After less than a month in the hospital, the singer died January 19, 2000 at the age of 32. Two years later, Dreamworks collected material from those unforgotten Center of Six sessions and issued Spirit Touches Ground.
Biography by Steve Huey
Content provided by All Music Guide © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC
Helpless
Josh Clayton-Felt Lyrics
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And I've begun to recognize
That the earth is very round in shape and
It's not easy to escape the fall
So somehow it's no surprise at all
I'm another weapon for the world
I'm helpless - another weapon for the word
And once you know just what you thought
Now all you hear are the cars outside that
Take you where you cannot hide - the fall
So somehow it's no surprise at all
You're another weapon for the world
You're helpless - another weapon for the world
I'm helpless - helpless
Imiste
The lyrics of Josh Clayton-Felt's song "Helpless" seem to be a reflection on one's place in the world and the idea that we are all powerless "weapons" in some way. The first verse establishes the singer's self-awareness as a product of their father's influence and their growing understanding of the world's complexity. They realize that despite our attempts to control our own destinies, we cannot escape the inevitable "fall" that comes with being human. The second verse acknowledges a loss of control, the feeling of helplessness that comes when life takes an unexpected turn, leaving us exposed to the world outside.
The repetition of the phrase "another weapon for the world" underscores the idea that we are all pawns in some larger game, subject to the whims of fate or circumstance. The use of the word "helpless" reinforces this sense of powerlessness - we cannot change the world or our place in it, we can only accept it. The closing line of the song, "I'm helpless - helpless," drives home the singer's resignation to their fate.
Overall, the song "Helpless" is a melancholy reflection on the human experience, acknowledging the inevitability of hardship and the limits of our own agency.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the son of my father's eyes
I am a product of my father's legacy and values
And I've begun to recognize
I am starting to understand
That the earth is very round in shape
The world is complex and difficult to navigate
And it's not easy to escape the fall
It is difficult to avoid failure or downfall
So somehow it's no surprise at all
I am resigned to this fate
I'm another weapon for the world
I am a pawn in the larger systems of the world
I'm helpless - another weapon for the word
I am powerless to resist being used by larger forces
And once you know just what you thought
The illusion of control can be shattered
But then you lose all when the music stopped
When the chaos ends, the reality sets in
Now all you hear are the cars outside that
The outside world continues on despite inner turmoil
Take you where you cannot hide - the fall
No escape from the inevitability of life's challenges
So somehow it's no surprise at all
Resigned to fate
You're another weapon for the world
Others are also powerless in the face of larger systems
You're helpless - another weapon for the world
There is no escape from being used by larger forces
I'm helpless - helpless
I am powerless
Contributed by Sadie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.