Don't Fall In
Kate Tempest Lyrics


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We came from the four corners, we are the raw waters
The course the four horsemen would drink from, the water that pours
We carry the river, the reservoir, the residue
Rising waves, she sprayed the inevitable
Churn across many voices in our vape
As we surge and gush, we were steam and a distant heat
We move rapid over landscape, gatherin′ speed
There's a land, city, forest, and beach
Headin′ for the people that sleep, ready to bleed
Unleash the torrents, come clean
Carry many lessons that the water teach
But you better learn to swim or you'll get caught beneath

Hard rain falling on all the halfhearted
Half formed, fast walking, half fury, half boredom
Hard talking, half dead from exhaustion
Half pushed but the puddles keep forming, don't fall in

Some saw us in their tea leaves, some felt us in their knees
Most left it to the weathermen to tell them there was nothing to see
You can play dumb and ignore for so long
But we′ve been in the mountains gettin′ strong
We've seen you filling up the sky with your fumes
Sitting in your rooms like you′re all that ever lived
Heads down to the lives of the others in your towns
Running from the rains like you've never been kissed, look
Leave your possessions and fun so your friends
That you′ve gone to make peace with the things you've never done
Come dance in the deluge, spill like the flood
The weathervane swings, things will never change
Single the moneymen who close their eyes and pretend
That this rumble must be low planes, so strange

Hard rain falling on all the halfhearted
Half formed, fast walking, half fury, half boredom
Hard talking, half dead from exhaustion
Half pushed but the puddles keep forming, don′t fall in

And they will run to the highest hill, consult their old books
Ask the dead mystics for wisdom they don't trust
The people will flock to the garages
Stockpile cannisters of gasoline, tinned, fish, and bandages
Count the seconds between the thunder and the lightning
Scared of every other body runnin' ′round frightened
"We can′t carry on like this," you will mutter
Staring with disgust at the people weepin' in the gutter
"Yeah, we made no trouble, we played by the rules
I worked double shift to get my kids from school!"
But you were so focused on your own little part
You went plowin′ on blind in the dark, no heart
Now we're not the dreaded storm that will end things
We′re just your playful, gale force friend in these end times
Come to remind you you're not an island
Life is much broader than borders
But who can afford to think over the walls of this fortress?
Of course, it′s important to provide roof and floorboards
For you and yours and be secure in your fortunes
But you're more than the three or four you go to war for
You're part of a people that need your support
And, who′s world is it if it belongs to these corporates?
The people are left on the doorstep, door shut
Nauseous and tortured by all that they′ve lost

Hard rain falling on all the halfhearted
Half formed, fast walking, half fury, half boredom




Hard talking, half dead from exhaustion
Half pushed but the puddles keep forming, don't fall in

Overall Meaning

Kate Tempest’s “Don't Fall In” is a song about the unstoppable force of nature and the destructive effects of ignoring climate change. The opening lines of the song, “We came from the four corners, we are the raw waters,” set the scene for the song's environmental message. The metaphor of water is used to represent nature: it starts as a small stream, grows into a river, and eventually becomes a destructive force, such as a hurricane or a tsunami. The song encourages listeners to embrace the power of nature, to come together and fight for a common cause.


The lyrics of “Don't Fall In” suggest that ignoring climate change is dangerous, and that the people who fail to take action are halfhearted and half-formed. The verse “Hard rain falling on all the halfhearted / Half formed, fast walking, half fury, half boredom / Hard talking, half dead from exhaustion / Half pushed but the puddles keep forming, don't fall in” is a reminder that climate change is a real threat, and that it requires our immediate attention.


The song ends with a call to action: “You're part of a people that need your support / And, who′s world is it if it belongs to these corporates? / The people are left on the doorstep, door shut / Nauseous and tortured by all that they′ve lost.” The song reminds us that climate change is a man-made problem and that we need to stand up and do something before it’s too late.


