Vertigo
Surfliner Lyrics
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When did you get so damn comfortable?
Found myself looking through my old clothes
I don't seem to fit in them no more
And I miss it, that I will admit
Coming back but something′s different
Had a feeling it would change
Have a feeling, won't go away
Falling asleep at the wheel again
I'll take my time, not like I′ve got a plan
Gotta get out, need to feel real again
I′ll do my part although it's all pretend
And I think of how much time has passed
Shouldn′t spend mine always looking back
But it's hard to, I know you know that
Though it never stopped me from the fact
That I used to wish to speed up time
Now it feels like life just passed me by
Maybe that will nevеr change
Maybe that won′t go away
Falling asleep at the wheel again
I'll takе my time not like I′ve got a plan
Gotta get out need to feel real again
I'll do my part although it's all pretend
And I′d do anything
And I′d do anything
And I'd give everything to slow it down
And I′d do anything
And I'd do everything again
And I′d do everything again
The lyrics to Surfliner's song "Vertigo" delve into themes of change, nostalgia, and the passing of time. The opening lines, "Pull the plug on everything you've known, / When did you get so damn comfortable?" suggest a desire to break free from one's comfort zone and embrace something new. The mention of looking through old clothes that no longer fit symbolizes a disconnect from the past and a yearning for something different. The singer acknowledges a feeling of missing the past but also recognizes that things have changed, and there is no going back.
The chorus, with the repetition of "Falling asleep at the wheel again," implies a sense of going through life on autopilot, metaphorically driving without being fully present or engaged. There is a recognition of the need to break free from this cycle and find authenticity and meaning again. Despite acknowledging that their actions might be superficial or performative ("I'll do my part although it's all pretend"), the artist expresses a desire to reclaim a sense of reality and purpose.
The second verse reflects on the passage of time and the difficulty of moving forward while constantly looking back. It acknowledges the longing to speed up time in the past and the disillusionment of realizing that life has seemingly passed by. This introspective reflection is blended with the acknowledgment that these feelings may never change and may always linger.
In the outro, the repetition of "And I'd do anything / And I'd do everything again" reinforces the desire to slow down time and recapture the essence of life. It reflects a sense of longing and willingness to go to great lengths to relive or rewrite the past.
Overall, "Vertigo" explores the emotions of longing, nostalgia, and the quest for authenticity in the face of societal expectations and the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Pull the plug on everything you′ve known
Let go of all the familiar things in your life
When did you get so damn comfortable?
At what point did you become so content and complacent?
Found myself looking through my old clothes
I caught myself reminiscing about the past
I don't seem to fit in them no more
I no longer feel like I belong in those memories
And I miss it, that I will admit
I confess that I long for those old times
Coming back but something′s different
Returning to something familiar, but it has changed
Had a feeling it would change
I had a sense that things would be different
Have a feeling, won't go away
That feeling persists and won't fade
Falling asleep at the wheel again
Losing focus and becoming complacent once more
I'll take my time, not like I′ve got a plan
I'll proceed at my own pace, without a set agenda
Gotta get out, need to feel real again
I must escape and experience genuine emotions again
I′ll do my part although it's all pretend
I will play my role, even if it feels fake
And I think of how much time has passed
I reflect on the amount of time that has gone by
Shouldn′t spend mine always looking back
I shouldn't constantly dwell on the past
But it's hard to, I know you know that
However, it's difficult not to, and I'm aware you understand
Though it never stopped me from the fact
Even though it hasn't prevented me from acknowledging
That I used to wish to speed up time
I remember when I wanted time to move faster
Now it feels like life just passed me by
Now it seems like life has slipped away from me
Maybe that will nevеr change
Perhaps that feeling will never be different
Maybe that won′t go away
Maybe that sentiment will never fade
And I′d do anything
I would do whatever it takes
And I′d give everything to slow it down
I would sacrifice everything to make time go slower
And I′d do anything
I would do whatever it takes
And I'd do everything again
And I would repeat everything once more
And I′d do everything again
And I would repeat everything once more
Writer(s): Aidan Hobbs, Gigi Perez, Sam Worley, Tyler Wyatt
Contributed by Harper P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.