He was educated at Winchester College in England and received a film degree from Wesleyan University in 1987.
Going Through The Motions
Joss Whedon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every single night the same arrangement
I go out and fight the fight
Still, I always feel the strange estrangement
Nothing here is real, nothing here is right
I've been making shows of trading blows
Just hoping no one knows
That I've been going through the motions
Nothing seems to penetrate my heart
I was always brave and kind of righteous
Now I find I'm wavering
Crawl out of your grave, you find this fight just
Doesn't mean a thing
VAMP
She ain't got that swing
BUFFY
Thanks for noticing
DEMON AND VAMPS
She does pretty well with fiends from hell
But lately, we can tell
That she's just going through the motions
(Going through the motions)
Faking it somehow
DEMON
She's not even half the girl she — ow
BUFFY
Will I stay this way forever?
Sleepwalk through my life's endeavor?
HANDSOME YOUNG VICTIM MAN
How can I repay ...
BUFFY
Whatever
I don't want to be
Going through the motions
Losing all my drive
I can't even see
If this is really me
And I just want to be
Alive!
The song "Going through the Motions" from the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which features in the show's sixth season, is a powerful reflection of the inner struggles of the singer, Buffy. These struggles stem from the disorienting sensation Buffy feels in confronting her own mortality and the isolation she experiences from the rest of her friends and family. Buffy has just bounced back to life after being resurrected and is coping with her return to the land of the living while simultaneously risking her life fighting demons every night. She has to put on a front of bravery and courage to everyone, but internally, she is tired and struggling.
The lyrics begin with Buffy singing about how fighting has become a routine for her and how it's starting to feel exhausting. She talks about feeling detached from everything around her and how she's always pretending to be okay. The lines "Nothing here is real, nothing here is right" truly encapsulate the fragile emotions Buffy is dealing with. The song reaches its climax when Buffy realizes that she is just going through the motions and there's no significant meaning to her life anymore. In the end, Buffy pleads to be alive rather than merely existing.
In conclusion, the song, "Going through the Motions," is poignantly expressive, representing Buffy's desire to reconnect with herself and the world around her. It's a reflection of the melancholic state Buffy is in, where she is mentally and emotionally disconnected from everyone around her and feeling unfulfilled in her fight against evil.
Line by Line Meaning
Every single night the same arrangement
I have to fight demons every night and the routine never changes
I go out and fight the fight
I put on a brave face and fight the demons
Still, I always feel the strange estrangement
Despite my bravery, I feel disconnected and disorientated
Nothing here is real, nothing here is right
The demon-fighting world feels surreal and unmanageable
I've been making shows of trading blows
I've been faking my enthusiasm for demon fights
Just hoping no one knows
I don't want anyone to know I'm secretly unhappy
That I've been going through the motions
I'm just playing my part in the demon-fighting business
Walking through the part
I'm just walking through the motions of what I'm supposed to be doing in this world
Nothing seems to penetrate my heart
My emotions are numbing and I feel detached from what's going on around me
I was always brave and kind of righteous
I used to be really brave and righteous when I started fighting demons
Now I find I'm wavering
My bravery and righteousness have faltered as I've become jaded
Crawl out of your grave, you find this fight just
Even supernatural creatures that come out of graves to fight me seem lacklustre in this endless cycle
Doesn't mean a thing
Nothing holds meaning in this messy demon-fighting business anymore
She ain't got that swing
Buffy doesn't have her usual energy and confidence
Thanks for noticing
Buffy acknowledges the Vamp's observation that she's not her usual self
She does pretty well with fiends from hell
Buffy is still a good fighter with supernatural creatures
But lately, we can tell
But she's been acting different lately
That she's just going through the motions
Buffy's been pretending to care about demon-fighting
(Going through the motions)
Faking it somehow
She's not really invested in it anymore
She's not even half the girl she - ow
Buffy's fighting skills have gone down, partially due to her emotional state
Will I stay this way forever?
Buffy worries if her emotions will stay numb forever
Sleepwalk through my life's endeavor?
Buffy doesn't want to continue living her life aimlessly
How can I repay...
Handsome young victim man wants to thank Buffy and repay her for saving him
Whatever
But Buffy has become apathetic towards any kind of reward or thank you
I don't want to be
Buffy doesn't want to continue pretending to care
Going through the motions
Buffy doesn't want to be doing the same, empty routine anymore
Losing all my drive
Buffy is losing her drive and will to fight
I can't even see
She doesn't even know how to proceed with her life anymore
If this is really me
Buffy wonders if this detachment from her emotions and this lifestyle is who she really is
And I just want to be
Buffy simply wants to exist
Alive!
But not just exist - she wants true purpose and happiness in her life
Contributed by Audrey R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DarkAngel
on Wish I Could Stay
Wait, isn't Giles singing to Buffy? Makes more sense, since his her Watcher but cannot be her father figure...