Glacier
John Grant ft. Sinéad O'Connor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The best way you know how
But they keep on telling you
That you are not allowed
They say you are sick
That you should hang your head in shame
They are pointing fingers
There are days when people are
So nasty and convincing
They say things beyond belief
That sting and leave you wincing
And to boot they say their words
Come straight down from above
And they really seem to think
That what they're doing counts as love
This pain it is a glacier moving through you
And carving out deep valleys
And creating spectacular landscapes
And nourishing the ground
With precious minerals and other stuff
So don't you become paralyzed with fear
When things seem particularly rough
Don't you pay them fuckers as they say no never mind
They don't give two shits about you, it's the blind leading the blind
What they want is commonly referred to as theocracy
And what that boils down to is referred as hypocrisy
Don't listen to anyone, get answers on your own
Even if it means that sometimes you feel quite alone
No one on this planet can tell you what to believe
People like to talk a lot and they like to deceive
[Repeat x2]
This pain it is a glacier moving through you
And carving out deep valleys
And creating spectacular landscapes
And nourishing the ground
With precious minerals and other stuff
So don't you become paralyzed with fear
When things seem particularly rough
The lyrics of "Glacier" by John Grant and Sinead O'Connor revolve around the theme of acceptance and personal growth. The song describes the struggle of living life on your own terms while dealing with the judgment and criticism of others.
The opening lines set the tone for the entire song, with the message that everyone should live their lives in the best way they know how. However, the people around us, be it family, friends, or society, often disapprove of the life we choose for ourselves, causing us to doubt our choices.
The lyrics then paint a picture of the pain caused by people's words and how it could be paralyzing. However, the pain is necessary for personal growth, with the metaphor of a glacier and how it carves out deep valleys and creates landscapes, as well as nourishing the ground with minerals and other substances. Similarly, the pain we go through shapes us and helps us develop as individuals.
Finally, the song urges listeners not to be afraid of rough times and the judgment of others, while also encouraging them to seek out answers on their own instead of blindly following others. It highlights the hypocrisy of those who criticize, pointing to their desire for a theocracy instead of true acceptance and love.
Line by Line Meaning
You just want to live your life
You desire to live according to your own choices and preferences
The best way you know how
You want to live your life the way you think is best
But they keep on telling you
Other people keep discouraging you
That you are not allowed
They are trying to prevent you from doing what you want
They say you are sick
They accuse you of being abnormal or unhealthy
That you should hang your head in shame
They want you to feel guilty or embarrassed for expressing yourself
They are pointing fingers
They are blaming you for something
And want you to take the blame
They expect you to take responsibility for their grievances
There are days when people are
At times, others can be very unpleasant
So nasty and convincing
They can be very cruel and convincing at that
They say things beyond belief
They make outrageous and unbelievable claims
That sting and leave you wincing
Their words hurt and leave you in pain
And to boot they say their words
Moreover, they claim that their words
Come straight down from above
Are inspired or authorized by a higher power
And they really seem to think
They genuinely believe
That what they're doing counts as love
That their actions are motivated by love and compassion
This pain it is a glacier moving through you
The emotional distress you feel is like a slow, powerful force changing you
And carving out deep valleys
It is shaping you, creating deep emotional scars
And creating spectacular landscapes
It is leading to a beautiful, complex inner world
And nourishing the ground
The experience contributes to your growth and development
With precious minerals and other stuff
Providing valuable insights and lessons
So don't you become paralyzed with fear
Don't let fear dominate you
When things seem particularly rough
When things get tough
Don't you pay them fuckers as they say no never mind
Ignore those arrogant people who have nothing good to say
They don't give two shits about you, it's the blind leading the blind
They don't care about you, they are just as lost as you are
What they want is commonly referred to as theocracy
Their agenda is typically known as theocracy
And what that boils down to is referred as hypocrisy
And that basically means they are being hypocritical
Don't listen to anyone, get answers on your own
Don't rely on others to make decisions or form opinions for you
Even if it means that sometimes you feel quite alone
Even if it results in loneliness or isolation
No one on this planet can tell you what to believe
Only you have the right to determine what you believe in
People like to talk a lot and they like to deceive
People are often prone to lying and deception
This pain it is a glacier moving through you
The emotional distress you feel is like a slow, powerful force changing you
And carving out deep valleys
It is shaping you, creating deep emotional scars
And creating spectacular landscapes
It is leading to a beautiful, complex inner world
And nourishing the ground
The experience contributes to your growth and development
With precious minerals and other stuff
Providing valuable insights and lessons
So don't you become paralyzed with fear
Don't let fear dominate you
When things seem particularly rough
When things get tough
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN GRANT, BIRGIR THORARINSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aoifeduffy8559
I had never heard of him until watching the show last night. He is brilliant. Bought the album first thing today. I love Sinead too!
@Cinzazul
Are you for real, no comments yet? I love John Grant and to see Sinead in the choir is just stuff dreams are made of!
@hippimummy
Great song, doesn't Roisin look like her Mammy! Stunning xXx
@prettykiray
I love Roisin's style, love her voice too..the girl can sing damn!!!! Sinnead musta be so proud...she raised her so wonderful
@petery47
Wasn't aware of him until he sang with Sinead.
Will definitely check him out.
@jjfgamble6819
Sinead looks like she's about to drop into the matrix
@tonymorrissey06
some great song this like the version of it
@hokulealinda
XOXOXoxxooo
@theweeman8848
Joey Barton brought me here?