Gash
Flaming Lips Lyrics

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Is that gash in your leg
Really why you have stopped?
'Cause I've noticed all the others
Though they're gashed, they're still going
'Cause I feel like the real reason
That you're quitting
And admitting that you've lost
All the will to battle on

Will the fight for our sanity
Be the fight of our lives?
Now that we've lost all the reasons
That we thought that we had

Still the battle that we're in
Rages on till the end
With explosions, wounds are open
Sights and smells, eyes and noses
But the thought that went unspoken
Was understanding
That you're broken, still the last
Volunteer battles on

Battles on

Battles on
Battles on

Overall Meaning

In "Gash," the Flaming Lips explore the idea of perseverance and the battle to maintain one's sanity. The lyrics speak to a sense of defeat and exhaustion, with the singer questioning why someone has given up despite the fact that others are still fighting even though they are wounded. It seems that the singer recognizes that this person has lost the will to continue and is admitting to a sense of defeat.

The lyric "Will the fight for our sanity be the fight of our lives?" encapsulates the theme of the song. It speaks to the idea that life can be a constant battle and that maintaining one's mental and emotional health is of the utmost importance. The battles we face are not always physical but are often mental and emotional, and they can be just as intense and difficult to overcome.

Overall, "Gash" is a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle that life can be and the importance of finding the strength to keep moving forward, even when it seems impossible.

Line by Line Meaning

Is that gash in your leg
Are you actually wounded and unable to continue?

Really why you have stopped?
Is the injury really the reason you've given up?

'Cause I've noticed all the others
I've seen how others with similar injuries are still going.

Though they're gashed, they're still going
Even though they are injured, they have not given up.

'Cause I feel like the real reason
I think the real reason for your quitting is something else.

That you're quitting
You're giving up.

And admitting that you've lost
You're acknowledging defeat.

All the will to battle on
You've lost the desire to continue the fight.

Will the fight for our sanity
Is the fight for our mental health the most important one?

Be the fight of our lives?
Is it the most significant battle we'll ever have?

Now that we've lost all the reasons
Since we've lost all the motivations we thought we had,