Sentimental
Porcupine Tree (musikdesire.blogspot.com) Lyrics

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Never want to be old
And I don?t want dependence
It?s no fun to be told
That you can?t blame your parents anymore

I'm finding it hard
To hang from a star
Don?t want to be

Never want to be old

Sullen and bored the kids stay
And in this way they wish away each day?
Stoned in the mall the kids play
And in this way wish away each day?

I don?t really know
If I care what is normal
And I? m not really sure
If the pills I?ve been taking are helping

I'm wasting my life
Hurting inside
I don?t really know
And I?m not really sure

Sullen and bored the kids stay
And in this way they wish away each day?
Stoned in the mall the kids play
And in this way wish away each day?

Sullen and bored the kids stay
And in this way they wish away each day?

Stoned in the mall the kids play
And in this way wish away each day?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Porcupine Tree's "Sentimental" express a desire to stay young and independent, to avoid becoming dependent on others - particularly one's parents. The singer is struggling with the weight of responsibility that comes with aging and is finding it difficult to maintain a sense of wonder and joy in life. They are afraid of wasting their life and are uncertain about the impact of the medication they are taking. The song also comments on the state of today's youth, who often seem disinterested and disengaged from the world around them, spending their time in malls and wishing their days away.

The line "Never want to be old" speaks to a fear of losing one's youth and independence - something that many people can relate to. The idea of "hanging from a star" could be interpreted as a desire for something out of reach or unattainable. The repeated refrain of "Sullen and bored the kids stay, and in this way they wish away each day" draws attention to the sense of apathy and detachment that is so prevalent in today's youth culture.

The lyric "I don’t really know if I care what is normal" suggests a desire to reject societal norms and expectations. It is also a reminder that what is considered "normal" can often be limiting or stifling to individual growth and self-discovery. The overall tone of the lyrics is one of dissatisfaction and uncertainty, yet they also contain an underlying awareness and acceptance of the human condition.

Line by Line Meaning

Never want to be old
I don't want to age and lose my independence.

And I don't want dependence
I don't want to rely on anyone else.

It's no fun to be told
Being told what to do or being blamed for things beyond your control is not enjoyable.

That you can't blame your parents anymore
Growing up means taking responsibility for your own actions instead of blaming your parents.

I'm finding it hard
I'm struggling to cope.

To hang from a star
To achieve greatness is difficult and feels impossible.

Don't want to be
I don't want to exist in this state.

Sullen and bored the kids stay
The children are unhappy and uninterested in anything around them.

And in this way they wish away each day?
They're hoping that time goes by quicker because they're unhappy with their current situation.

Stoned in the mall the kids play
The kids are resorting to drugs to escape their problems and distract themselves in a public space.

And in this way wish away each day?
They're hoping that time goes by quicker because they're unhappy with their current situation.

I don't really know
I'm unsure and confused.

If I care what is normal
I'm not sure if I care about conforming to societal expectations.

And I'm not really sure
I'm still uncertain.

If the pills I've been taking are helping
I'm not sure if the medication I'm taking is actually making a difference.

I'm wasting my life
I'm not living my life to the fullest and feel unfulfilled.

Hurting inside
I'm in emotional pain.