The Passing
Smith & Dragoman Lyrics


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Everything is gone but the echo of the burst of a shell
And I'm stuck waiting for a passing feeling
In the city I built up and blew to hell
I'm stuck here waiting for a passing feeling

Still I send all the time
My request for relief
Down the dead power lines
Though I'm beyond belief

In the help I require
Just to exist at all
Took a long time to stand
Just an hour to fall.

I'm stuck here waiting for a passing feeling
Stuck here waiting for the passing feeling
Still I send all the time
My request for relief

Down the dead power lines
Though I'm beyond belief
In the help I require
Just to exist at all





Took a long time to stand
Just an hour to fall

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Smith & Dragoman's song "The Passing" capture a sense of desolation and longing in the aftermath of destruction. The opening lines, "Everything is gone but the echo of the burst of a shell," paint a bleak picture of a devastated landscape. The singer finds themselves stuck in this desolation, waiting for some kind of emotional respite. The repetition of the phrase "stuck waiting for a passing feeling" emphasizes this feeling of being stagnant and unable to move forward.


Despite the destruction, the singer continues to reach out for help, symbolized by the metaphor of sending requests for relief down dead power lines. This could represent their attempts to connect with others or find solace, even though they may believe it to be futile ("Though I'm beyond belief"). The help they seek is not just physical, but also emotional, as they express the need to exist and find some semblance of normalcy.


The lyrics suggest a profound loss experienced by the singer, as it took a long time for them to build something, likely referring to their personal or emotional state, only for it to be destroyed in an instant ("Took a long time to stand, just an hour to fall"). This loss has left them feeling stranded and devoid of purpose. The repeated refrain of "stuck here waiting for a passing feeling" reflects their yearning for something transient, an ephemeral moment of relief or hope that could alleviate their pain.


Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of helplessness and longing. The imagery of destruction and the theme of waiting for something intangible reflect the human struggle to find meaning and solace in the face of devastating circumstances. It speaks to the universal experience of loss and the desire for some form of emotional healing, even in the most challenging of times.


Line by Line Meaning

Everything is gone but the echo of the burst of a shell
Nothing remains except for the lingering sound of destruction caused by an explosive


And I'm stuck waiting for a passing feeling
I find myself trapped, yearning for a fleeting emotion to alleviate my pain


In the city I built up and blew to hell
In the urban environment I constructed and subsequently destroyed completely


I'm stuck here waiting for a passing feeling
I remain immobile, awaiting a momentary sensation to provide solace


Still I send all the time
Nevertheless, I constantly transmit


My request for relief
My plea for alleviation


Down the dead power lines
Along the lifeless electrical cables


Though I'm beyond belief
Despite being unable to accept or comprehend the situation


In the help I require
In the assistance I desperately need


Just to exist at all
Simply to continue to survive


Took a long time to stand
It took considerable effort to reach a stable position


Just an hour to fall.
But mere moments for everything to crumble and collapse.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Steven Paul Smith

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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