Concrete
Ghostlimb Lyrics
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unmitigated by the reality of a living person
there's so much to be said for commitment
she worked the years
into a solid brick of meaning
forged with the mortar of doubt
and human imperfection
forged with the mortar of doubt and human imperfection
but decided to facilitate them
we can't wait for the "right" conditions
but rather
we must create them
and everyday that picture stares down at me from the wall and says
I may not have always been right
but there's so much to be said for commitment
Context:
Concrete
Objects of personality cults and political radicals often emerge after their deaths as an image of what people later decide they represent. This isn't necessarily contrived, but happens particularly in instances where they have died unnaturally, becoming a martyr of sorts. Often the legacy of a person decades or millennia later will only come down to one short phrase or an easy quotation, reducing their achievements, loves, good decisions and bad decisions to an informed conversational footnote. In this case, the subject is Ulrike Meinhof. Outside of the hatred or glamour she garnered over the course of her entire career as first as a respected writer and later, fugitive, the thing that stood out most to me was her intense dedication.
The song "Concrete" by Ghostlimb explores the concept of commitment in the face of imperfection and uncertainty. The lyrics describe an individual who has worked hard to create a meaningful life, despite the challenges they have faced. The use of the metaphor of a "solid brick of meaning" highlights the idea that commitment requires effort and persistence, and that it can be difficult to achieve. However, the song suggests that this effort is worth it, as commitment allows us to create something lasting and meaningful.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of creating the conditions that we want in our lives. The line "we can't wait for the 'right' conditions, but rather we must create them" emphasizes the idea that we have agency in shaping our own lives, and that waiting for circumstances to be perfect is not an effective strategy. Instead, we must take active steps to create the kind of world we want to live in.
Overall, "Concrete" is a powerful exploration of the importance of commitment, even in the face of uncertainty and imperfection. It encourages listeners to take responsibility for their lives and to actively work towards creating a meaningful existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Now just an ideal
Ulrike Meinhof has become nothing more than an ideal after her death.
unmitigated by the reality of a living person
This ideal has not been tempered by the reality of her life.
there's so much to be said for commitment
Ulrike Meinhof's commitment to her beliefs is admirable.
she worked the years
Ulrike Meinhof spent years working towards her beliefs.
into a solid brick of meaning
Her work and dedication were strong and had meaning.
forged with the mortar of doubt
However, doubts still played a part in her decision-making.
and human imperfection
As a human, Ulrike Meinhof was not perfect.
she wouldn't wait for the "right" conditions
She did not wait for the perfect conditions to take action.
but decided to facilitate them
Instead, she decided to create those conditions herself.
we can't wait for the "right" conditions
We should learn from her and not wait for the perfect conditions.
but rather
Instead,
we must create them
We must create the conditions ourselves.
and everyday that picture stares down at me from the wall and says
The picture of Ulrike Meinhof serves as a daily reminder to the singer.
I may not have always been right
Ulrike Meinhof acknowledges that she was not always correct.
but there's so much to be said for commitment
But her dedication and commitment to her beliefs remain noteworthy.
Contributed by Maria H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.