Bio from PureVolume.com.
Great Divide
Fair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The more you hold the less you keep
Untied your concern
The stronger the grip the more you'll burn
Board up the west side
It feels like it's coming round
Batten down the east side
Don't speak, breathe in deep
He's so sycophantic I can't understand it
Hold fast, this won't last
His long-suffering is what takes timing
Find your great divide
You might hesitate but I don't recommend it
Look up, blinders on
Overcomplicated like the boy you are
Shake this simple fist
All you need is some excuse to blame it on
The lyrics in Fair's song Great Divide depict a sense of chaos and urgency, as indicated by the lines "Shut down, fall asleep / The more you hold the less you keep / Untied your concern / The stronger the grip the more you'll burn." It seems to be a warning about the dangers of holding onto things too tightly and becoming consumed by them, represented by the idea of burning oneself out. The lyrics also mention boarding up the west and east sides, leading us to believe that there is some external threat causing this turmoil, which gives a sense of impending doom.
As the song continues, it seems to offer some guidance on how to deal with this chaos. The lyrics suggest that people should "hold fast" despite the circumstances, and that "long-suffering is what takes timing." This could be interpreted as the idea that perseverance is key, and that there is value in going through trials and tribulations because they make one stronger. The song then ends with the line "All you need is some excuse to blame it on," which could be seen as a warning against scapegoating or making excuses for one's own problems.
Line by Line Meaning
Shut down, fall asleep
Getting lost in your own thoughts and feelings leads to a state of unconsciousness
The more you hold the less you keep
Clutching onto something too tight can result in losing it
Untied your concern
Letting go of worries and concerns can lead to freedom
The stronger the grip the more you'll burn
The tighter you hold onto something, the more painful it becomes to let go
Board up the west side
Protecting yourself from external pressures
It feels like it's coming round
A sense of impending change
Batten down the east side
Fortifying yourself from internal doubts
It feels like it's coming, feels like it's coming down to this day
Sensing that a major turning point is approaching
Don't speak, breathe in deep
Sometimes it's better to be silent and take a deep breath
He's so sycophantic I can't understand it
Unable to comprehend the flattery of someone
Hold fast, this won't last
Stay strong, the tough times will eventually pass
His long-suffering is what takes timing
Success takes patience and persistence in the face of hardship
Find your great divide
Discover the point where you must make a decision
You might hesitate but I don't recommend it
While it's natural to be unsure, taking too long to make a decision can have negative consequences
Look up, blinders on
Focusing on the task at hand and ignoring distractions
Overcomplicated like the boy you are
Making things more complex than they need to be
Shake this simple fist
Expressing frustration in a straightforward manner
All you need is some excuse to blame it on
Finding an excuse for one's problems instead of taking responsibility
Contributed by Brayden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.