Critical Times
Quarterflash Lyrics

All the trouble I make through the things I do
Despite my best efforts, I always seem to get into trouble through my actions.

They keep catching up with me
The consequences of my actions continue to haunt me and impact my life.

They tend to leave us to
These consequences not only affect me, but also those close to me.

I don’t always know when I’m right
I am not always confident in my decision-making abilities.

But I sure know when I’m wrong
However, I have a good sense of when I have made a mistake.

I’m feeling self pity and yet
Despite my awareness of my own mistakes, I cannot help feeling sorry for myself.

Still writing sad stupid songs
My emotions and experiences inspire me to create music, even if it isn't always uplifting or happy.

She says you
The artist is being addressed by someone known as 'she'.

Say what you want
This person advises the artist to be honest and direct in their communication.

Do what you say
They also encourage the artist to follow through on their promises and commitments.

These are critical times
The person warns that the current situation is important and requires action.

Love is fading away
The primary issue at hand is that the love between the two parties is diminishing.

We can go through the tops
The singer and the person addressed can endure difficult times together.

And we can live through these games
They will be able to survive any challenges together.

It never changes how it feels
Despite making it through these difficult times, the pain and emotions of losing love will remain constant.

When your love is fading away
The repeated refrain drives home the idea that the heartbreak of losing love is the central theme of the song.

You lose all track of yourself
When experiencing heartbreak, it is easy to lose touch with who you are as a person.

When you’re feeling that way
This feeling of disorientation and loss of self-worth comes about during the process of losing love.

You could always hide yourself in corners
An attempt to hide from the pain of heartbreak is fruitless.

Worrying about all the miserable things but
Obsessing over negative thoughts and feelings only exacerbates the problem.

Everyone seems to swim in it
Others also experience the pain of heartbreak and the emotional turmoil that comes with it.

It makes the world go round
As much as we might wish to avoid it, heartbreak and the pain it causes is a universal human experience.

I’m somewhere floundering
Despite knowing that heartbreak is a ubiquitous experience, it can feel isolating and lonely when going through it personally.

Feeling like I’ve been drowned
The overwhelming emotional pain of heartbreak can feel like being submerged in water, unable to catch a breath.

I don’t believe in much
The singer is skeptical and jaded about life and the world around them.

And I never gave it time
They haven't taken the time to really consider their beliefs or explore the depth of their emotions.

To tell anybody how I’m willing to give to them
Despite their skepticism, the singer feels a strong desire to connect with others and open themselves up to love.

All my life yeah
This desire for connection and love has been present throughout the artist's life.

She has a look there in her eyes
The person addressed by 'she' earlier is now being described in more detail, specifically their expression.

She’s trying to get through to me
This person is attempting to reach out and connect with the singer, possibly to help them through their heartbreak or offer support.

She’s gonna stick this out one more time
Despite the singer's struggles and skepticism, this person is committed to helping them and supporting their emotional journey.

So you’re cruisin’ down the road of life
The unexpected imagery of cruising in a car contrasts with the emotional challenges being discussed, highlighting the disconnect between external appearances and internal experience.

Should be feeling strong
One might expect to feel powerful or capable while cruising down the 'road of life', but the reality is often more complicated.

You never had the feeling yet
The artist seems to be addressing the person they are talking to directly, acknowledging that the listener has not yet experienced the extent of the artist's pain and struggles.

And it always leads you all wrong
As much as we might hope for life to be easy and straightforward, the reality is often much more complex, which can lead to confusion and missteps.

You’re best when you grab hold of yourself
To navigate these difficult times, it is important to take control of oneself and one's emotions.

Since you know you’re gonna fall
However, even with control and self-awareness, there will still be setbacks and missteps in life, including love and heartbreak.

You can check out on me any time that you like
The singer offers emotional support and reassurance that they will be there for the listener if needed.

Love is bittersweet, that’s all
Despite the pain and heartbreak of losing love, it is still a vital and important part of the human experience and can bring joy and happiness as well as pain.

Oh no you say what you want (say what you want)
The repeated refrain is rephrased slightly, creating a sense of finality or conclusion to the song's message.

And you do what you say (you do what you do by now that)
The person being addressed is encouraged to stay true to themselves and to their actions.

It never changes how we feel . . .
The song ends on a note of emotional honesty and vulnerability, acknowledging that life and love can be fraught and challenging, but that our feelings and emotions are always authentic and valid.