Absence
Regional Justice Center Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Committed to endless memory
Passed on
Absence tends to scar
When day's don't last
And presence is passive
Passed out
The pain is yours
It's a waste
Disdain
A reputation
A stain for all to see
Roots, roots
Roots wrapped around my neck
Stranglehold on what I'll become
The lyrics to Regional Justice Center's song "Absence" are dark and evocative. The imagery of being "slashed to skin" and "committed to endless memory" sets a tone of violence and trauma that runs throughout the rest of the song. The theme of absence and its effects on the psyche is also present throughout the song, with lines like "absence tends to scar" and "when day's don't last and presence is passive" indicating a sense of isolation and despair. The repeated use of the word "passed" in different contexts ("passed on," "passed out," "passed over") further emphasizes the sense of loss and disconnection.
The lyrics also touch on themes of wasted potential, disdain, and social stigma. Lines like "it's a waste" and "a reputation, a stain for all to see" suggest a sense of hopelessness and shame. The use of the word "roots" in the final stanza could be interpreted in a few different ways, but the image of being choked by something that is meant to support growth could suggest a feeling of being trapped or suffocated by one's own past or identity.
Overall, "Absence" is a bleak and haunting portrayal of the lasting effects of trauma, isolation, and societal stigma. The lyrics are cryptic and open to interpretation, but the emotional weight behind them is palpable.
Line by Line Meaning
Slashed to skin
Wounded deeply
Committed to endless memory
Permanently etched in mind
Passed on
Transferred to the next person
Absence tends to scar
Lack of presence leaves emotional marks
When day's don't last
When moments are fleeting
And presence is passive
Being there without actively engaging
Passed out
Lost consciousness
The pain is yours
Suffering is a personal experience
It's a waste
It's pointless
Disdain
Feeling of contempt
A reputation
The perception others have of you
A stain for all to see
A mark that cannot be erased and is visible to everyone
Roots, roots
Fundamental basis
Roots wrapped around my neck
Feeling suffocated or trapped by one's roots
Stranglehold on what I'll become
Preventing one from achieving their potential
Lyrics © The Orchard
Written by: Ian Shelton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind