MEMORY
Preoccupations Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were being overcharged in the market square
Overwhelmed and it's coming from all angles
You were entertaining the idea that it wasn't fair
But the picture seemed sharp enough to view life through you
I can't remember where we were, where were we when we all went under?
For all the things you failed to do
You don't have to say sorry
For all the times when everything fell through
Say it's sponsored character assassination
I promise that I'd burned your things when you're dead and gone
It's an orchestrated controversy
No strategies for dissolving in the atmosphere
And the distance seemed short enough from Point A to Point B
Your favourite feeling was the ground falling out from beneath your feet
You don't have to say sorry
For all the things you failed to do
You don't need to say sorry
For all the times when everything fell through
Our loneliness
Arrives by satellite
On time
And the signal
A malady's between
Both sides
You couldn't be
Whatever they call me
Insane
Left here with no
No one familiar
Recede
Erasing
Your memory (Your memory)
Erasing
Your memory (Your memory)
Our particles
Collide and drown
By candlelight
Our particles
Collide and drown
By candlelight
The lyrics of Preoccupations' song Memory deal with feelings of overwhelm and failure. In the first verse, the singer speaks to someone who is feeling overcharged and taken advantage of in a market square. This person is feeling overwhelmed, as pressures are coming from all angles. However, the singer paints the picture as sharp, indicating that this situation is clear enough to view life through. The second part of the verse reflects on a time when everyone went under, indicating a shared emotional experience.
The chorus offers a tone of forgiveness and the idea that there is no need to say sorry for things that didn't work out. This is reiterated in the second verse, talking about "sponsored character assassination" and an "orchestrated controversy." These phrases could refer to the idea that people have been manipulated into certain actions, or that there is an overarching malicious intent in society. Either way, the singer offers the idea that there is no need to apologize for things that are not in one's control.
The bridge offers a glimpse into the loneliness felt by the singer and perhaps by the person they are singing to. This particularly poignant part of the song suggests that loneliness comes through technology, as "our loneliness arrives by satellite." The final verse talks about being left alone, insane, with no one familiar. The end offers the idea that memories can be erased, but the particles colliding and drowning suggest that there is something beyond our physical memories that can't simply be erased.
Line by Line Meaning
Necessary but against your better judgment
You knew it was necessary to do something, but it didn't feel like the right decision.
You were being overcharged in the market square
You were taken advantage of or scammed while shopping in a public market.
Overwhelmed and it's coming from all angles
You feel like you're being attacked or have too much to deal with from all directions.
You were entertaining the idea that it wasn't fair
You were considering or exploring the thought that things weren't fair.
But the picture seemed sharp enough to view life through you
Despite doubts and challenges, you could still see life clearly and make sense of things around you.
I can't remember where we were, where were we when we all went under?
I don't remember where we were or what happened when we reached a breaking point.
Say it's sponsored character assassination
Someone is deliberately trying to ruin your reputation or character for their own benefit.
I promise that I'd burned your things when you're dead and gone
I swear I'll destroy or get rid of your possessions after you're no longer alive.
It's an orchestrated controversy
The conflict or drama is intentional and carefully planned or controlled by a specific group or person.
No strategies for dissolving in the atmosphere
There's no clear plan or direction for moving forward or dealing with what's happening.
And the distance seemed short enough from Point A to Point B
The journey or task ahead didn't seem too far or difficult to manage.
Your favourite feeling was the ground falling out from beneath your feet
You enjoyed the feeling of unexpected or uncertain changes happening in your life.
Our loneliness
Arrives by satellite
On time
And the signal
A malady's between
Both sides
We experience loneliness even when we're connected through technology, and it's a problem that affects everyone involved.
You don't have to say sorry
For all the things you failed to do
You don't have to say sorry
For all the times when everything fell through
You don't need to apologize for things that didn't work out or things you weren't able to do.
You couldn't be
Whatever they call me
Insane
Left here with no
No one familiar
Recede
You couldn't meet other people's expectations or fit into their categories, and you feel isolated and disconnected from everyone around you.
Erasing
Your memory (Your memory)
Erasing
Your memory (Your memory)
You're trying to forget or remove memories from your mind.
Our particles
Collide and drown
By candlelight
We come together and encounter conflicts and challenges that we have to navigate and overcome.
Our particles
Collide and drown
By candlelight
We come together and encounter conflicts and challenges that we have to navigate and overcome.
Contributed by Victoria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@angeltellez3303
[Verse 1: Matt Flegel]
Necessary but against your better judgments
You were being overcharged in the market square
Overwhelmed and it’s coming from all angles
You were entertaining the idea that it wasn’t fair
[Pre-Chorus 1: Matt Flegel]
But the picture seemed sharp enough
To view life through you
I can’t remember where we were
Where were we when we all went under?
[Chorus: Matt Flegel]
You don’t have to say sorry
For all the things you failed to do
You don’t have to say sorry
For all the times when everything fell through
[Verse 2: Matt Flegel]
State-sponsored character assassination
I promise that I’ll burn your things when you’re dead and gone
It’s an orchestrated controversy
No strategies for dissolving in the atmosphere
[Pre-Chorus 2: Matt Flegel]
And the distance seemed sure enough
From Point A to Point B
Your favourite feeling was the ground falling out
From beneath your feet
[Chorus: Matt Flegel]
You don’t have to say sorry
For all the things you failed to do
You don’t need to say sorry
For all the times when everything fell through
[Verse 3: Dan Boeckner]
Unholiness
Arrives by satellite on time
And I see no anomalies
Between both sides
[Verse 4: Dan Boeckner]
You could help me
With every little need
End scene
Left here with no paraphernalia
Recede
[Bridge: Matt Flegel (Dan Boeckner)]
Erasing (Erasing)
Your memory (Your memory)
Erasing (Erasing)
Your memory (Your memory)
[Verse 5: Matt Flegel]
Our particles collide and drown
By candlelight
Our particles collide and drown
By candlelight
@seppukudeadman
I have lost my father last May and when I receved that phone call, from the other side of the world, I instinctively played this song at full blast in my apartment, in tears. A great moment of my life.
@klokjerond1967
may he rest in peace my brother....blessings ...my father died in juli....i hear you...i did same...this song and this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-0s4l4Ydjo
@dromendus
massive props to whoever directed this video, it's an incredible accompaniment to the entire 11-minute trip of a song from start to finish tbh. Preoccupations have some of the most consistently good music videos.
@MultiDawdawdaw
Piece of art. Unquestionably.
Я целый год жил, слушая эту песню.
@thomas_walker
Flegel's bass is incredible in this song. He's top class; up there with the best, in my opinion.
@zombiemontage
Up there with hook haha
@wyoaqjuuvn6420
Dan Boeckner fucking kills it on his vocal parts, such an amazing song.
@palodhupar4293
They filmed some of it in my apartment. Feeling great cause it's an amazing video
@mraymond77
Same here. It was pretty wild.
@janukomski6728
same here