Quest
Gao the Arsonist Lyrics
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Deaf, blind, still found what they took from me
Oh, which direction do I stumble
I swear used to know
What, why, how, who are we
Deaf, blind, still found what they took from me
Oh, which direction do I stumble
I swear used to know
Feel like scattered ashes in vacuum
Tragic like blood splatter in a bathroom stall
I'm shuffling around in a costume
Need to believe every meaning I attach to
All my confused movements
I
Run from ballroom shooters
Hide my face from the mirrors
There are no picture perfect stares
More like vacant looks, they're bitter cold
As fickle as they're scared
Questions block my lungs
So oxygen cant trickle from the air
Into my body
Somebody please tell me
What, why, how, who are we
Deaf, blind, still found what they took from me
Oh, which direction do I stumble
I swear used to know
What, why, how, who are we
Deaf, blind, still found what they took from me
Oh, which direction do I stumble
I swear used to know
I want a good life
I want to live life
I want to waste my time
Doing the things I like
I want a good life
I want to live life
I want to waste my time
Doing the things I like
In "Quest" by Gao the Arsonist, the artist starts by asking fundamental questions about human existence and identity: "What, why, how, who are we?" Despite feeling lost and confused, the artist acknowledges that even though they may be "deaf, blind", they have still been able to find what was taken from them. However, they are unsure which direction to take and feel like they are stumbling. The next lines describe the artist feeling like they are in a vacuum, using the metaphor of scattered ashes to convey a sense of destruction and chaos. They continue to describe their confusion and their desire to find meaning in their every movement.
The artist then brings up ballroom shooters, which could be a reference to mass shootings or violence in general. They hide their face from mirrors and feel like the stares they receive are not picture perfect but rather bitter and cold. The artist's questions about their existence block their airways and they struggle to breathe. Despite this struggle, they are still looking for answers: "Somebody please tell me". The final lines of the song bring a sense of hope, as the artist expresses their desire for a good life where they can do the things they like.
Line by Line Meaning
What, why, how, who are we
Asking deep existential questions about the nature of our being and existence.
Deaf, blind, still found what they took from me
Despite being hindered and taken advantage of, still managing to recover what was lost.
Oh, which direction do I stumble
I swear used to know
Feeling lost and directionless, questioning whether they had a sense of purpose before.
Feel like scattered ashes in vacuum
Feeling completely lost and isolated, as if they are dispersed and have no direction.
Tragic like blood splatter in a bathroom stall
Describing the feeling of tragedy or horror that surrounds them, even in mundane or unsavory places.
I'm shuffling around in a costume
Feeling like they are unable to truly be themselves, as if they are wearing a facade or pretending to be someone else.
Need to believe every meaning I attach to
All my confused movements
Desire to find meaning and purpose in all of their actions, even if they are uncertain or confused in the moment.
Run from ballroom shooters
Hide my face from the mirrors
Feeling like a target, always on guard and hiding from danger and one's own reflection.
There are no picture perfect stares
More like vacant looks, they're bitter cold
As fickle as they're scared
Describing the emptiness and fear that seems to dominate the world around them, with no one offering any real answers or solutions.
Questions block my lungs
So oxygen cant trickle from the air
Into my body
Somebody please tell me
Feeling suffocated and unable to breathe, with unanswered questions weighing them down and preventing them from finding clarity or peace.
I want a good life
I want to live life
I want to waste my time
Doing the things I like
Asserting a desire for a fulfilling and joyful life, one where they can prioritize their own happiness and enjoyment.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Bryan Lee, Othneil Gayle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind