Only Crime plays a style of melodic but hard-hitting punk rock that borrows heavily from early-1980s hardcore bands. They have released two records: To the Nines (2004) and Virulence (2007).
In early 2007, Zach Blair became the new guitarist for Rise Against, replacing the recently departed Chris Chasse.
This Is Wretched
Only Crime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sounds from another room
Mark the end, fill my head
Resurrection like places on a line
Passing the wasted time
Lives gone wrong for too long
When they found me
All the insane ways
We qualify all disgrace
This is wretched, infirmed, and in decline
We brace our contentions
Rank and file kept in line
Trepidation waiting on the end
Bleeding with virtue
Lust to fall sacred friend
The opening lines of Only Crime's song "This Is Wretched" give us a haunting image of a person lost in thought, trying to fill their head with something to overcome the empty silence. The repetition of "wasted" reminds us how time seems to slip away when we are not fully present in the moment. The mention of "Lives gone wrong for too long" is a poignant reminder that time is not always kind and can pass us by in a blur of missed opportunities.
The lines "When they found me / In lies they surround me" speak to the idea that we often try to hide from the truth, but eventually get caught up in our own lies. The phrase "We qualify all disgrace" suggests that we try to justify our own failures and shortcomings in order to avoid taking responsibility for them.
The chorus of "This Is Wretched" is a bleak assessment of the state of the world, with the repeated phrase "This is wretched, infirmed, and in decline" painting a picture of decay and decline. The lines "Rank and file kept in line / Trepidation waiting on the end" show how society can keep us trapped in a cycle of conformity and fear, waiting for the inevitable end.
Overall, "This Is Wretched" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that speaks to the struggles of the human experience. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they paint a bleak picture of a world that is both beautiful and devastating in equal measure.
Line by Line Meaning
Trying patience wasted on the dead
The frustration of trying to communicate with those who refuse to listen or act.
Sounds from another room
The vague, distant feeling of not being fully present in a situation.
Mark the end, fill my head
Manifesting an impending sense of closure and finality in one’s thoughts.
Resurrection like places on a line
The cyclical nature of life and how experiences can often feel like a rebirth or reawakening.
Passing the wasted time
Lamenting the passage of time that was spent unproductively or without meaning.
Lives gone wrong for too long
Condemning past choices and the seemingly hopeless state of one’s current life.
When they found me
The feeling of being discovered, exposed, or vulnerable.
In lies they surround me
Feeling trapped or deceived by false narratives, whether from others or from oneself.
All the insane ways
Acknowledging the irrational and self-destructive behaviors that one engages in.
We qualify all disgrace
Justifying or rationalizing one’s own mistakes and shortcomings in order to avoid taking responsibility and making amends.
This is wretched, infirmed, and in decline
Expressing the sadness, exhaustion, and deterioration of one’s mental state.
We brace our contentions
Preparing for conflict or opposition, either with others or with oneself.
Rank and file kept in line
Succumbing to societal pressures and conforming to expectations.
Trepidation waiting on the end
Fear and anxiety about what the future holds, and the inevitability of death and endings.
Bleeding with virtue
Struggling to maintain one’s morality and integrity in the face of adversity.
Lust to fall sacred friend
Feeling a strong desire to embrace self-destruction and give in to one’s demons and temptations.
Contributed by Joseph B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.