The Future
Neil Hilborn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
being hit by a car—is that road rash
is a problem for skin. Why was I naked
in the middle of the road at noon? I am glad
you asked, imaginary other half of this
conversation! I have no idea! Some characteristics
of bipolar disorder include dissociation, hallucinations,
and fugue states, so sometimes I wake up in places
So. There I am. Nude. Splayed out on a car like a slutty
chicken, and I'm screaming about the government
conspiracy to take away my feet. Not my real feet.
Just my brain feet. I'm about six inches away
from the concrete when I realize, in slow motion,
like the exact opposite of a rhinoceros attack,
"This is not how I imagined my life would turn out." When I was young, I broke
both my ankles jumping off a roof because
I was sure a cape would enable me to fly. My parents
attributed this to my strong imagination. Last year,
my therapist called it a delusion. I fail
to see the difference. Also, I really can fly
and see the future and make stupid people leave
coffee shops with my mind. Forty-three percent of the time.
Sometimes I see people as colors. For instance, this guy
right here is purple, which means he just got a promotion.
Or a blowjob. A blowmotion, if you will. The point is,
here is a list of things my brain has told me
to do: join a cult; start a cult; become a cabinet maker;
kill myself, so, in essence, become a cabinet maker;
break into, and then paint, other people's houses; have sex
with literally everyone who reminds me of my mother;
fight people who are much fightier than me, like
the cops, so, in essence, kill myself. I think a lot
about killing myself, not like a point on a map but rather
like a glowing exit sign at a show that's never been
quite bad enough to make me want to leave. See, when I'm up
I don't kill myself because, holy shit, there's so much left
to do! When I'm down I don't kill myself because then
the sadness would be over, and the sadness is my old paint
under the new. The sadness is the house fire or the broken
shoulder: I'd still be me without it but I'd be so boring.
They keep telling me seeing things that aren't technically there
is called "disturbed cognitive functioning." I call it
"having a superpower." Once, I pulled over on the 110 freeway
and jumped out of my old Jeep because I saw it burst
into flames twenty seconds before it actually burst
into flames. I knew my girlfriend and I would be
together because she turned bright pink the first time
she saw me. I know tomorrow is going to come
because I've seen it. Sunrise is going to come,
all you have to do is wake up. The future has been
at war, but it's coming home so soon. The future
looks like a child in a cape. The future is the map
and the treasure. The future looks just like gravity:
everyone is slowly drifting toward everyone else.
We are all going to be part of each other
one day. The future is a blue sky and a full
tank of gas. I saw the future, I did,
and in it I was alive.
The verse talks about the singer's bipolar disorder and how it affects their perception of reality. They describe a scenario where they are hit by a car while naked and explain that dissociation and fugue states caused them to end up in that situation. They also explain some of the delusions they experience, such as believing in a government conspiracy to take away their "brain feet" and having the ability to see the future and move people with their mind. The singer speaks about their past, where they broke both their ankles as a child trying to fly with a cape. They describe how their parents praised their imagination, while their therapist now considers it a delusion. The singer also admits to thinking about suicide often but doesn't go through with it because there's still so much left to do.
The chorus of the song is more hopeful and looks towards the future. The singer talks about how they've seen the future and know they'll be alive, giving a sense of optimism. They also describe the future using metaphors, such as a child in a cape and a blue sky with a full tank of gas. The lyrics describe a future where everyone is connected and "drifting towards each other," implying a sense of unity and togetherness. Overall, the song expresses the struggles of living with bipolar disorder and the hope of moving forward towards a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
The worst thing about being naked—and then
being hit by a car—is that road rash
is a problem for skin.
Being hit by a car while naked would lead to road rash which is an issue for the skin.
Why was I naked
in the middle of the road at noon? I am glad
you asked, imaginary other half of this
conversation! I have no idea!
The author has no idea why he was naked in the middle of the road at noon.
Some characteristics
of bipolar disorder include dissociation, hallucinations,
and fugue states, so sometimes I wake up in places
I didn't go to sleep!
People with bipolar disorder may experience dissociation, hallucinations, and fugue states which can cause them to wake up in unfamiliar places.
Splayed out on a car like a slutty
chicken, and I'm screaming about the government
conspiracy to take away my feet.
The author was lying naked on a car and screaming about the government taking away his 'brain feet.'
"This is not how I imagined my life would turn out."
The author realizes that their life has taken an unexpected turn, causing them to think this is not what they had imagined it to be.
I think a lot
about killing myself, not like a point on a map but rather
like a glowing exit sign at a show that's never been
quite bad enough to make me want to leave.
The thought of killing oneself, for the author, is more of a 'glowing exit sign' and not a static location in time, hence they have not been able to act on the thought yet.
The sadness is the house fire or the broken
shoulder: I'd still be me without it but I'd be so boring.
The sadness is akin to an unpleasant experience, much like a house fire or a broken shoulder, yet it is unique to the author as it distinguishes them from being boring.
The future looks like a child in a cape. The future is the map
and the treasure. The future looks just like gravity:
everyone is slowly drifting toward everyone else.
The future is symbolized by a child wearing a cape, a map and a treasure. It is also a force that is slowly bringing people together, much like gravity.
We are all going to be part of each other
one day. The future is a blue sky and a full
tank of gas. I saw the future, I did,
and in it I was alive.
The future is a time when everyone will be part of each other. The author has seen the future and it is akin to a long drive on a sunny day with plenty of gas, and most importantly, they are alive in it.
Contributed by Harper N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JBdreamingbig29
The last line where he says "I saw the future. and in it I was alive" is so so important to me. I don't know why.
@rossyalmonte1057
Same.
@KittyMattrazz
I had chills- still do.
@cholesteroyal
I painted this quote on my wall
@peaceloveally
I’ve been thinking of that sentence weekly since I found this poem years ago. He is a gift
@deerlyXO
i put this on my graduation cap (:
@maisiesayers5371
Slam poetry is always best at 2am
@casperes0912
+Maisie Sayers 6am here... It's great!
@diz.420
Omg. I'm not alone. 😂👌🏻
@MrStephanieJChia
+Maisie Sayers yasss I relate