Listless
On Broken Wings Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Deaf eyes seem to watch
The actions of definition
Human mockery
Persuasions never made me

Feel so sickened
Where's your action
Spent stabbing aimlessly
At walls with your fists

As apparitions
They do what they do
Because this lonely town
Feels like hospital beds

And you let them
I've broke my hands for
Less than this
There's nothing left

To justify to you
With every breath that
I exhale I wonder what it's
Like to feel alive

Maybe it's only in this light
But you're not a victim





No consequence
Breeds no conscience

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of On Broken Wings's song, "Listless," describe the feeling of being helpless and hopeless in a world that seems to pay no attention to the struggles of individuals. The singer seems to be in a state of despair, watching as people engage in meaningless actions while others suffer. The "deaf eyes" that "watch" symbolize a world that has become indifferent to the plight of others, and the "mockery" and "persuasions" suggest that attempts to change this reality are futile.


The singer feels "sickened" by this state of affairs and is frustrated by the lack of action from those around him. He observes people "stabbing aimlessly at walls with [their] fists," a metaphor for their inability to effect any real change. The singer, meanwhile, has "broke[n] [his] hands for less than this," indicating that he has already tried to make a difference but has had no success. As a result, there is "nothing left" for him to do but wonder what it means to "feel alive."


The final lines of the song imply that the singer believes that there are consequences to actions, and that those who choose not to act are not victims, but rather, simply lack a conscience. In other words, the world is not to blame for its problems; rather, it is individuals who choose not to act that are at fault.


Line by Line Meaning

Deaf eyes seem to watch
Observation is superficial when it's not accompanied by comprehension


The actions of definition
People are defined by their actions, not their words


Human mockery
Actions motivated by cruelty and disdain for others


Persuasions never made me
Attempts to change one's will through words alone are futile


Feel so sickened
Actions motivated by cruelty and disdain for others elicit a feeling of disgust


Where's your action
Words are not enough unless they are backed by action


Spent stabbing aimlessly
Reckless actions that don't serve any purpose or bring any benefit


At walls with your fists
A blind and unproductive release of anger into nothingness


As apparitions
Insignificant and intangible beings that have no substance


They do what they do
Insignificant beings lack purpose or direction


Because this lonely town
This place without life and vitality


Feels like hospital beds
Feels cold, sterile, and artificial


And you let them
Others have influence because they are allowed to have it


I've broke my hands for
Harm was inflicted upon oneself towards a meaningless end


Less than this
An outcome that is even less significant than this current state


There's nothing left
The outcome was not worth the sacrifices made


To justify to you
To provide a reason for oneself to someone else


With every breath that
As one lives their life


I exhale I wonder what it's
I contemplate on what it means


Like to feel alive
To have a purpose that drives oneself


Maybe it's only in this light
Perhaps it's only under certain circumstances


But you're not a victim
You are responsible for your life's direction


No consequence
A lack of accountability for one's actions


Breeds no conscience
A lack of accountability doesn't foster a sense of ethics




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Dillon

One of the best beatdown metalcore albums of all time, probably because a lot of this reminds me of Jane Doe-era Converge

zGoRzSkate45

2:25

Kyle Oconnell

Thats what i tell everyone

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