Broken Vacuum
Restorations Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"…from those big ideas." he says
"Those men are all dead" he says
"And soon we will be too"
Then he says something like how he only smokes outside
"It blocks out the sun" he says
And disappears in a cloud
Nails to the bone
Nails to the bone
Wrote all these songs about a place I've never been
"Is it worth it?" she says
From across the water she says
"Is it worth it?" she says from a long way home
As I'm stuck inside watching her pack the car
"It blocks out the sound" she says
And disappears in a cloud
Nails to the bone
Piles of plans that never panned out
Nails to the bone
Wrote all these songs for a girl I didn't know
In a low voice I mumble
"Hey man, I should go"
With a slow step I stumble out into the dark city streets
Nails to the bone
The lyrics to Restorations' song "Broken Vacuum" express the frustration and disillusionment of someone who has dedicated their life to pursuing big ideas and dreams, only to find themselves constantly hitting a wall of obstacles and failures. The opening lines, "You take too much...from those big ideas," suggest that the singer may be addressing someone else who they see as draining their creative energy or stifling their potential. However, this statement is quickly followed by the harsh reality check that "those men are all dead" and that eventually we will all meet the same fate.
The song continues with the singer reflecting on their own struggles - their exhaustion and weariness, symbolized by the repetition of "nails to the bone." They have invested so much time and effort into making plans and creating art, yet nothing seems to work out. Even the songs they have written are based on a fantasy world they have never actually experienced. The lyrics shift again as a female voice questions whether all this effort is really worth it, and the singer watches as she packs up and leaves. The final lines suggest a sense of defeat and a desire to escape - the singer mumbles that they should go, stumbling out into the empty city streets.
Overall, "Broken Vacuum" is a powerful and emotionally raw portrayal of someone struggling with their creative identity and their place in the world. The lyrics touch on themes of disillusionment, exhaustion, and the tension between dreaming big and facing the limits of reality.
Line by Line Meaning
You take too much" he says
He believes that the person he's speaking to is consuming too much of the big ideas and not allowing them to flourish.
"…from those big ideas." he says
The singer is stating that the person is hindering the development of the grand ideas that are being discussed.
"Those men are all dead" he says
The singer is pointing out that the men who held these ideas in the past are no longer alive, and therefore it's important to keep those movements going.
"And soon we will be too"
The artist is acknowledging that we all have a limited time to pursue these ideas and make them a reality.
Then he says something like how he only smokes outside
The artist is mentioning a personal habit or preference of smoking outside instead of indoors.
"It blocks out the sun" he says
The singer is trying to justify his smoking habit by stating that it provides shade from the sun since he is outside.
And disappears in a cloud
The singer notes that the smoke from the cigarette creates smoke or a cloud that obscures his vision and makes him disappear momentarily.
Nails to the bone
The artist is emphasizing how much effort and hard work he has put into something. This phrase implies the idea that the artist has worked so hard that it's almost like he's used a hammer and nails to achieve what he has.
Piles of plans that never panned out
The artist has tried many times to accomplish something, but none of those plans ever worked out for him.
Wrote all these songs about a place I've never been
The artist has written music or lyrics about a place he hasn't experienced yet, which could mean he is expressing a desire or hope to go there one day.
"Is it worth it?" she says
The person speaking is questioning whether the effort they're putting into something is actually worth it or not.
From across the water she says
The artist is noting that the person speaking is far away on the other side of the water, implying distance or separation.
"Is it worth it?" she says from a long way home
The person is emphasizing that they're far away from where they'd like to be, making the decision of whether something is 'worth it' more difficult.
As I'm stuck inside watching her pack the car
The singer is watching someone else pack a car and feels helpless, unable to change the situation.
"It blocks out the sound" she says
The person is referencing the sound of the car's engine and how it blocks out everything else.
And disappears in a cloud
The person driving the car has driven away, leaving the artist behind in a cloud of dust or smoke.
Wrote all these songs for a girl I didn't know
The artist has written songs that were inspired by a girl they have never met before.
In a low voice I mumble
The singer is speaking softly or quietly, possibly due to feeling unsure or nervous.
"Hey man, I should go"
The singer is acknowledging that they should leave the situation but is unsure if they actually want to go.
With a slow step I stumble out into the dark city streets
The artist is leaving the current place hesitantly, slowly, and woozily as though they are drunk.
Nails to the bone
The artist is again emphasizing how much effort and hard work they've put into something, repeating a line from earlier in the song.
Contributed by John J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.