Stress
Reprobates Lyrics

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Line your ducks up in a row
Inventory of what you owe
Your worth is based on an ideal
But you can't feel what isn't real

Enjoy the view while it lasts
Step on those with less
The only thing you'll feel is stress...

Waste your days
under the ribs of death
Company man until your last breath
Crumbling walls in your
mansion of doubt
Forcing you to live without

Clotheslined by the changing age
Can't escape the mess
The only thing you'll feel is stress...

Eulogy written on a
career of commitment

What counts to them
is how much time you've spent

Overall Meaning

The Reprobates’ song “Stress” is a commentary on the pressure and stress that can come from striving for success in society. The opening lines encourage the listener to line up their ducks in a row, essentially get their life in order, and take an inventory of what is owed. This sets the tone for the rest of the song and highlights the stress that can come from constantly feeling like you have to keep up with an ideal.

The next line, “Your worth is based on an ideal,” emphasizes the influence that society and social norms can have on our sense of self-worth. The lyrics imply that this worth is superficial and intangible because “you can’t feel what isn’t real.” The chorus warns that the only thing the listener will feel is stress, meaning that the pressure to meet societal expectations can be overwhelming.

The verse that follows touches on the idea of being a “company man” and working yourself into the ground until your dying breath. The crumbling walls of your “mansion of doubt” refer to the doubts and insecurities that can surface when you are constantly working towards an ideal that is never fully attainable. The lyrics suggest that this kind of pressure and stress can be inescapable, no matter how much you try to get away from it.

Overall, the song highlights the negative impact that societal pressure and the struggle for success can have on a person’s mental health and well-being.

Line by Line Meaning

Line your ducks up in a row
Get organized and prepare for what's ahead

Inventory of what you owe
Keep track of your debts and responsibilities

Your worth is based on an ideal
Your value is determined by an arbitrary standard

But you can't feel what isn't real
You can't truly experience something that doesn't exist

Enjoy the view while it lasts
Take pleasure in things while you can

Step on those with less
Crush those who are weaker than you

The only thing you'll feel is stress...
Your actions will come with a heavy emotional toll

Waste your days
Spend your time on unimportant things

under the ribs of death
Looming mortality is always present

Company man until your last breath
Devote your life to your employer

Crumbling walls in your
Your foundation is weak