Forty Days
Streetlight Manifesto Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

And it's been forty days
I've tried forty ways
You will never quite leave your sins behind
They'll haunt you, taunt you until the day you die

You will never really go.
You think about it much but you need to know how the story ends, so you sit around, even though you should just go
Tell your friends what you have heard, show them all the lies unlearned


And when you really go, you will really know you were never meant for mirth

What's it worth?
If we're going to break it down with any logic, it's absurd

And no matter where we go, we are not alone
When the silence turns to cries of "Why?"
What a way to begin: we inherit sin
And nobody's going to quench your thirst when the well runs dry, the well runs dry
And nobody's going to hold your hand on the day you die

I've tasted seven sins, so they won't let me in
I knock knock knock until my knuckles are bruised and raw
Stuck in the middle with my blood in a puddle on the floor
We made our beds, we'll judge ourselves
And only then and there will we disappear to our final resting place
What a waste!
So many decent people at the gates

And no matter where we go, we are not alone
When the silence turns to cries of "Why?"
What a way to begin: we inherit sin
And nobody's going to quench your thirst when the well runs dry, the well runs dry
And nobody's going to hold your hand on the day you die

And no matter who you know, you will be alone
When the silence turns to cries of "Why?"
What a way to begin: we inherit sin

And nobody's going to quench your thirst when the well runs dry, the well runs dry
And nobody's going to hold your hand on the day you die

Overall Meaning

The song "Forty Days" by Streetlight Manifesto is a poignant reflection on the human condition and the inevitability of sin, its lingering effects on the psyche, and how we all face our inevitable end alone. The lyrics express a sense of resignation towards the fact that we cannot escape our past, and though we may try different means to overcome our sins, they will always remain a part of us. It is a song about the struggle between accepting one's flaws and trying to rise above them. The repetition of the line "And nobody's going to quench your thirst when the well runs dry" serves as a powerful reminder that in the end, we are all alone and must confront our own mortality without the comfort of others.


The opening lines "And it's been forty days, I've tried forty ways" suggests a struggle against one's sins, yet despite the efforts, they continue to linger. The line "You will never really go" captures the idea that our sins will always remain a part of us, and we cannot escape them. The song explores the idea that we are all born with sin and that we carry it with us through our lives. The lyrics also touch on the idea that we may try to find comfort in the company of others, but in the end, we face our demise alone. It is a sobering reminder that we must learn to face our demons and come to terms with our own mortality.


Line by Line Meaning

And it's been forty days
I have spent a long time trying to undo what happened


I've tried forty ways
I have tried everything to fix what has happened but still feel trapped


You will never quite leave your sins behind
Your past mistakes will always stick with you


They'll haunt you, taunt you until the day you die
You will always be reminded of your past mistakes and it will affect the way you approach life until you pass away


You will never really go.
You are always going to be affected by your mistakes and will never truly escape them


You think about it much but you need to know how the story ends, so you sit around, even though you should just go
You constantly think about the outcome of your actions but still find yourself hesitating and not taking action


Tell your friends what you have heard, show them all the lies unlearned
Share your experiences with others and help them avoid the same mistakes you made


And when you really go, you will really know you were never meant for mirth
Once you pass away, you will realize that life is not all about happiness and joy


If we're going to break it down with any logic, it's absurd
If we try to make sense of life through logic, it will seem nonsensical and pointless


And no matter where we go, we are not alone
We are all connected and never truly alone in our experiences


When the silence turns to cries of "Why?"
In moments of confusion or despair, we question the meaning of our experiences


What a way to begin: we inherit sin
We start life with the burden of past mistakes that were not our own


And nobody's going to quench your thirst when the well runs dry, the well runs dry
When we are in need, we cannot always rely on others to help us


And nobody's going to hold your hand on the day you die
We must face death alone


I've tasted seven sins, so they won't let me in
One's past sins can sometimes lead to exclusion from certain groups or experiences


I knock knock knock until my knuckles are bruised and raw
Even when faced with rejection or obstacles, one will keep trying to make amends or seek acceptance


Stuck in the middle with my blood in a puddle on the floor
One can feel trapped in their mistakes and struggle to move forward


We made our beds, we'll judge ourselves
We are responsible for the outcome of our choices and will ultimately judge ourselves based on our actions


And only then and there will we disappear to our final resting place
Once we have reflected on our actions and judged ourselves, we can finally pass away in peace


What a waste!
It is sad to see so many people struggle and suffer in life


So many decent people at the gates
Many people try to do their best and be good individuals, yet they still suffer in the end


And no matter who you know, you will be alone
Despite our connections and relationships with others, we will always face certain experiences alone




Contributed by Abigail J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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