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Pendulum
Dawnbringer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lose our will to sleep.
Once each month, I lose my breath,
Dig down twice as deep.
Still, we race to reach our end.
Don't know where that is.
Face to face and clear at last.
In "Pendulum", Dawnbringer explores the human's tendency to inexorably move towards death, making it a constant companion throughout the year. The first line, "All year long we chase our death", highlights this sentiment, and the following line, "Lose our will to sleep", suggests that the singer is always haunted by the thought of death, making it difficult for them to rest. However, once each month, the singer feels a deeper sense of loss as they "lose their breath" and "dig down twice as deep" - it's a deep plunge into despair that brings them face-to-face with a realization of their own mortality.
Despite the constant presence of death, people keep striving to reach their end without really knowing where it is. The line "Still, we race to reach our end. Don't know where that is," portrays this sense of aimlessness and desperation that comes with trying to outrun death. But while running towards the inevitable, the singer comes face-to-face with the reality of life, a moment of clarity that they craved for and are grateful for, as they now want more of these moments: "Face to face and clear at last. I want more like this."
Overall, "Pendulum" is a poignant exploration of the human condition, death, and the constant search for meaning in life, bringing attention to the fact that it's often the moments of clarity that make the struggles worthwhile.
Line by Line Meaning
All year long we chase our death,
We spend every moment of every day headed towards our inevitable end.
Lose our will to sleep.
In the pursuit of our goals, we sacrifice basic needs like rest and relaxation.
Once each month, I lose my breath,
Occasionally, our struggles and hardships become so intense that they leave us breathless.
Dig down twice as deep.
When faced with overwhelming obstacles, we dig deep to find the strength to push through.
Still, we race to reach our end.
Even though we know the outcome, we continue to hustle and push to achieve our goals.
Don't know where that is.
Despite our drive, we often lack clear direction on how to get to where we want to go.
Face to face and clear at last.
After struggling for so long, we finally come face to face with our goal, and it all becomes clear.
I want more like this.
The sense of satisfaction that comes from reaching a goal pushes us to strive for more success in the future.
Contributed by Ethan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.