Portishead are an English band formed in 1991 in Bristol. Portishead are na… Read Full Bio ↴Portishead are an English band formed in 1991 in Bristol. Portishead are named after Portishead, Somerset, eight miles west of Bristol, along the coast. The band comprises vocalist Beth Gibbons, producer Geoff Barrow and musician Adrian Utley.

Portishead's debut album, Dummy (1994), fused hip hop production with an atmospheric, cinematic style reminiscent of spy film soundtracks. The album was met with commercial and critical acclaim, quickly becoming a landmark album in the emerging trip hop genre. However, the band disliked being associated with the term, and would consciously step away from that sound on later releases. Two other studio albums have been issued: Portishead in 1997 and Third in 2008, both of which received similar acclaim. In 1998, the band released a concert album, Roseland NYC Live.

Seven Months
Portishead Lyrics

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How can I forget you?
Disregard how I feel?
Silently listen
To the words I can't see

As long as I have tried
As low as I can be
I will never resign myself

From the trial I seek

Why should I forgive you
After all that I've seen?
Quietly whisper
When my heart wants to scream

For as long as I have tried
And as low as I can be
I will never resign myself
From the trial I seek

There's no time to rest
Or to reconsider
For this cruel unsaid
Won't concede

For as long as I have tried
And as low as I can be

I will never resign myself
From the trial I seek

Overall Meaning

In Portishead's song Seven Months, the lyrics reflect a sense of heartbreak, betrayal, and the struggle to move on. The line "How can I forget you, disregard how I feel" shows the internal conflict of trying to let go of someone who has hurt you deeply. The singer then asks why they should forgive the person for what they've done, even though they are trying to silently listen and be calm. The repetition of the lines "For as long as I have tried, and as low as I can be, I will never resign myself from the trial I seek" establishes the determination to keep fighting for what they believe in and not give in to defeat.

The chorus of "There's no time to rest, or to reconsider, for this cruel unsaid, won't concede" further highlights the difficulty in moving on when there is unresolved pain and hurt. The phrase "this cruel unsaid" could refer to the hurtful words left unsaid or the unspoken pain that continues to linger. The singer refuses to resign themselves to the pain and instead continues to seek justice and closure.

Overall, Seven Months captures the painful emotions that come with a betrayal or heartbreak and the struggle to move on. The lyrics express a deep desire for closure and justice as the singer fights to overcome the cruelty of their situation.

Line by Line Meaning

How can I forget you
Expressing the inability to forget someone

Disregard how I feel
Ignoring the feelings attached to the person

Silently listen
Listening without making any noise

To the words I can't see
Trying to understand the unsaid words

For as long as I have tried
Despite multiple attempts

And as low as I can be
Even in the lowest point in life

I will never resign myself
Never giving up

From the trial I seek
Looking for a challenge to overcome

Why should I forgive you
Questioning the reason for forgiveness

After all that I've seen
Considering the evidence justifying the lack of forgiveness

Quietly whisper
Speaking softly