Line by Line Meaning

We came from the four corners, we are the raw waters
We are the source, like the water that pours from the course the four horsemen would drink from.


We carry the river, the reservoir, the residue
We carry the things that make us up, like the river and the reservoir, and also the residue of our experiences.


Rising waves, she sprayed the inevitable
The waves represent the unstoppable force of change that can bring destruction or renewal, depending on how you approach it.


Churn across many voices in our vape
Our collective voice is like a mist or vapor that turns and twists with the multitude of perspectives and ideas we hold.


As we surge and gush, we were steam and a distant heat
When we come together, we create energy and heat that can be felt from afar, like a growing storm.


We move rapid over landscape, gatherin′ speed
We are constantly changing and evolving, moving across the landscape of our lives and gathering momentum as we go.


There's a land, city, forest, and beach
Our experiences are diverse and varied, like different landscapes to explore and discover.


Headin′ for the people that sleep, ready to bleed
We are moving towards those who are inactive or unaware, and we are prepared to face the consequences of that awakening.


Unleash the torrents, come clean
Let the water, or our collective potential, flow freely and openly so that we can face our truths honestly and without hesitation.


Carry many lessons that the water teach
We carry the wisdom and knowledge that our experiences provide, like a river that carries valuable resources downstream.


But you better learn to swim or you'll get caught beneath
If you don't learn to navigate the waters of life, you risk getting swept away by them.


Hard rain falling on all the halfhearted
Difficult times are coming for those who lack conviction or purpose.


Half formed, fast walking, half fury, half boredom
People who lack direction or passion are only half alive and will struggle in challenging times.


Hard talking, half dead from exhaustion
Communication becomes more difficult when people are tired or overworked.


Half pushed but the puddles keep forming, don't fall in
Despite the challenges, we must not give up or become complacent.


Some saw us in their tea leaves, some felt us in their knees
People have different ways of sensing or perceiving change and our presence in the world.


Most left it to the weathermen to tell them there was nothing to see
Many people rely on outside sources to gauge the state of the world, rather than relying on their own intuition.


You can play dumb and ignore for so long
Ignoring the change and challenges around us will only work for a limited time.


But we′ve been in the mountains gettin′ strong
Facing challenges and developing resilience prepares us for the challenges to come.


We've seen you filling up the sky with your fumes
Our collective actions have real-world consequences, like pollution filling up the sky.


Sitting in your rooms like you′re all that ever lived
Individualism and isolation can create a distorted sense of reality and take away from our sense of connection to others.


Heads down to the lives of the others in your towns
We should be aware and connected to the lives and experiences of our neighbors and fellow citizens.


Running from the rains like you've never been kissed, look
We should not shy away from the challenges of life or be indifferent to the things that make life worth living.


Leave your possessions and fun so your friends
Let go of materialism and superficial pleasures so that you can connect with others in a meaningful way.


That you′ve gone to make peace with the things you've never done
Find inner peace by making amends with your past or unfulfilled desires or goals.


Come dance in the deluge, spill like the flood
Embrace the chaos of life and experience it fully, like dancing in a rainstorm or being caught in a flood.


The weathervane swings, things will never change
The only constant is change, and we must learn to adapt to it rather than resist it.


Single the moneymen who close their eyes and pretend
Call out those who are responsible for greed and corruption, or those who close their eyes to its effects.


That this rumble must be low planes, so strange
Don't ignore the signs of coming change or deny their reality, like mistaking thunder for something else.


And they will run to the highest hill, consult their old books
When faced with challenges, people may turn to old or familiar sources of wisdom or guidance.


Ask the dead mystics for wisdom they don't trust
People may seek answers or comfort from those who are no longer living, even if they doubt or distrust their advice.


The people will flock to the garages
People may stockpile or hoard resources in anticipation of difficult times ahead.


Stockpile cannisters of gasoline, tinned, fish, and bandages
People may gather the essentials they need for survival during a crisis.


