Singing in the local church choirs as a boy, studying jazz and classical piano performance, composition, and arrangement, and singing and playing keyboards in the ska band Gangster Politics in high school. Watson left the band after graduating and began to explore other types of music, including electronica and ambient. In 2002, after returning from a trip to Vietnam, he decided to start a four-piece chamber pop group, bringing in bassist Mishka Stein, drummer Robbie Kuster (both of whom he had met at university), and former Gangster Politics guitarist Simon Angell. The group (which was technically a solo project with a backing band) released Just Another Ordinary Day (2003) independently.
In 2001 Watson released his first own solo debut, Waterproof9 and in 2006 his second, Close to Paradise. Early in 2007, Watson was nominated for a Juno Canada's music award in the New Artist of the Year category.
His band's song "The Great Escape" was featured on a third-season episode of Grey's Anatomy.
He co-wrote and performed on several songs on The Cinematic Orchestra's 2007 album Ma Fleur including the opening track "To Build a Home". His "Missing You" remix of Champion's "Guy Doune", from Champion's 2006 album The Remix Album, reached #1 on CBC Radio 3's R3-30 chart in early 2007.
Patrick Watson (the band) also won the prestigeous Polaris Music Prize (Canada) in 2007.
Website: www.patrickwatson.net
Weight of the World
Patrick Watson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got my head knocked off my feet
I tried to swallow all of the world
And now I've gotten in a little too deep
And now I'm falling towards the sky
I just don't know how and why
But I got the weight of all the world
Oh, what am I supposed to do?
Am I supposed to let go of all of you?
Am I supposed to fall back to the sky?
Or keep on rising for a while?
I think I'm falling down
Right back to the very ground
I couldn't hold it anymore
I think that's what I was asking for
I think this might just hurt
Oh, I don't see how could I change my hurt
I was carrying the weight of all the world
I think I'll get what I deserve
I got my feet knocked off the ground
I got my head knocked of my feet
I tried to swallow all of the world
And I think I got in a little too deep
I think you know where I have to go
I think you know what I deserve
Here comes the weight of all the world
And it's coming straight for me
The opening stanza of Patrick Watson's 'Weight of the World' is an admission of being overwhelmed, of feeling a sense of powerlessness and inadequacy. The persona has lost their footing and has been knocked off their feet. They tried to take on all the troubles of the word but they found themselves in too deep. The next stanza reflects a feeling of confusion, of not knowing why they are falling towards the sky, which is juxtaposed by the plea to hold on to the rope, a metaphor for holding on to life. The persona is left grappling between the dilemma of letting go of everything or keep on rising for a while.
In the final stanza, the persona admits to being unable to bear the weight of the world, of not being capable of holding on to everything they had committed to carrying. They are aware that they deserve what will happen to them, implying an acceptance of the consequences of their actions. The final lines reflect the ultimate realization of the persona - that the weight of the world is not something they could have taken on alone, and they must brace themselves for impact.
In summary, 'Weight of the World' is an introspective and ponderous song about an individual who has tried to take on everything and is now dealing with the fallout. It expresses the vulnerable and fragile nature of the human condition that, despite our best efforts, we are not always able to hold on to everything we have committed to.
Line by Line Meaning
I got my feet knocked off the ground
My foundation was shaken and I lost stability
I got my head knocked off my feet
I lost control over the situation and became disoriented
I tried to swallow all of the world
I attempted to carry the burden of the world's problems
And now I've gotten in a little too deep
I overestimated my ability to handle everything on my own
And now I'm falling towards the sky
I am experiencing a paradoxical situation that defies logic
I just don't know how and why
I am bewildered and confused
But I got the weight of all the world
I am carrying the heavy burden of the world's problems
I better not let go of the rope
I must hold on to my last hope and not give up
Oh, what am I supposed to do?
I am feeling helpless and desperate for direction
Am I supposed to let go of all of you?
Should I distance myself from others and attempt to handle things alone?
Am I supposed to fall back to the sky?
Should I retreat from reality and escape into my own thoughts?
Or keep on rising for a while?
Should I maintain my lofty aspirations and continue to pursue my dreams?
I think I'm falling down
I am losing ground and descending into chaos
Right back to the very ground
I am returning to the beginning and starting over
I couldn't hold it anymore
I reached my breaking point and could no longer carry the burden
I think that's what I was asking for
I subconsciously desired a release from the weight of the world
I think this might just hurt
I am expecting pain and suffering as a result of my actions
Oh, I don't see how could I change my hurt
I cannot envision a way to alleviate my emotional pain
I was carrying the weight of all the world
I was bearing the burden of the world's problems alone
I think I'll get what I deserve
I anticipate the consequences of my actions and accept them as deserved
I think you know where I have to go
I am aware of the path before me and the direction I must take
I think you know what I deserve
I am acknowledging that others may have insights into what is best for me
Here comes the weight of all the world
The burden I carried previously is returning with force
And it's coming straight for me
I am bracing myself for the impact and the consequences of my actions
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Mikhail Stein, Patrick Watson, Robert Kuster, Simon T Angell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind