If I Ever Feel Better
Phoenix - Topic Lyrics

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They say an end can be a start
Feels like I've been buried yet still alive
It's like a bad day that never ends
I feel the chaos around me
A thing I don't try to deny
I'd better learn to accept that
There are things in my life I can't control

They say love ain't nothing but a sore
I don't even know what love is
Too many tears have had to fall
Don't you know, I'm so tired of it all?
I have known terror dizzy spells
Finding out the secrets words won't tell
Whatever it is it can't be named
There's a part of my world that's fading away

You know I don't want to be clever
To be brilliant or superior
True like ice, true like fire
Now I know that a breeze can blow me away
Now I know there's much more dignity
In defeat than the brightest victory
I'm losing my balance on the tightrope
Tell me please, tell me please, tell me please, tell me please

If I ever feel better
Remind me to spend some good time with you
You can give me your number
When it's all over I'll let you know

Hang on to the good days
I can lean on my friends
They help me going through hard times

But I'm feeding the enemy
I'm in league with the foe
Blame me for what's happening
I can try, I can try, I can try, I can try

No one knows the hard times I went through
If happiness came I miss the call
Stormy days ain't over
Tried and lost now I think that I pay the cost
I've watched all my castles fall
They were made of dust, after all
Someday all this mess will make me laugh
I can wait, I can wait, I can wait, I can wait

If I ever feel better
Remind me to spend some good time with you
You can give me your number
When it's all over I'll let you know
If I ever feel better
Remind me to spend some good time with you
You can give me your number
When it's all over I'll let you know

It's like somebody took my place
I ain't even playing my own game
The rules have changed, well, I didn't know
There are things in my life I can't control
I feel the chaos around me
A thing I don't try to deny
I'd better learn to accept that
There's a part of my life that will go away

Dark is the night, cold is the ground
In the circular solitude of my heart
As one who strives a hill to climb
I am sure I'll come through, I don't know how
They say an end can be a start
Feels like I've been buried yet still alive
I'm losing my balance on the tightrope
Tell me please, tell me please, tell me please, tell me please

If I ever feel better
Remind me to spend some good time with you
You can give me your number
When it's all over I'll let you know
If I ever feel better
Remind me to spend some good time with you
You can give me your number
When it's all over I'll let you know

If I ever feel better
Remind me to spend some good time with you
You can give me your number
When it's all over I'll let you know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "If I Ever Feel Better" by Phoenix explore themes of personal struggles, love, and the uncertainty of life. The song begins by acknowledging that sometimes an ending can be a new beginning, but the singer still feels trapped and burdened, as if they are alive but buried under the weight of their circumstances. They describe their life as a never-ending bad day, filled with chaos that they cannot deny. They recognize that there are aspects of their life that they cannot control and must learn to accept.

The next verse delves into the singer's understanding of love. They admit that they don't even know what love truly is, having experienced so much pain and disappointment in relationships. They express exhaustion and weariness, longing for an end to the hardships they have endured. The lyrics mention experiencing fear and dizziness, having to uncover the hidden truths that words fail to communicate. There is a sense of something fading away, a part of their world disappearing.

The chorus reflects the singer's desire for simplicity and authenticity. They reject the need to be clever or superior and yearn for true experiences that are vulnerable and honest. They mention that even the gentlest breeze can blow them away, indicating their fragility and vulnerability. They suggest that defeat can sometimes hold more dignity than the brightest victory. They feel as if they are losing their balance on a tightrope, seeking guidance and reassurance.

The repeated chorus emphasizes the desire for connection and support. The singer requests to be reminded to spend good times with someone and suggests they exchange numbers. It implies a longing for companionship and intimacy during difficult times. They express gratitude for their friends who help them navigate through hardships but also acknowledge their own self-destructive tendencies, feeling as if they are collaborating with their enemies.

The lyrics then touch upon the singer's personal struggles and the toll they have taken. They feel unseen, as though no one understands the difficult experiences they have been through. Even if happiness were to come their way, they fear they would miss the opportunity. Stormy days continue to haunt them, and they question if the cost they have paid for their losses was worth it. The castles they built, symbolic of their dreams and aspirations, have crumbled, leaving them with a sense of impermanence.

The final verse expresses a resolve to accept the uncertainties of life. The singer feels like they have been replaced and no longer have control over their own existence. They acknowledge the chaos around them once again, indicating that accepting it is crucial for moving forward. They recognize that there are parts of their life that will inevitably change and fade away.

The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the longing for connection and the promise to reach out when things get better. It encapsulates the feelings of uncertainty, longing, and the journey towards self-acceptance and resilience.

Line by Line Meaning

They say an end can be a start
It is said that the end of something can also be the beginning of something else.

Feels like I've been buried yet still alive
I feel overwhelmed and trapped, as if I am suffocated, but I am still breathing and surviving.

It's like a bad day that never ends
I am stuck in a continuous cycle of unfortunate events and negativity.

I feel the chaos around me
I sense the disorder and confusion in my surroundings.

A thing I don't try to deny
I don't attempt to reject or ignore this realization.

I'd better learn to accept that
I should strive to acknowledge and come to terms with this truth.

There are things in my life I can't control
I understand that there are aspects of my life that are beyond my influence.

They say love ain't nothing but a sore
It is commonly said that love is merely a wound or pain.

I don't even know what love is
I am uncertain and unaware of the true nature of love.

Too many tears have had to fall
I have shed an excessive amount of tears in the past.

Don't you know, I'm so tired of it all?
Do you not understand? I am exhausted from everything.

I have known terror dizzy spells
I have experienced moments of intense fear and disorientation.

Finding out the secrets words won't tell
Discovering hidden truths that cannot be expressed through words alone.

Whatever it is it can't be named
I struggle to find words that accurately describe or define it.

There's a part of my world that's fading away
A significant aspect of my life is gradually disappearing or becoming less important.

You know I don't want to be clever
I do not desire to be intellectually superior or cunning.

To be brilliant or superior
I am not interested in being extraordinary or better than others.

True like ice, true like fire
Authentic, genuine, and steadfast, whether cold and unfeeling or passionate and intense.

Now I know that a breeze can blow me away
I have learned that even a slight change or difficulty can greatly affect and destabilize me.

Now I know there's much more dignity
I am now aware that there is greater grace and self-respect

In defeat than the brightest victory
in accepting defeat graciously rather than achieving the most glorious victory.

I'm losing my balance on the tightrope
I am struggling to maintain stability and equilibrium in my life.

Tell me please, tell me please, tell me please, tell me please
I am desperately pleading for someone to provide guidance or answers.

Hang on to the good days
Hold onto the moments of happiness and positivity.

I can lean on my friends
I can rely on the support and understanding of my friends.

They help me going through hard times
They assist me in navigating and enduring difficult periods in my life.

But I'm feeding the enemy
Unfortunately, I am unintentionally empowering or aiding the source of my hardships.

I'm in league with the foe
I am aligned or allied with the very thing that opposes me.

Blame me for what's happening
Hold me accountable for the current situation and its consequences.

I can try, I can try, I can try, I can try
I will exert effort and make attempts to improve or change the circumstances.

No one knows the hard times I went through
No one truly understands the difficult experiences I have endured.

If happiness came I miss the call
If moments of joy and contentment arrived, I failed to recognize and embrace them.

Stormy days ain't over
The turbulent and challenging times are not yet finished.

Tried and lost now I think that I pay the cost
Having made attempts and experienced losses, I now believe I am bearing the consequences.

I've watched all my castles fall
I have witnessed the collapse and destruction of all my dreams and aspirations.

They were made of dust, after all
In the end, they were merely illusions and had no true substance or permanence.

Someday all this mess will make me laugh
Eventually, I will find humor and amusement in all the chaos and disorder.

I can wait, I can wait, I can wait, I can wait
I am patient and willing to endure, regardless of the circumstances.

It's like somebody took my place
I feel as though someone has replaced me or usurped my position.

I ain't even playing my own game
I am not even in control of the decisions or actions being taken in my life.

The rules have changed, well, I didn't know
The guidelines and expectations have shifted, and I was unaware of this transformation.

There are things in my life I can't control
I understand that there are aspects of my life that are beyond my influence.

I feel the chaos around me
I sense the disorder and confusion in my surroundings.

A thing I don't try to deny
I don't attempt to reject or ignore this realization.

I'd better learn to accept that
I should strive to acknowledge and come to terms with this truth.

There's a part of my life that will go away
A significant aspect of my life will fade or disappear.

Dark is the night, cold is the ground
The night is filled with darkness and the ground emits a chilling coldness.

In the circular solitude of my heart
Within the confines of my lonely and isolated heart.

As one who strives a hill to climb
Like an individual determined to conquer a challenging obstacle or goal.

I am sure I'll come through, I don't know how
I am confident that I will overcome, even though I am uncertain about the method or means.

Tell me please, tell me please, tell me please, tell me please
I am desperately pleading for someone to provide guidance or answers.

If I ever feel better
In the event that I experience an improvement in my state of being

Remind me to spend some good time with you
Kindly prompt me to share enjoyable moments with you.

You can give me your number
I would appreciate it if you offered me your contact information.

When it's all over I'll let you know
Once everything has settled down and resolved, I will inform you.