelings of unease or discomfort that are challenging to address. The lyrics suggest that it might feel like too much to tune into, indicating the difficulty of facing these internal struggles.
The song further explores the idea of being frozen or stuck, symbolized by being levitated by the weight of "ten suns" or being run over by a metaphorical truck. It highlights a sense of being caught in repetitive patterns or burdensome situations. The final verse speaks of breaking free from these constraints, with the image of a slow-motion Moonwalk or the whole world capsizing. It suggests a desire for liberation and a release from self-imposed limitations.
Overall, "Pay Attention" conveys the need for introspection and self-awareness, encouraging listeners to delve into their inner selves and confront the hidden thoughts and emotions that shape their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything but
Every single thing except
The one thing knocking on the door
The one thing that is seeking your attention
The one that has you laying on the floor
The one that has brought you to a vulnerable state
The one behind the clot
The hidden thought or issue
Underneath the chest.
Deep within your heart and emotions
The ghost of a thought
The lingering and haunting idea
In between the breath and the breath
In the pause between inhaling and exhaling
The knot
The tangle or problem
The one located on the clock
The issue that is right in front of you
In the spot halfway between the Tick and the Tock
In the moment between time passing
The ox
The obstacle or challenge
In front of you that didn’t make you stop
That didn't prevent you from moving forward
The shock
The sudden surprise or impact
Dislocated and discharged
Thrown off course and released
But not to the ground
But it didn't completely bring you down
The capacitor’s this large
The amount of energy or tension is significant
You build a shelter in a Faraday cage and
You create a shield or protection
Learn to wiggle with the waves as reality sways
Learn to adapt and adjust as circumstances change
If you could pay attention
If you could truly focus on
To the wave inside of you
To the inner turmoil or disturbance within you
That sinking
That overwhelming feeling of sinking
Vibration
Emotional energy or imbalance
Too much to tune into
Too overwhelming to fully comprehend
Frozen by the heat
Paralyzed by the intensity
From the soft concrete
From the seemingly solid ground
Levitated by the weight of ten suns
Elevated by the immense pressure or burden
The motor in the truck that ran you over and
The force or influence that caused you harm and
The one that ran the landing that you stuck are
The same one that determined your outcome
Both the same damn ones
Both are equally responsible and connected
After lunch and after the episode
After a period of relaxation and after a significant event
After later and after the last of the debts you owed
After delaying and after settling all your obligations
Flashed past in a blast from the
Passed by rapidly and unexpectedly
Stress of held tight but still crashed
Pressure of keeping it together but eventually collapsing
Ethical codes
Moral principles or guidelines
Principles that in a crisis turn vincible
Beliefs that become vulnerable in difficult situations
And turn to ice nine when crisis turns to baseline
And solidify into an unyielding state when challenges become the norm
Can’t tell if it tastes fine
Unable to determine if it is acceptable
Or whether it’s time
Or if it is the right moment
To move the belt to the neck from the waistline
To consider taking drastic actions or giving up
It’s yours but it feels like you heard it through the grapevine
It belongs to you but it seems like you learned it from rumors
Worded like a verdict to assert with a straight spine
Expressed as a judgment to emphasize confidence
You heard it but the details blurred and emerged submerged
You heard it, but the specifics became unclear and hidden
Slow-mo Moonwalk
A deliberate and controlled backward movement
Clock moves clockwise
Time continues to progress in a predictable manner
Inside talk moves upwise
Internal dialogue shifts towards a higher perspective
Unwise mind floats outside
Unwise thoughts seem detached from reality
Brick by brick till the whole world’s capsized
Gradually, piece by piece, until everything is overturned
Outsized shame might as well have been baptized
Overwhelming shame is as though it has been cleansed
Was yours - might as well have been that guys
Belonged to you - could have belonged to anyone
Not Chastity, maybe Chastized
Not purity, but perhaps scolded or reprimanded
Not Destiny, maybe Despised
Not fate, but possibly hated or disliked
Fog lifts as the deadlines rise
Uncertainty clears as time limits approach
An old friend with a diamond in his eyes
A familiar person with great insight or wisdom
A wink and a crash and a thick roll of cash
A suggestive gesture followed by a sudden impact and a wad of money
And a drink and a dash and it’s over in a flash
And a beverage and a hurried departure, and it ends suddenly
When you pay attention
When you truly focus
To the wave that’s passing through
To the transient feeling or influence
That shaking
That trembling or disturbance
Vibration
Emotional energy or imbalance
Up from deep inside of you
Emerging from the depths of your being
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Dan Fajans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Jones
on Gravity
Pretty sure this is The Fly, not gravity