In September 2011 Wilson declared on his Facebook-page that Salvaging is one of the 20 songs he's most proud of.
Steven Wilson - vocals, bass, electric guitars, keyboards
Gavin Harrison - drums
Dirk Serries - guitar drone
String arrangement by Steven Wilson & Dave Stewart, performed by the London Session Orchestra
Salvaging
Steven Wilson Lyrics
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You live in a lie, the pain in the dust.
God always shouts and you always kick,
Through passionless hours.
Yeah you make me feel sick.
Your secret is taught but the body rejected.
A truce is obtained, excuses are given.
Time to assess, now the nails have been driven'.
Time to assess, now the nails have been driven.
Time to assess, now the nails have been driven.
The song "Salvaging" by Steven Wilson presents a bitter and introspective reflection on broken trust and the erosion of a once-cherished relationship. The opening lines question the value of trust in a world where lies and pain dominate, implying that trust can be misplaced and ultimately futile. The singer describes a situation where communication has broken down, with God representing an unseen entity that always shouts and triggers a reactive response. The object of the singer's contempt makes them feel "sick" as they continue to project a false image and hide behind a veil of secrecy.
In the second stanza, the singer suggests that the person they address has attempted to hide their true nature behind a facade, but the body has rejected this artifice. A deeper pain is implied beneath the false smile, with the end result already anticipated. The third stanza suggests an attempt to patch things up, but this effort feels hollow and insincere. The final repetition of the refrain emphasizes a need to step back and assess the damage, now that it is too late to change anything.
Overall, "Salvaging" paints a bleak picture of failed relationships and the difficulty of repairing irreparable harm. It highlights the importance of genuine communication and self-scrutiny, but also suggests that some damage runs too deep to fix.
Line by Line Meaning
What was the point of making you trust,
Why bother gaining your trust when your life is built on lies and your pain is ignored?
You live in a lie, the pain in the dust.
Your entire existence is a facade and your suffering has been dismissed.
God always shouts and you always kick,
You resist and rebel against higher powers, even when they are trying to help you.
Through passionless hours.
Your life lacks excitement or joy, and you seem to just exist without any real purpose.
Yeah you make me feel sick.
Your actions and persona are so repulsive that they make me physically ill.
Your secret is taught but the body rejected.
Your hidden truth was presented, but your physical reaction showed that it was not accepted or wanted.
Your smile's a question but the end is expected.
Even though your smile may seem pleasant, the outcome of your actions and choices is already predictable and disappointing.
A truce is obtained, excuses are given.
Peaceful resolution is achieved, but it is based on weak justifications and reasons.
Time to assess, now the nails have been driven'.
With everything in its final place, now is the opportunity to evaluate, reflect, and learn from what has transpired.
Time to assess, now the nails have been driven.
The finality of the situation allows for introspection and analysis to gain insight for the future.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: STEVEN JOHN WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind