Going Under
Girlschool Lyrics


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They said we’d living
An easy game
About tomorrow it’s all the same
Should I scream and break away
Or should I tell you
I won't fade away, fade away

Help me
I think I’m going under
No time to stay
I gotta run

Help me
I think I’m going under
Drive to this trawl
I can’t hold down much longer

So will they promise
Of pretty lights
I found a city that burns my eyes
Silent scream, I’ll break away

I’m gonna tell you
I won’t fade away
Fade away

Help me
I think I’m going under
No time to stay
I gotta run (3x)

Help me
I think I’m going under
Drive to this trawl
I can’t hold down for long
I can’t hold on much longer

Help me
I think I’m going under
No time to stay
I gotta run (2x)





Help me
I think I’m going under

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Girlschool's song Going Under depict the struggle of the singer to maintain a facade of being content with their life, while in reality, they feel trapped and suffocated. The song begins with the lines "They said we'd be living an easy game, about tomorrow, it's all the same," which suggests that society or external factors have conditioned the singer to believe that life should be effortless and predictable. However, as the song progresses, the singer reveals their true feelings, saying "Should I scream and break away, or should I tell you, I won't fade away?" They feel overwhelming pressure to conform to society's expectations and fear that if they don't, they'll disappear, hence the metaphor of "fading away."


The chorus of "Help me, I think I'm going under" represents the singer's plea for assistance from someone, anyone who can help them escape their current circumstances. They feel like they're drowning and can't breathe, and they need someone to throw them a lifeline. However, despite their desperation, they acknowledge that they must be the ones to take action, saying "I gotta run, drive to this crawl, I can't hold on much longer." The singer recognizes that they have to take responsibility for their life and make the difficult decision to break away from what's holding them back.


Overall, the song's message is an all-too-familiar one of feeling trapped and lost, but it also carries a message of hope. The singer knows that they have to take action, but they're not alone in their struggles. The chorus's repetition emphasizes that the singer's cry for help is not in vain and that there's always someone who can help them in their time of need.


Line by Line Meaning

They said we’d living
They promised us an easy life


An easy game
A life without challenges, where everything is effortless


About tomorrow it’s all the same
They said tomorrow would be just like today, with no surprises or changes


Should I scream and break away
Should I rebel and fight against the system


Or should I tell you
Or should I conform to their rules


I won't fade away, fade away
I won't give up or give in to their expectations


Help me
I need assistance


I think I’m going under
I feel like I'm drowning, overwhelmed by everything around me


No time to stay
I can't linger or hesitate


I gotta run
I need to escape, to flee from this situation


Drive to this trawl
I'm trapped, caught in a dangerous situation


I can’t hold down much longer
I'm reaching my breaking point, and can't keep going like this


So will they promise
They made more empty promises


Of pretty lights
Of flashy, alluring distractions


I found a city that burns my eyes
I discovered a place that's harmful to me, that I can't tolerate


Silent scream,
An internal cry of despair


I’ll break away
I'll find a way to break free from this place




Contributed by Adam P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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