The Drifter
Stand Alone Complex Lyrics


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They're tearing me away from you
The earth decays beneath our feet
Reaching out I scream your name
Forever falling, our worlds colliding

Division, a schism in my mind
I can no longer correct
A fracture separates my thoughts
Consuming hope, a phosphorescent light
Uncertainty, like a cancer, devours will
It gives purpose for our indecision

Suddenly descend in isolation
Overwhelmed by the inept
Lost sense of self

Unwilling to admit I am powerless

It draws me in the thought of a new beginning
Make me whole again before it leaves me wanting
Desperate to rise

I am reconstructing memories of light and dark

An alteration brings a new existence
Modernizing all our convictions
Don't let these misdirections guide you
This logic will obtain and define you

So easily we lost it all
Misplacing our lives we lost it all
In this dreamscape we lost it all

A shadowed essence, blissful existence
Collapse a fragile moral

Is there a place I can close my eyes?




It pulls me in, protects me from
The dark inside my mind

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Drifter by Stand Alone Complex begin with the singer expressing their reluctance to be separated from someone they hold dear. The imagery of the earth decaying beneath their feet serves to underscore the emotional turmoil they are experiencing, and the urgency with which they scream the name of the person they are being taken away from adds to the intensity of the moment.


The next verses speak to the singer's sense of fragmentation and powerlessness. They describe a "schism" in their mind that they can no longer correct, and a fracture that has separated their thoughts. This has consumed their hope, leaving them uncertain and indecisive. They seem to be in a state of isolation, overwhelmed and having lost their sense of self.


However, as the song progresses, there are glimmers of hope. The singer is drawn to the thought of a new beginning, and reconstructs their memories of both light and dark in an effort to rise above their current state. They express a desire to be made whole again, and warn against being guided by misdirections that may only serve to collapse one's fragile moral. The lyrics end on a note of desperation, with the singer questioning whether there is a place where they can find respite from the darkness that haunts them.


Line by Line Meaning

They're tearing me away from you
Being forced to leave you is breaking my heart


The earth decays beneath our feet
The world is falling apart around us


Reaching out I scream your name
I'm desperately trying to hold onto you


Forever falling, our worlds colliding
Our lives are spiraling out of control and it's tearing us apart


Division, a schism in my mind
My thoughts are fractured and I can't think straight


I can no longer correct
I don't know how to fix things anymore


A fracture separates my thoughts
My mind is broken and I can't think coherently


Consuming hope, a phosphorescent light
Hope is fading away, leaving only a faint glow behind


Uncertainty, like a cancer, devours will
Doubt is eating away at my resolve


It gives purpose for our indecision
Our confusion is driving us to seek clarity and direction


Suddenly descend in isolation
I'm falling apart by myself


Overwhelmed by the inept
I feel powerless to fix things


Lost sense of self
I don't know who I am anymore


Unwilling to admit I am powerless
I refuse to accept that I can't fix this situation


It draws me in the thought of a new beginning
The idea of starting over is tempting


Make me whole again before it leaves me wanting
I want to feel complete again before it's too late


Desperate to rise
I'm yearning to get back on my feet


I am reconstructing memories of light and dark
I'm piecing together my past, both good and bad


An alteration brings a new existence
Change can lead to a new life


Modernizing all our convictions
We need to update our beliefs and values


Don't let these misdirections guide you
Don't let your confusion and doubts control you


This logic will obtain and define you
Applying rational thinking will help you become who you're meant to be


So easily we lost it all
We let everything slip away too quickly


Misplacing our lives we lost it all
We gave up everything important by not prioritizing our lives


In this dreamscape we lost it all
We lost ourselves in a world of fantasy and daydreams


A shadowed essence, blissful existence
We're living in the shadows, but at least we're happy


Collapse a fragile moral
Our values and morals are easily destroyed


Is there a place I can close my eyes?
Is there anywhere I can rest and find peace?


It pulls me in, protects me from
Something is drawing me in and shielding me


The dark inside my mind
The fear and confusion that's roiling inside me




Contributed by Aubrey E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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