When the Going Gets Dark
Quasi Lyrics


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When you told me if you can't beat 'em, join 'em
I was thinking death before dishonor
As you lord over your front porch
Getting drunk with your neighbor
Well I might wander all day
Across the Milky Way
But I'll be Joan of Arc when the going gets dark
Why buy a trip across the ocean
When you could already be the sea?

And they'll tell you sign up with the winning team
Or get out of the way, get with the program
Welcome to the real world!
Is that what is real
Or is it just that the standard deal?
You can have all of that
That ain't where it's at





Why buy a trip across the ocean
When you could already be the sea?

Overall Meaning

The first verse of Quasi's "When the Going Gets Dark" is about the concept of "if you can't beat them, join them," as the singer expresses their thought that death is better than dishonor. The lines "As you lord over your front porch/Getting drunk with your neighbor" create a sense of disdain for those who simply go along with what is expected of them. The singer then contrasts this with a sense of wanderlust and a desire to be like Joan of Arc, a historical figure known for her bravery and conviction. This is emphasized through the lines "Well I might wander all day/Across the Milky Way/But I'll be Joan of Arc when the going gets dark."


The second verse expands on this desire for individualism and independence. The lines "And they'll tell you sign up with the winning team/Or get out of the way, get with the program/Welcome to the real world!" create a sense of societal pressure to conform and be a part of something bigger. The singer questions whether this is truly what is "real" or just a standard deal that has been put in place. The idea of buying a trip across the ocean can be seen as a metaphor for seeking out experiences and opportunities when one already has everything they need within themselves. The repeated line "Why buy a trip across the ocean/When you could already be the sea?" drives home this idea of self-sufficiency and finding fulfillment within oneself.


Overall, the song seems to be about rejecting societal norms and expectations in favor of individuality and self-discovery. The references to Joan of Arc and the Milky Way add a sense of greater purpose and a desire for something beyond the mundane.


Line by Line Meaning

When you told me if you can't beat 'em, join 'em
You suggested I should compromise my values and conform to the norm


I was thinking death before dishonor
I would rather die than betray my principles


As you lord over your front porch
You sit in your comfort, oblivious to the struggles of others


Getting drunk with your neighbor
You distract yourself with frivolity while the world burns


Well I might wander all day
I may search for my purpose endlessly


Across the Milky Way
Even if it takes me to the ends of the universe


But I'll be Joan of Arc when the going gets dark
But I will be a formidable force in the face of adversity


Why buy a trip across the ocean
Why seek external enlightenment when you possess it within you?


When you could already be the sea?
Why settle for being a mere traveler when you have the potential to be limitless?


And they'll tell you sign up with the winning team
Society pressures you to conform for the sake of success


Or get out of the way, get with the program
Either comply or be dismissed as irrelevant


Welcome to the real world!
Greetings, this is the harsh reality you must face


Is that what is real
But is this really what constitutes reality?


Or is it just that the standard deal?
Isn't this just the default societal norm?


You can have all of that
You can conform and obtain all the material success


That ain't where it's at
But that isn't where true fulfillment resides




Contributed by Gavin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Tyler Crow

Love this song. These guys are simply amazing. Beautiful, creative song composure.

Nick Wolf

Quasi is criminally under recognized by the indie rock masses.

Jesse Millis

Love love love

Daniel Tittyfish

its funny Jared Mees sure seems to borrow heavily from quasi in my honest opinion.

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