Forgotten
Punch Brothers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Help us on the way
I guess it wasn't mine to say
We're too far gone
But I've been here before
And though it's changed, I know the door
Locks on the outside

A wolf nipped at my heels
I tried to reinvent the wheel
With sticks and straw
And the wrong half of the hourglass
Was full when I heard her voice
On the outside
On the outside
On the outside

Hey there, it's all gonna be fine
You ain't gonna die alone
You ain't gonna be forgotten

It's on the outside
It's on the outside

Hey there, it's all gonna be fine




You ain't gonna die alone
You ain't gonna be forgotten

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Punch Brothers' "Forgotten" speak to the universally-felt fear of being left behind and forgotten. The first verse takes a resigned tone, with the lyrics "Help us on the way / I guess it wasn't mine to say / We're too far gone." Despite the singer's attempt at help, they realize they were powerless to change the situation. The singer uses the image of a door locked from the outside to indicate that they are trapped in a situation they cannot escape. The sentiment of the first verse is one of hopelessness and defeat.


The second verse builds upon this idea of hopelessness and defeat, with the image of a wolf nipping at the singer's heels, rendering them helpless. The singer then tries to "reinvent the wheel," attempting to change their situation, but ultimately fails. The "wrong half of the hourglass" indicates that time is running out, and then the singer hears a voice on the outside. The repetition of the phrase "on the outside" emphasizes the gap between the singer and the voice they hear, who is either physically or emotionally removed from the singer's situation.


The chorus provides a glimmer of hope amidst the despair, with the lyrics "Hey there, it's all gonna be fine / You ain't gonna die alone / You ain't gonna be forgotten." The repetition of this phrase emphasizes its importance - the singer needs to hear these words to believe that everything will work out. The song is one of desperation and despair, but ultimately ends on a hopeful note.




Line by Line Meaning

Help us on the way
Asking for assistance to somehow fix or improve a situation.


I guess it wasn't mine to say
Acknowledging that they don't have the authority to change things or make crucial decisions.


We're too far gone
The situation is beyond repair or retrieval.


But I've been here before
Having experienced something similar before and therefore having a frame of reference for the current situation.


And though it's changed, I know the door
Despite some things being different, they still know how to navigate and manage the situation.


Locks on the outside
Feeling trapped or powerless to make a change due to external factors beyond their control.


A wolf nipped at my heels
Having narrowly avoided a dangerous or threatening situation.


I tried to reinvent the wheel
Attempting to do something in a new or innovative way, but ultimately failing to properly execute it.


With sticks and straw
Using inadequate resources or methods that won't properly solve the problem.


And the wrong half of the hourglass
Being on the wrong side of time, with the time running out in a negative or unfavorable way.


Was full when I heard her voice
Feeling emotionally charged and overwhelmed upon hearing someone's voice for comfort or encouragement.


On the outside
Still being stuck in a situation that feels hopeless or out of reach of improving.


On the outside
Reiterating a sense of being trapped or isolated from the positive outcome they desire.


On the outside
Emphasizing the inability to affect any change or breakthrough within the problematic situation.


Hey there, it's all gonna be fine
A glimmer of hope that reassures that things will ultimately be alright.


You ain't gonna die alone
A reminder that one isn't completely alone, and that they have support from others.


You ain't gonna be forgotten
Being reassured that their presence and experience will have an impact on others, and that they won't be overlooked or disregarded.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher Curtin Eldridge, Christopher Scott Thile, Gabriel John Witcher, Noam David Pikelny, Paul Frederick Kowert

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions