Could We Survive
Joseph Arthur Lyrics
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When will Jesus find us here?
Could we survive?
How can you pretend to know
Who you are or where you'll go
When you just get by?
Hmm, dream, dream all your time away
Ooh
My father's mother sings this song
My mother's father's gone beyond
The clouds, the rain
Let him protect me from above
I can feel that tender love
When I'm in pain
Hmm, dream, dream all the time away
Hmm, dream, dream all your time away
Ooh
In Joseph Arthur's song "Could We Survive," the lyrics are discussing the concept of survival, both physically and emotionally. The opening lines, "Hallelujah, stop and stare, when will Jesus find us here?", are referencing the idea of a higher being coming to save us. The lyrics are asking if we as individuals or as a society could survive in the absence of divine intervention.
The next lines, "How can you pretend to know who you are or where you'll go, when you just get by?", are questioning our own self-awareness and questioning if we truly know ourselves and our purposes. The lyrics suggest that we often "just get by" and don't take the time to fully understand who we are and where we're going.
The chorus, "Hmm, dream, dream all the time away, ooh", seems to be encouraging the listener to dream, to imagine a different reality, but at the same time it is also a cautionary reminder to not let our dreams consume us and make us forget about reality.
The second verse, "My father's mother sings this song, my mother's father's gone beyond the clouds, the rain, let him protect me from above, I can feel that tender love when I'm in pain", is referencing the idea of ancestors and familial bonds. The lyrics suggest that our ancestors sing to us and protect us from above, and their love is felt when times are tough.
Overall, the song is a call to introspection, reflecting on our own survival and the role that spirituality and ancestry play in it. The lyrics encourage us to dream and imagine a better reality, but also to not lose sight of the present moment and the importance of self-awareness.
Line by Line Meaning
Hallelujah, stop and stare
Pause and pay attention with wonder and reverence
When will Jesus find us here?
When will we experience salvation and redemption?
Could we survive?
Can we endure and overcome the challenges of life?
How can you pretend to know
It's impossible to truly know without experiencing
Who you are or where you'll go
One's identity and destination are unknown and uncertain
When you just get by?
When one simply survives, without truly living
Hmm, dream, dream all the time away
Escaping reality and avoiding responsibility
My father's mother sings this song
The connection to ancestry and tradition
My mother's father's gone beyond
The loss of loved ones and the inevitability of death
The clouds, the rain
The unpredictable and uncontrollable forces of nature
Let him protect me from above
The desire for guidance and protection from a higher power
I can feel that tender love
The comfort and reassurance provided by faith
When I'm in pain
The solace sought during times of suffering and hardship
Contributed by Layla R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.