Count the seconds between the thunder and the lightning
People may try to anticipate the timing or severity of a coming disaster, like counting the gap between thunder and lightning.


Scared of every other body runnin' ′round frightened
Fear can be contagious and cause people to act irrationally or frantically.


"We can′t carry on like this," you will mutter
People may express frustration or despair at the state of things, but feel powerless to change them.


Staring with disgust at the people weepin' in the gutter
People may feel a sense of resentment or anger towards those who are struggling or suffering.


"Yeah, we made no trouble, we played by the rules
People may feel they have done everything they are supposed to but still face challenges or crisis situations.


I worked double shift to get my kids from school!"
People may feel overworked or exhausted from the demands of everyday life.


But you were so focused on your own little part
Hyperfocus on individual goals or desires can lead to a lack of perspective or empathy towards others.


You went plowin′ on blind in the dark, no heart
Lack of awareness or empathy can cause us to act without thought or compassion.


Now we're not the dreaded storm that will end things
Change and upheaval do not necessarily signal the end of the world or the end of hope.


We′re just your playful, gale force friend in these end times
We can learn to view change or challenging times as an opportunity to grow and connect with others.


Come to remind you you're not an island
Connection with others is necessary and vital, especially during difficult times.


Life is much broader than borders
Our experiences and challenges are interconnected, and we should not be limited by geographical or ideological boundaries.


But who can afford to think over the walls of this fortress?
The structures that divide us can be challenging to overcome or transcend because of the real-world consequences or obstacles involved.


Of course, it′s important to provide roof and floorboards
Providing for basic needs and security is a necessity for our well-being.


For you and yours and be secure in your fortunes
Having financial or material security can be important and desirable, but it should not come at the expense of empathy or connection with others.


But you're more than the three or four you go to war for
Our identities are not limited to our immediate family or social circle, but extend beyond that to include our communities and shared humanity.


You're part of a people that need your support
Our connection to others is what gives meaning and purpose to our lives, and we should strive to support and uplift one another.


And, who′s world is it if it belongs to these corporates?
Corporate interests should not dictate or control the direction of our world or our lives.


The people are left on the doorstep, door shut
When corporate or political interests dominate, the needs and concerns of ordinary people can be left unaddressed or ignored.


Nauseous and tortured by all that they′ve lost
Feeling powerless and disconnected from the world can be a source of pain or suffering for many people.


Hard rain falling on all the halfhearted
In difficult times, those who lack conviction or purpose will struggle the most.


Half formed, fast walking, half fury, half boredom
People who lack clear direction or passion will be ill-equipped to face the challenges ahead.


Hard talking, half dead from exhaustion
When people are tired or overworked, communication becomes more difficult and less effective.


Half pushed but the puddles keep forming, don't fall in
Despite the challenges we face, we must remain vigilant and not give up or become complacent.




Writer(s): Daniel De Mussenden Carey, Kate Tempest

Contributed by Camden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@OlibearN

Holy shit, I first heard of Kate Tempest this morning and I was bedazzled by the rhythim, the lyrics and the power they transmit. Amazing

@patrickbourke2385

Didn't expect to like this, but I did

@kagillogly

I use this as a theme song of sorts for my anthropology classes. Whatever happens to one of us happens to each of us. Thank you, Kate Tempest, for helping my students and me to think and connect.

@mirkosainovic4903

Great.I like this.

@SteveWilliams-uh6sz

This sucks BIG TIME.

@Zotazar

steven williams goddam your on this one too? Honestly why did you look at the other videos if you hated the first one so much.

@johnvella4696

That's what a knobhead does. Simple really.

@LeRouxBel

steven williams You took the time to listen, you might want to take the time to read the lyrics as well - to me that's a big part of appreciating Tempest's work. Cheers.

@Lennonruthven

@@LeRouxBel Indeed.

@DerEchteBold

@@Lennonruthven
I just like the sound of it, couldn't care less about any lyrics so I could do without the spoken intro, but the rest is just fantastic.

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