Isolation
Daughter Lyrics


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The odds are stacked against us, friend
I know that our short time depends on it
No, we can't treat it lightly
Oh, it will likely kill me
That I must live
Without you
'Cause I can't swim
To be here, in distant dream
Full knowing we're incomplete
The odds are stacked against our love
I'm always waking up when he is sleeping
Still, the catalyst
I know I plummet to the depths
With no reasoning
One reason was the birds singing
I curled in a ball
And thought of you, and all you meant
I'll compose myself, I'll get over it

Though I can't tell if this is better
To be left, another lesson learned
Learned




Learned
Learned

Overall Meaning

In "Isolation," Daughter explores the complexities of a relationship that is doomed to fail due to circumstances beyond their control. The song starts off with lines that acknowledge the inevitability of the situation, stating that the odds are stacked against them and that their short time together depends on it. The singer acknowledges that they can't treat the situation lightly, as it will likely kill them to live without their partner. The line "Cause I can't swim" suggests that they feel helpless in the face of the situation, with no power to change their fate.


As the song progresses, the singer reflects on their relationship and the powerlessness they feel. They describe themselves as being in a "distant dream" and acknowledge that they are incomplete without their partner. Despite this, they know that the odds are stacked against their love and they are always waking up alone. The singer also acknowledges that they are the catalyst for their own pain, but it seems to come without any reasoning. The only solace they find is in thinking of their partner and what they meant to them. The final lines of the song are a reflection on whether it is better to have loved and lost or to have never loved at all. Despite the pain, the singer is determined to compose themselves and get over it.


Overall, "Isolation" is a poignant and heartbreaking exploration of a relationship that is doomed to fail. The lyrics capture the feeling of helplessness and powerlessness that can come when circumstances beyond our control make it impossible for us to stay with the people we love. The song is a testament to Daughter's songwriting abilities, as they manage to convey complex emotions with just a few words.


Line by Line Meaning

The odds are stacked against us, friend
The circumstances are against us and it feels like we're at a disadvantage.


I know that our short time depends on it
I'm aware that the little time we have together hinges on making it work.


No, we can't treat it lightly
It's not something to take for granted or to be careless about.


Oh, it will likely kill me
The weight of the situation is overwhelming and it feels like it might destroy me.


That I must live
I have to face the reality of the situation regardless of how hard it is.


Without you
Being without you is a hard truth to accept.


'Cause I can't swim
I don't have the strength to handle my emotions and the situation alone.


To be here, in distant dream
Being in this situation feels like a far-off and unreachable dream.


Full knowing we're incomplete
I'm fully aware that something is missing or incomplete in our situation.


The odds are stacked against our love
The chances of our relationship working out are slim due to the circumstances we're in.


I'm always waking up when he is sleeping
It's hard to forget about my situation, even when I try to distract myself or sleep.


Still, the catalyst
Despite the challenges, we can still find moments of happiness and joy together.


I know I plummet to the depths
My emotions can take me to dark and difficult places.


With no reasoning
Sometimes my emotional pain has no logical explanation or solution.


One reason was the birds singing
The simple beauty of nature can be a reminder of what I'm missing and can be hard to bear.


I curled in a ball
The emotional pain can be so intense that I want to curl up and hide from everything.


And thought of you, and all you meant
Despite the pain, I still hold on to the memories and love we shared.


I'll compose myself, I'll get over it
I'll try to regain my composure and move on from the pain, even though it may not be easy.


Though I can't tell if this is better
Sometimes it's hard to know if it's worse to hold on to the pain or to let go and move on.


To be left, another lesson learned
Being left behind can be a painful lesson, but it's also an opportunity to grow and learn.


Learned
Repeating this word emphasizes the idea that there are valuable lessons to be learned from difficult situations.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Elena Tonra, Igor Haefeli, Remi Aguilella

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@sami7am

Lyrics:

[Verse]
The odds are stacked against us, friend
I know that our short time depends on it
No, we can't treat it lightly
Oh, it will likely kill me
That I must live without you
'Cause I can't swim
To be here in distant dream
Full-knowing we're incomplete
The odds are stacked against our love
I'm always waking up when he is sleeping still
The catalyst
I know I plummet to the depths
With no reasoning, one reason was
The birds singing, I curled in a ball
And thought of you and all you meant
I'll compose myself, I'll get over it
[Chorus]
Though I can't tell if this is better
To be left another lesson learned
Learned
Learned
Learned



All comments from YouTube:

@iamhorseraddish

In all my years of existence nothing is as magical as a daughter album and how deeply it peers into my heart. I melt with every word spoken and every note placed.

@samanthalena3917

Me too! Totally agree.❤

@maria-ub2gz

"i'll compose myself, i'll get over it" </3

@Winter-Alpha-Omega

Makes me feel as if I were a moth, dying in an attic.

@clotildemartinezlopez7017

The imagery of the flowers in the wind is so relaxing

@samanthalena3917

“This is better to be left another lesson learned” unbelievably profound

@Winter-Alpha-Omega

Who does that mean, my dear?

@soulandfresh

@@Winter-Alpha-Omegawhat does it mean to you? Music is all up to personal interpretation. Only you can say what it means, just like only I can say what it means to me. Our interpretations can be wildly different, and we can experience completely different emotions at the same line or melody or beat. So I ask you again, what does it mean to you?

@Winter-Alpha-Omega

@@soulandfresh I interpret it as Elena thinking that she needs to seperate from whoever she's referring to here.

But then she frames this as a lesson, something she needed to go through to learn something she wouldn't have otherwise.

Quite sad, to be honest. To see love not as a thing in and of itself, but only as a scenario in the grand scheme of romance.

Now, I ask you to return the question and tell me what you think she meant.

@Dashh_

i swear if life gives me one more of its "lessons" i might as well combust

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