Ridiculously pissed hardcore with elements of melody, thrash, and general p… Read Full Bio ↴Ridiculously pissed hardcore with elements of melody, thrash, and general poor disposition, ghostlimb compile all the rage a minute long song can handle with sprinklings of social critique and dissatisfied sarcasm. This 11-song record clocks in under 15 minutes and is riddled with succinct aesthetics of the fast, heavy, and tolerably informed. 3 piece, mad. Rad.

Exchange
Ghostlimb Lyrics

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Sincerity is a hard hand to play
Cutting down all our old friends
Awash in sarcasm and alcohol
With the banalities of pubescence
Where such arrogance is no luxury of the defeated
And the notions leech circumscribed by boys' speech
And all empathy is unseated
When your knees get weak

And your conscience falls fast asleep
Do you water the native grass
Like the internalized weeds
But the debate rages
If we're detracted or augmented
If our skins grow thick in cruelty or improvement
I am sure some would stop us right there
Under the auspice of containment
And I am certain that some might find it scathing

But wit sarcasm and criticism
Form the basis of further conversation

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ghostlimb's song "Exchange" are rich in meaning and depth. The opening lines, "Sincerity is a hard hand to play, cutting down all our old friends," set the stage for a song that explores the difficulty of being honest and authentic in a world where sarcasm and alcohol are often used as shields against vulnerability. The singer laments the "banalities of pubescence," where arrogance is prized and empathy is discarded. The chorus poses a challenging question: when faced with moral dilemmas, do we choose to nurture the "native grass," the positive qualities within ourselves, or do we allow the "internalized weeds," our negative tendencies, to take over?

The second verse of the song continues this exploration of morality, questioning whether our actions and attitudes make us better or worse as human beings. There is a sense of urgency in the lines "But the debate rages, if we're detracted or augmented, if our skins grow thick in cruelty or improvement." There is a struggle to understand what makes us who we are, and whether we have control over our destinies. The final lines of the song seem to suggest that, despite the difficulties inherent in being sincere and vulnerable, it is worth attempting: "But wit sarcasm and criticism form the basis of further conversation." In other words, we should strive for honesty and authenticity, even if it means risking rejection or criticism.

Line by Line Meaning

Sincerity is a hard hand to play
Being genuine and honest is difficult

Cutting down all our old friends
Rejecting and distancing ourselves from our past relationships

Awash with sarcasm and alcohol
Being surrounded by bitterness and drinking

With the banalities of pubescence
Discussing trivial matters like adolescents

Where such arrogance is no luxury of the defeated
Being confident is not an option for those who have lost

And the notions leech circumscribed by boys' speech
Ideas restricted by masculine language

And all empathy is unseated
Losing the ability to understand and share others' feelings

When your knees get weak
When you are scared or unsure

And your conscience falls fast asleep
And you become numb to moral judgement

Do you water the native grass
Do you nurture what is truly important

Like the internalized weeds
Or focus on negative thoughts and emotions