Pendulous Threads
Incubus Lyrics

Mend this careless thread, it?s gone askew
The singer is asking someone to fix a thread that has gone awry on their sweater

(Thread on my sweater is pendulous, step back and pull it Watch it unravel faster than a speeding bullet)
The singer describes the thread on their sweater as pendulous and advises that when pulled, it would unravel quickly

Or pull and see how much we can undo
The singer suggests to see how much damage can be done by pulling the thread even further

On a burning bridge
The artist sets the stage for the next lines by using the metaphor of standing on a burning bridge

Your options are minimal at best
The artist implies that having only a few options when in a difficult situation

Depending on where you're standing
The singer suggests that the option can vary based on perspective

And how much breath is in your chest
Here, the singer metaphorically suggests that how much courage one has can determine their decision on the bridge.

If it came down to it Would you high-tail home and hide?
The artist poses a question whether the listener would choose the cowardly way if faced with difficulties.

Or dance on fire and enjoy the ride
Alternatively, the artist encourages the listener to take a risk and enjoy the uncertain & dangerous journey.

At the heart of it all That innermost, your fiery core
The artist turns to a new metaphor, describing the most important part, the soul, as a fiery core.

There's an amassing armor It?s building you into a bore
The singer claims that accumulating an armor into the soul builds up and eventually, it becomes monotonous.

Life?s a match in a gas tank
A new metaphor; the artist likens life to a lit match inside a gas tank. Like a match would cause an explosion in fuel, life can have unpredictable consequences.

Don't ever mourn the ebbing tide
The singer encourages not to feel down about the decrease because like the tide, it will eventually rise again.

Just dance on fire And enjoy the ride, hey
As before, the singer urges the listener to take life by its horns and enjoy the thrill.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
This part of the song has no particular meaning, just filling the space between two verses.

Hey, hey, hey
Similar to the above; this part of the song has no special meaning but to transition into the last chorus.

Mend this careless thread, it?s gone askew
The artist repeats the same line from before, emphasizing the importance of fixing the thread that has gone awry.

(Thread on my sweater is pendulous, step back and pull it Watch it unravel faster than a speeding bullet)
Again, the singer describes the thread on their sweater as pendulous and reminds that it would unravel quickly when pulled.

Or pull and see how much we can undo
The singer repeats the same line encouraging to take more risk and see how far the thread could be pulled.

(Thread on my sweater is pendulous, step back and pull it Watch it unravel faster than a speeding bullet)
The song concludes with the repeated lines that describe the fast unraveling of the thread when pulled.