Reaching for the Rail
Rick Wright Lyrics

I'm ill with a fever, I feel like a child
I am sick and running a fever, it makes me feel vulnerable and helpless, like a young child.

I lay in the dark 'til morning came.
I stay in bed, feeling unwell and waiting for daylight to come.

It's so unoriginal
My illness is nothing new or exciting, just a common and mundane experience.

And I feel it worse at night
My symptoms are more severe and unsettling when I am alone in the dark.

I know it's not terminal
I am aware that my condition is not life-threatening or fatal.

But I'm near half-dead fright
Despite this knowledge, I am still frightened and anxious about my illness.

And freezing cold.
My body feels cold and shivery, despite any attempts to keep warm.

But sooner than woke up
Instead of facing my fears and discomfort, I distract myself and avoid the issue by sleeping.

To find it all unchanged
When I finally wake up, nothing has improved or changed in regards to my illness or feelings.

I'll sleep through the day til the daylight ends.
I will continue to sleep and avoid my problems until the sun sets once again.

'Cause it's all so familiar
This cycle of illness and avoidance is nothing new or surprising to me.

As it comes around again
Every time I am sick, this same pattern of behavior and emotions repeats.

The same taste to everything
Everything feels dull and monotonous, with no excitement or variety.

The same unbroken chain
My experiences seem to connect and repeat in a never-ending cycle.

That still remains.
Despite my attempts to avoid or change it, this pattern and feeling persists.

With morning I rise,
When the morning comes, I get up and face my struggles once again.

A dream that won't leave me,
A persistent dream or memory that haunts me and won't go away.

You're sad, naked and pale
In this dream or memory, someone I care about is vulnerable, exposed, and unwell.

And you're reaching for the rail
This person is reaching out for help or support, possibly for me.

You took a look inside, how could you peel away
I am being confronted with the reality of someone's pain and struggles, and I struggle with how to help or understand them.

Or break the shell, the hurt you've hidden so well
This person has kept their pain and suffering hidden from me, and I struggle to break through their defenses and provide comfort.

For all your days.
They have been carrying this burden for a long time, and I now realize how much they are hurting.

And you're going down
This person's situation is becoming more dire and serious.

As you slip beneath the waves,
They are losing their battle and succumbing to their pain or illness.

Won't make a sound
They are suffering silently and without complaint.

Won't even leave a trace before you.
Their struggles and suffering may go unnoticed or unacknowledged, even after they are gone.

I hear an appalling sigh from the streets below
The world around me is filled with sorrow and despair, even for those outside of my personal struggles.

And it's creeping fear congealed in stone
This despair and hopelessness seems to be a permanent and unchanging part of the world.

That paves the crazy road.
These feelings and experiences are leading to a chaotic and unpredictable future.

And all are succumbing and they look so hopelessly
Everyone around me is struggling and giving up, feeling helpless and desperate.

At the heartbreak, it's easy to deal with,
In the face of so much pain and despair, some people might turn to drugs or other forms of escape to avoid or numb the suffering.

Just take these and you'll really never feel it.
There are substances or actions that can help you forget or ignore your pain, but they won't really solve the underlying problems or provide true relief.