Near Life
Embrace Lyrics


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It would be wrong for a tale so sad to end upon a note just like that.
Happy, lost and still unaware.
Throw your worries down with your cares.
All I've got to show me I'm good is the fight I've got when I do some bad.
The guilt connects me but it's never enough to light the way when it's all I have.
Near life.

They say he works in some simple ways you don't feel guilt then you'll never pay.
Because guilt won't take you if you look and see you life's a hurdle and it's out of reach.
You tell a painter how they should paint you start a feeling that you'll never change.
I'm on a ship and I've found the sails.




I've got my hammer all I see is nails.
Near life.

Overall Meaning

The song "Near Life" by Embrace is a melancholic tune about self-doubt and the struggle to find one's purpose in life. The introductory line, "It would be wrong for a tale so sad to end upon a note just like that," sets the stage for the song's contemplative tone. The following lines, "Happy, lost and still unaware. Throw your worries down with your cares," suggest that the singer is dealing with a sense of detachment and disconnection from the world around them.


The lines "All I've got to show me I'm good is the fight I've got when I do some bad. The guilt connects me, but it's never enough to light the way when it's all I have," reflect the singer's struggle with self-destructive behavior and feelings of guilt. The line "Near life" serves as a commentary on the singer's current state of being - neither fully alive nor fully dead.


The song's middle section deals with societal pressures and expectations. The lines "They say he works in some simple ways, you don't feel guilt then you'll never pay. Because guilt won't take you if you look and see your life's a hurdle and it's out of reach," reinforce the idea that society expects us to feel guilty about our shortcomings, while simultaneously making it impossible for us to succeed. The singer speaks directly to these societal pressures in the line "You tell a painter how they should paint, you start a feeling that you'll never change."


Overall, "Near Life" is a powerful exploration of the human condition, touching on themes of self-doubt, guilt, societal pressure, and the struggle to find one's place in the world.


Line by Line Meaning

It would be wrong for a tale so sad to end upon a note just like that.
It would not be appropriate for a sad story to simply end without any resolution or closure.


Happy, lost and still unaware.
Feeling content but unsure of the current situation due to lack of awareness.


Throw your worries down with your cares.
Let go of both worries and things that concern you, in order to feel free.


All I've got to show me I'm good is the fight I've got when I do some bad.
The only validation of goodness comes from the effort made to do the right thing, even when tempted to do wrong.


The guilt connects me but it's never enough to light the way when it's all I have.
Guilt is a link between thoughts and actions, but it does not provide enough direction to find one's way.


They say he works in some simple ways you don't feel guilt then you'll never pay.
Some believe that if one does not have guilt for their wrongdoings, they will never face consequences for their actions.


Because guilt won't take you if you look and see your life's a hurdle and it's out of reach.
Feeling overwhelmed or defeated in life may prevent one from experiencing guilt for their actions.


You tell a painter how they should paint, you start a feeling that you'll never change.
Trying to influence and control someone else's work or creativity can lead to a feeling of helplessness regarding one's own self-improvement.


I'm on a ship and I've found the sails.
Feeling empowered and in control of the direction one's life


I've got my hammer all I see is nails.
Being too focused on one tool or solution and unable to see alternative paths or solutions to problems.


Near life.
Feeling almost alive but not quite reaching full potential or satisfaction.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MICHAEL WILLIAM DALE, STEVEN FIRTH, MIKE HEATON, DANIEL MCNAMARA, RICHARD MCNAMARA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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