Richmond, Virginia. Andrew Seymour - d… Read Full Bio ↴https://downhaul.bandcamp.com
Richmond, Virginia. Andrew Seymour - drums, percussion, vocals
Patrick Davis - bass guitar, vocals
Robbie Ludvigsen - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, programming, vocals
Gordon Phillips - vocals, baritone guitar
Shelf Life
Downhaul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your friends have stopped inviting you to things?"
As if I hadn't traced the commonality
As if I really thought it was anyone else's fault
So I'm counting creases in the sidewalk back to Clay Street
And I'm dodging questions about what we're doing next
Cause I'm fine and you're fine
But it's hardly closure
And that'll be something that I hold onto
After the shelf life of what we went through
You might not have meant it the way it passed your teeth
But I can only speak to the way it stuck with me
The way it sticks with me
And I want to be the person that my parents
Act like I am when they catch up with friends
About setting sons and what we've done
The ways we measure up to the things they want for us
The way my sister looks at my new brother
How I can't fake that for all the years I've tried
So I'm packing boxes, my yearly practice
And I'm moving past this
And it's watching other people
When they truly need each other
A crushing commentary
Hardly a framing issue
So I dread this rite of passage
Cause each time it's temperamental
Unpack what I can manage
Cause you're all I can remember
You're all I can remember
These lyrics from Downhaul's song "Shelf Life" explore themes of self-reflection, isolation, and the longing for acceptance. The singer reflects on the possibility that their friends have stopped inviting them to events, suggesting that there might be a reason behind it. The singer, however, takes responsibility for their own isolation, acknowledging that they have failed to recognize the commonality among their friends' actions. They do not blame others but rather themselves for their current situation.
As the singer walks down Clay Street, they avoid answering questions about their future plans, claiming that they are fine and their friends are fine, but there is a lack of closure. The repetition of the phrase "I'm fine and you're fine, but it's hardly closure" suggests that although the situation may appear okay on the surface, there is an underlying sense of unresolved emotions.
The lyrics further explore the concept of holding onto something after the "shelf life" of a past relationship or experience has expired. The singer admits that the other person may not have intended their words to negatively affect them, but it still resonates deeply. This experience sticks with the singer, and they continue to hold onto it, even after it should naturally fade away.
The lyrics also touch on the desire to live up to the expectations of parents and be the person they believe the singer to be. The singer mentions how their parents talk about their achievements to their friends, about being responsible and successful. However, the singer feels they fall short of these expectations, especially in comparison to their sister and her new partner. They express the difficulty of faking a desired image and the ongoing struggle to measure up to their parents' hopes.
The final paragraph reflects on the singer's observation of other people who genuinely rely on and support each other. This seems to be seen as a contrast to the singer's own experiences, where relationships are more temperamental and prone to unpacking baggage. The singer dreads going through the same patterns repeatedly, unpacking what they can manage but being unable to forget their past connection with the individual they address in the song. Despite potential turmoil, they remain attached to this person emotionally.
Overall, "Shelf Life" delves into self-reflection, examining personal relationships, isolation, and the longing for acceptance. It paints a picture of someone grappling with their own faults, the impact of words and past experiences, parental expectations, and the complexities of human connections.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you ever think that maybe there's a reason that
Have you ever considered that perhaps there is a justification for
Your friends have stopped inviting you to things?
Your acquaintances have ceased to include you in their plans?
As if I hadn't traced the commonality
As though I hadn't identified the shared characteristic
As if I really thought it was anyone else's fault
As if I genuinely believed it was the responsibility of someone else
So I'm counting creases in the sidewalk back to Clay Street
Therefore, I'm meticulously observing the folds in the pavement leading to Clay Street
And I'm dodging questions about what we're doing next
And I'm evading inquiries regarding our future actions
Cause I'm fine and you're fine
Because I am emotionally stable and you appear to be as well
But it's hardly closure
However, it is far from providing a sense of resolution
And that'll be something that I hold onto
And that will be a matter I cling onto
After the shelf life of what we went through
Following the expiration of the value of our shared experiences
You might not have meant it the way it passed your teeth
Perhaps you didn't intend it to be expressed the way it left your mouth
But I can only speak to the way it stuck with me
However, I can only attest to how it resonated within myself
The way it sticks with me
The way it remains deeply ingrained in my thoughts
And I want to be the person that my parents
Moreover, I aspire to become the individual whom my parents
Act like I am when they catch up with friends
Portray me as during their conversations with acquaintances
About setting sons and what we've done
Regarding successful offspring and our accomplishments
The ways we measure up to the things they want for us
How we conform to their desires and expectations
The way my sister looks at my new brother
The manner in which my sister regards my recently acquired sibling
How I can't fake that for all the years I've tried
My inability to feign that facade despite countless attempts over the years
So I'm packing boxes, my yearly practice
Consequently, I am collecting and arranging belongings into containers, a ritual I perform annually
And I'm moving past this
And I am progressing beyond this situation
And it's watching other people
Furthermore, it's observing other individuals
When they truly need each other
During moments when they genuinely rely on one another
A crushing commentary
An overwhelming critique
Hardly a framing issue
Scarcely just a matter of perspective
So I dread this rite of passage
Therefore, I deeply fear this customary transition
Cause each time it's temperamental
Because every instance of it is unstable and unpredictable
Unpack what I can manage
Unburden myself from what I can handle
Cause you're all I can remember
Because you're the only thing I can reminisce about
You're all I can remember
You're the sole memory that remains vividly within me
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Gordon Phillips
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind