Heavyhearted World
Ellen Harper Lyrics

It’s Christmas morning in the psych ward
The setting is a psychiatric hospital on Christmas day.

There’s a flight risk today so a nurse guards the door
A patient is at risk of trying to leave, so a nurse is monitoring the door.

There’s a man in the corner who sounds just like me
The singer sees someone who reminds them of themselves in the psychiatric hospital.

Rambling on about time square new years eve
The man is talking nonsensically about a celebratory event that he may or may not have actually attended.

If I could only forget what I’m supposed to know
The artist wishes they could forget something important.

If I could only keep from sinking so low
The singer wishes they could avoid feeling so down and overwhelmed.

Strapped me down and into the void I was hurled
The singer has been restrained and feels like they've been thrown into an empty, dark space of despair.

With nowhere else to turn in this heavyhearted world
The artist feels like they have exhausted all options and are left with nothing but heavyheartedness and despair.

Traded our rage for broken bones
The artist and other people may have suppressed their anger, leading to physical injury or harm to themselves.

Traded our fear for someplace to call home
The artist and other people may have exchanged their anxieties for a sense of stability and comfort by finding a safe place to live.

Traded a lifetime for one long day
The singer and other people may feel like their entire life has been reduced to a single, endless day in which they can't escape their struggles.

Nothing is more beautiful than to fade away
The idea of disappearing or fading away is appealing to the artist and other people as a relief from their suffering.

Fear and the memory of painful youth
Past traumas and experiences of pain have led to a pervasive sense of fear and anxiety in the singer and other people.

It prepared us for the painful truth
The past struggles and traumas have toughened the singer and other people, making them better equipped to handle harsh realities.

So gather only what’s sacred summons all of your courage
In order to get through life's challenges, the singer encourages listeners to hold onto what is most meaningful and important to them and to be brave in the face of trials.

And walk with me into this heavyhearted world
The artist invites others to join them in acknowledging and facing the heaviness of the world we live in.