The Promise
INVSN Lyrics

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The promise, it will get better
But it never been quite this bad
Darkness came fast this time
Will we ever see the light of day?
Forcing us down on our knees
Let's pretend that we're praying

You think that it will be easy

To just reach out a hand
But these prisoners of ego's law
Staring out at a barren land

And it is still, all the same
And it is still, all the same
It is still, all the same
The same old promise, the same old lies
That I despise

The promise, it will get better
But it never been quite this bad
Lock the door, ascend real high (?)
The wolves are roaming free
Maybe we can get some crumbs
When they're taking all that we need

Looks like everything is lost
All the wolves (???)
No more dreams of brighter days
Just new distractions thrown away

And it is still, all the same
And it is still, all the same
It is still, all the same
The same old promise, the same old lies
The same old lies that I despise
The same old promise, the same old lies
That I despise

It is still...
And it is still...
The same old promise, the same old lies
The same old lies that I depsise

The same old promise, the same old lies
That I despise

Overall Meaning

The song "The Promise" by INVSN is a commentary on the empty promises and lies that people in power often make to the masses in times of crisis. The lyrics suggest that while these promises may offer temporary relief or hope, they ultimately ring hollow and do not address the root causes of the problems that people face. The opening lines "The promise, it will get better, but it never been quite this bad" set the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer acknowledges that times are tough and that the usual platitudes and assurances are not cutting it.

The imagery in the lyrics paints a picture of a society in chaos and despair, with people on their knees and staring out at a barren land. The line "Maybe we can get some crumbs when they're taking all that we need" suggests that those in power are still taking more than their fair share, even during hard times. The repeated refrain of "It is still, all the same, the same old promise, the same old lies, that I despise" drives home the message that false promises and empty words are not enough to bring about genuine change or progress.

In summary, "The Promise" is a searing critique of the lies and false hope that people in positions of authority often offer during times of crisis. The song suggests that people are tired of being placated and want real solutions to the problems they face.

Line by Line Meaning

The promise, it will get better
Despite the current situation being bleak, the belief is that things will eventually improve.

But it never been quite this bad
This particular instance of difficulty is especially severe.

Darkness came fast this time
The unpleasant situation arose quickly and unexpectedly.

Will we ever see the light of day?
Is it possible that things will improve enough to bring back feelings of hope?

Forcing us down on our knees
The situation has become oppressive and overwhelming, leaving us feeling vulnerable and helpless.

Let's pretend that we're praying
We might feel powerless to change our circumstances, but it's worth trying to see if there's a way to cope or make things slightly better.

You think that it will be easy
Others might think that it's simple to offer help or advice, but they don't fully understand the extent of our struggles.

To just reach out a hand
Others might believe that the solution is as simple as offering a gesture or a piece of advice, but in reality it's not so easy.

But these prisoners of ego's law
There are powerful societal and personal forces that keep us from being able to address our problems effectively.

Staring out at a barren land
The situation feels hopeless and unredeemable, like there's nothing left to salvage.

And it is still, all the same
Despite the passage of time, the situation remains unchanged and unimproved.

The same old promise, the same old lies
The idea that things will improve is a common refrain, but it's beginning to feel like a false promise.

That I despise
The continual belief that things will improve has become intolerable and frustrating.

Lock the door, ascend real high (?)
It's possible that we might try to distance ourselves from the situation by retreating into our own personal space.

The wolves are roaming free
The situation has grown more dangerous, with danger lurking around every corner.

Maybe we can get some crumbs
It's possible that we might be able to make small gains or find minor sources of relief, but they won't be enough to alleviate the larger problems.

When they're taking all that we need
It feels like the situation is taking more from us than we're able to give, leaving us perpetually drained and unable to make progress.

Looks like everything is lost
Things have gotten so bad that it seems like there's no hope of ever turning around the situation.

All the wolves (???)
Unclear what this line means, as it's difficult to make out the lyrics.

No more dreams of brighter days
The possibility of things improving has begun to feel like a distant fantasy that will never come to fruition.

Just new distractions thrown away
Attempts to distract from or forget about the persistent problems have proven fruitless and ultimately ineffective.

That I despise
The continual belief that things will improve has become intolerable and frustrating.

Writer(s): Richard Oesterman, Anders Stenberg, Andr├® Sandstroem, Sara Almgren, Dennis Sven Olof Lyxzen

Contributed by Alexander T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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