Oxygen
Impossibles Lyrics

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Half life of oxygen
Spent breathing homesick air
Tearing my heart apart
Yours ticks without a tear
Slow down
I haven't moved at all
The cold can't kill us
But we won't survive the fall

Slipping, Falling away
Hold on day to day
Slipping, Falling away
Hold on day to day
Slipping, Falling away
Hold on day to day
Year to year
From here to there

Poison my speaking voice
With half truths and denials
Converting oxygen
By living, breathing, suffering, screaming

Slipping, Falling away
Hold on day to day
Slipping, Falling away
Hold on day to day
Slipping, Falling away
Hold on day to day
Year to year
From here to there

We can. We can't. We will. We will. We won't.

We can. We can't. We can. We can. We can.

Slow down.

We can. We can't. We will. We will. We won't.

We can. We can't. We can. We can't. We can.

Slow down.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Impossibles' song "Oxygen" paint a picture of someone struggling to find their place in the world. They feel homesick and torn apart, while the person they care for seems to move on without a care. Breathing becomes a struggle when you feel like you don't belong, like you're not getting enough oxygen to make it through the day. The cold becomes a metaphor for the feeling of isolation or detachment from others. Although they can't be killed, they fear the fall, which could represent the danger of slipping into a darker place.

The second verse talks about the power of words to deceive or lead astray. The singer feels like they are being poisoned by lies and half-truths. They become aware that suffering and screaming are part of the process of living and breathing. There's no escaping the reality that life can be tough, but they hold on to hope and strive to make it from day to day, year to year. The repeated lines "We can", "We won't", "We will" show a struggle between hope and despair, and the singer trying to find a way to cope with life's challenges. The final line, "slow down", could be interpreted as a reminder to take a breath and not let things get too overwhelming.

Line by Line Meaning

Half life of oxygen
The limited existence of the air we need to survive

Spent breathing homesick air
Breathing air that reminds one of a place they miss

Tearing my heart apart
Causing emotional pain and turmoil

Yours ticks without a tear
Your heart is unaffected and insensitive

Slow down
Take things at a more manageable pace

I haven't moved at all
Feeling stuck in one place, not making progress

The cold can't kill us
Facing a harsh environment, but still survivable

But we won't survive the fall
A metaphorical decline that cannot be overcome

Slipping, Falling away
Gradually losing control or success

Hold on day to day
Keeping a grip on life, despite the challenges

Year to year
Measuring time passing, from one long period to another