Glacier
Sinead O'Connor & John Grant Lyrics

You just want to live your life
The singer acknowledges that the listener's desire is to live life on their own terms.

The best way you know how
In conjunction with the previous line, the singer recognizes that the listener is doing the best they can given their current circumstances.

But they keep on telling you
The singer notes that others are interfering in the listener's life despite the fact that they are not being asked for their opinion.

That you are not allowed
The others who are interfering are telling the listener that they cannot live life on their own terms.

They say you are sick
The singer highlights the negative attitude that others have towards the listener, including the fact that they are labelled as sick.

That you should hang your head in shame
The singer acknowledges that others are trying to make the listener feel ashamed of themselves.

They are pointing fingers
The singer notes that others are blaming the listener for their situation.

And want you to take the blame
Others are trying to make the listener feel responsible for their circumstances.

There are days when people are
The singer provides a general observation regarding the behavior of people at times.

So nasty and convincing
The singer highlights the persuasive and malicious nature of the comments that people make.

They say things beyond belief
The singer notes that the comments that people make are unbelievable in nature and extent.

That sting and leave you wincing
The singer acknowledges that the comments are hurtful and make the listener cringe in pain.

And to boot they say their words
The singer highlights further aspects od the torment that others are causing the listener with their words.

Come straight down from above
The others are pretending their words are coming from on high in an effort to give themselves credibility.

And they really seem to think
The singer notes that the others really believe what they are saying even though it is untrue.

That what they're doing counts as love
The singer disagrees with the idea that others tormenting the listener is an act of love, as they may claim it is.

This pain it is a glacier moving through you
The pain that the listener is experiencing is likened to a glacier which can both harm and support those who are affected by it.

And carving out deep valleys
Just as glaciers can cut into terrain, this pain is cutting deep into the listener's person.

And creating spectacular landscapes
The pain that the listener is undergoing is shaping their experience of the world in powerful, though paradoxical ways.

And nourishing the ground
The pain that the listener is undergoing is also providing benefits in the form of minerals and other nutrients to the soil of their spiritual life.

With precious minerals and other stuff
The singer is being metaphorical here, noting that the listener will receive benefits both tangible and intangible from this experience.

So don't you become paralyzed with fear
The singer advises the listener that it is important to continue living and growing even though these experiences can be challenging.

When things seem particularly rough
The singer acknowledges that times will be tougher than others, and this is part of the process.

Don't you pay them fuckers as they say no never mind
The tone changes a bit, and the singer becomes more direct, advising the listener to not give in to others' negative energy.

They don't give two shits about you, it's the blind leading the blind
The singer notes that those who cause the listener pain don't actually care about them or their situation, and that they are often as lost as the listener themselves.

What they want is commonly referred to as theocracy
The singer switches to a more political conversation, commenting on how certain types of social control are often referred to as theocracy.

And what that boils down to is referred as hypocrisy
The singer notes that there is often a discrepency between what those in power say and what they actually do, leading to a sense of hypocrisy.

Don't listen to anyone, get answers on your own
The singer emphasizes the importance of finding one's own truth in the midst of difficulty such that others cannot dictate one's response to their own life.

Even if it means that sometimes you feel quite alone
The singer recognizes that the cost of individuality may be a sense of isolation at times when other people are not able to understand one's own experience.

No one on this planet can tell you what to believe
The singer makes a bold statement about the importance of personal agency and rationale in developing one's own sense of belief and purpose.

People like to talk a lot and they like to deceive
The singer notes that some of the same people who may try to dictate one's actions or beliefs may engage in deception rather than really wanting the best for that person.