Background:
The song was written by Emily Haines and produced by John O'Mahony. The song was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, being one of the first songs Haines had written in months.
On November 5, 2008 Metric updated their website with a video on how Haines writes a song. The video follows Haines through Argentina on a soul searching journey to find creativity and herself. "The songs that I wrote here were the simplest and clearest writing that I've done in I think in my whole life", said Haines. "Help I'm Alive" was one of the first songs Haines had written in Buenos Aires.
The song has been very well-received by contemporary rock music critics.
On January 28, 2009, the band made the acoustic version of the single available for download from their website. The acoustic version features Emily Haines on piano and James Shaw on acoustic guitar.
Help I'm Alive
Metric Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're gonna eat me alive
If I stumble
They're gonna eat me alive
Beating like a hammer
Help I'm alive, my heart keeps beating like a hammer
Hard to be soft
Tough to be tender
Come take my pulse, the pace is on a runaway train
Help I'm alive my heart keeps beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
If you're still alive
My regrets are few
If my life is mine
What shouldn't I do?
I get wherever I'm going
I get whatever I need
While my blood's still flowing
And my heart's still beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Help I'm alive, my heart keeps beating like a hammer
Hard to be soft
Tough to be tender
Come take my pulse, the pace is on a runaway train
Help I'm alive, my heart keeps beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
If you're still alive
My regrets are few
If my life is mine
What shouldn't I do?
I get wherever I'm going
I get whatever I need
While my blood's still flowing
And my heart's still
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
I tremble
They're gonna eat me alive
If I stumble
They're gonna eat me alive
Can you hear my heart beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Help I'm alive, my heart keeps beating like a hammer
Metric's song "Help I'm Alive" is a deeply introspective and confessional meditation on the overwhelming feelings of vulnerability and anxiety that come with simply existing in the world. The song begins with the haunting refrain, "I tremble, They're gonna eat me alive. If I stumble, They're gonna eat me alive," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the track. The singer is acutely aware of the fragility of their own existence and is constantly fearful of being overwhelmed or consumed by the world around them.
Throughout the song, the singer grapples with this intense sense of vulnerability and the seemingly impossible task of balancing strength and softness. The chorus drives home these conflicting emotions with the lines, "Hard to be soft, Tough to be tender." The singer acknowledges that, in order to survive, they must be both tough and vulnerable, a balancing act that is incredibly difficult to maintain.
Ultimately, "Help I'm Alive" is a raw and honest exploration of the complexities of the human experience, and the ways in which we try to cope with the daily struggles of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I tremble
I am scared and anxious about what is going to happen.
They're gonna eat me alive
I am worried about being destroyed or taken down by my surroundings or circumstances.
If I stumble
If I make a mistake, I am afraid it will have serious consequences.
Can you hear my heart beating like a hammer
My heart is pounding fast and hard, showing how intense and overwhelming my emotions are.
Help I'm alive, my heart keeps beating like a hammer
I am asking for assistance or guidance because my emotions are too intense and I feel like I am on the verge of falling apart.
Hard to be soft
It is difficult to show vulnerability or sensitivity when I feel like I need to be strong and tough to survive.
Tough to be tender
It is challenging to balance both strength and sensitivity in my personality, especially when faced with difficult circumstances.
Come take my pulse, the pace is on a runaway train
I need someone to check my vital signs because my emotions feel out of control and overwhelming, like a train that is speeding out of control.
If you're still alive, my regrets are few
If you are still around and I am still alive, I will have few regrets in my life because it means that I have overcome the challenges and obstacles that I faced.
If my life is mine, what shouldn't I do?
If I have control over my own life, I should not limit myself or let others limit me, and should take risks and pursue my dreams.
I get wherever I'm going, I get whatever I need
I am determined and resilient, and will do whatever it takes to achieve my goals and succeed in life.
While my blood's still flowing and my heart's still beating like a hammer
As long as I am alive, my emotions and passions will continue to drive me forward, even if it feels overwhelming and intense.
Lyrics Ā© BMG Rights Management
Written by: Emily Haines, James Shaw
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shadywalker2159
I tremble
They're gonna eat me alive
If I stumble
They're gonna eat me alive
Can you hear my heart
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Help I'm alive
My heart keeps beating like a hammer
Hard to be soft
Tough to be tender
Come take my pulse the pace is on a runaway train
Help I'm alive
My heart keeps beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
If you're still alive
My regrets are few
If my life is mine
What shouldn't I do?
I get wherever I'm going
I get whatever I need
While my blood's still flowing
And my heart's still
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Help I'm alive
My heart keeps beating like a hammer
Hard to be soft
Tough to be tender
Come take my pulse the pace is on a runaway train
Help I'm alive
My heart keeps beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
If you're still alive
My regrets are few
If my life is mine
What shouldn't I do?
I get wherever I'm going
I get whatever I need
While my blood's still flowing
And my heart's still
Beating like a hammer [Repeats]
Help I'm alive
My heart keeps beating like a hammer
@chaeryeongships3991
God it took me like 10 years to find this song. When I was like really young I used to hear this song on the radio all the time. I remembered one word, hammer, and some of the beat, and I looked up songs by words, and that's how I found it.
@alexflu2
omgg i just went through kind of the same issue. i've had this stuck in my head for the past few days but only "theyre gonna eat me alive" then I thought about it again today about stumbling.. then i was like WAIT its metric something isnt it??? and found it <333 not the exact version i remember but never the less im happy to have found it again <3
@satvikjha8932
succes level 100
@bearman9033
I hear this song once a week on the radio haha I did the same thing
@dreamingofnorthernlights2
It means something to U
@chriscunningham6401
Google is getting really good at finding songs if you type in what lyrics you know and type "song" after that.
@seadawn8559
this song describes social anxiety perfectly. absolute fear and apprehension. but most of all, knowing nobody else will ever understand you. there's nothing else like it - and its truly painful.
@samg6246
yes this is why i connect to this song so much. the fear of making a mistake and every one being against you is said so perfectly - āif i stumble, theyāre gonna eat me alive.ā
@ashleylentz2651
I'm sure it also describes stagefright perfectly too. And not just for entertainers either. Anyone who has to speak to a group of people at all.
@richcrotty
It also perfectly describes being pursued by zombies.