Killing Time
Matt Smith Lyrics


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This can't go on forever, there's something wrong
Feels like I'm dying all the time
Can you feel it ending, did it ever start?
Calm down, let's do another line

I think I'm bleeding, I may start screaming
One more bump and you'll be fine
Keep on going and you, too, will find
The end is just a state of mind
You go on without me, maybe I'll stay behind
'Cause there's no finish at the finish line

If we're dead already, then let's keep going
What is left to hold us back?
We've all got our secrets (my heart's pounding)
There's no way of knowing (but my heartbeat's gone)
If they'll be blood upon the track

Keep on going, and you too will find
The end is just a state of mind
You go on without me, maybe I'll stay behind
There's no finish at the finish line

'Cause when you've made it ('cause when you made it)
What will you find (what will you find)
Heaven's just a (it's my) state of mind




You are not moving mountains or changing lives
You're just killing while you're killing time

Overall Meaning

Matt Smith’s song “Killing Time” is a haunting and introspective look at the human condition. The song captures the feeling of existential dread that often plagues us when we feel stuck in a cycle of emptiness and monotony. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the piece, as Smith sings, “This can't go on forever, there's something wrong/Feels like I'm dying all the time.”


The lyrics express a sense of helplessness and a fear of the unknown, as the singer wonders if there was ever a true beginning or if this feeling of stagnation has always been a part of their reality. The chorus, “Keep on going and you, too, will find/The end is just a state of mind/You go on without me, maybe I'll stay behind/'Cause there's no finish at the finish line”, emphasizes the futility of striving towards something that may not even exist.


The imagery used throughout the song is visceral and evocative, as Smith describes physically feeling the effects of this ennui. Lines such as “I think I'm bleeding, I may start screaming” and “We've all got our secrets (my heart's pounding)” add to the raw emotion conveyed in the piece. The final lines of the song drive home the central message, “You are not moving mountains or changing lives/You're just killing while you're killing time”, highlighting the sense of nihilism and resignation that can come with feeling trapped in a meaningless existence.


Line by Line Meaning

This can't go on forever, there's something wrong
The current situation is not sustainable and there is something that needs to change.


Feels like I'm dying all the time
The singer is experiencing significant pain or discomfort.


Can you feel it ending, did it ever start?
The singer is questioning whether the current situation ever truly began or if it is already coming to a close.


Calm down, let's do another line
The artist is suggesting that they take drugs to forget about their problems.


I think I'm bleeding, I may start screaming
The artist is experiencing physical and emotional pain.


One more bump and you'll be fine
The singer is encouraging their drug use to alleviate their pain.


Keep on going and you, too, will find The end is just a state of mind
The singer believes that there is no true end and that it is merely a mental construct.


You go on without me, maybe I'll stay behind 'Cause there's no finish at the finish line
The artist is suggesting that they may not be able to continue and that the concept of a finish line is meaningless.


If we're dead already, then let's keep going What is left to hold us back?
The artist feels as though they are already dead inside and sees no reason to stop self-destructive behavior.


We've all got our secrets (my heart's pounding) There's no way of knowing (but my heartbeat's gone)
The artist acknowledges that everyone has secrets and that it is difficult to know what is truly happening inside oneself.


If they'll be blood upon the track
The singer is uncertain about the consequences of their actions and whether they will result in harm.


Cause when you've made it ('cause when you made it) What will you find (what will you find) Heaven's just a (it's my) state of mind
The artist questions the value of achieving success and wonders if it will truly bring happiness or if it is simply a mental construct.


You are not moving mountains or changing lives You're just killing while you're killing time
The singer believes that they are not making a significant impact on the world and that their actions are simply a way to pass the time.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Duncan Sheik

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Matthew

can I just say that this should really be more popular

Spyrocine

I know how to make that happen. Give me a few months to do it myself, and if I haven’t I’ll tell you how.

Matthew

@Spyrocine well that's cryptic.

pookapine

​@Spyrocine what

Spyrocine

@pookapine If you find the right way to launch it then it can work. But I definitely overestimated my ability to pull it of I think. I still want to make it an animated music video but It will take a while

Giselle Kent

Is it just me or is Duncan Sheik' s music so beautifully disturbing? Of course Spring Awakening and American Psycho are two very different shows but through listening to both of these shows I've gotten the feeling that "What is happening is so messed up, but the way it's said is so beautiful that I CAN'T stop listening" anyone else feel the same?

Katherine Davis

Giselle Kent totally agree. They both give me a weirdly hollowed-out feeling that's almost nostalgic in a way, but it isn't unpleasant.

mothaykien

it’s just you

María Maravilla

This song is completely different in the recording of the Broadway cast that you can find on youtube. I'd be really curious to watch a recording of the London cast doing this song. I really like this version.

mxi

I prefer the London version. It has better songs and its not as messy. They did a comparison and the London had more songs than Broadway, despite Broadway adding another song.
I think that's why it didn't do very well on Broadway. It is actually my second favorite musical of all time.

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