Apocalypse Dreams
Tame Impala Lyrics


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This could be the day that we push through
It could be the day that all our dreams come true
For me and you
'Til we're at the end of just another day

Are you too terrified to try your best?
Just to end up with an educated guess
Like success
Like those times you wake up mystified

Oh it feels so real in my sleep
Never held something so close I couldn't keep
Into the day, the strangest feeling
Do you really live without the fear?

Everything is changing
And there's nothing I can do
My world is turning pages
While I am just sitting here

Well, am I getting closer?
Will I ever get there?
Does it even matter?
Do I really need it?
Wish that I'd remember
And I'm on the outcome

Push it out the window
On and on we all go
Into another morning
It was only yesterday
Didn't even know you
Now I'm gonna miss you

Nothing ever changes
No matter how long you do your hair
Looks the same to everyone else
Everything is changing




I guess I should warn my mum
But she'll just be excited

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tame Impala’s “Apocalypse Dreams” chart the singer’s quest for purpose, identity, and self-actualization. The song lyrically bridges two opposite aspects of the singer’s life- on one hand, he has been sleeping, unmotivated to action, and feeling hopelessly trapped. On the other hand, he is embarking on an exciting adventure, hurtling towards “the end of just another day,” that could spark change or realization. Initially, the singer struggles with feelings of inadequacy, questioning whether or not he has the courage to exert himself and put his ideas into motion. He is afraid that if he does, he may find that his “educated guess” was wrong, and everything he set out to do had been misguided. The singer’s anxieties continue to erode him until he is unable to differentiate troubled thoughts from stirring dreams. He wakes up “mystified,” unsure if his aspirations are worth the risk.


However, the singer finds solace in knowing that if he pushes through, takes action and succeeds, this could be the moment when all his dreams come true. While he struggles with an abundance of illusory anxieties, a sense of urgency propels him forward- he is convinced that he is running out of time, and that something needs to happen soon. Yet, even as the urgent and vital energy within him threatens to burst out, he remains confined and paralysed. Everything around him is in a state of flux, but he remains seated, afraid to make a move. The change may be unwelcome, but it is happening. In the end, the song’s final lines suggest that the singer’s mother is unaware of the changes happening in his life. Perhaps she, like so many other people in his life, won’t understand the strides he has made until it’s too late.


Line by Line Meaning

This could be the day that we push through
We have the potential to make great strides forward today


It could be the day that all our dreams come true
Our aspirations may become reality today


For me and you
Both of us share these hopes


'Til we're at the end of just another day
Our day may culminate in a feeling of change accomplished


Are you too terrified to try your best?
Do you hold back from giving it your all because of fear?


Just to end up with an educated guess
To achieve an uncertain result despite your efforts


Like success
Similar to when you achieve an important goal


Like those times you wake up mystified
Like the moments when you are confounded by your own dreams


Oh it feels so real in my sleep
Sometimes my dreams seem more tangible and vivid than my waking experiences


Never held something so close I couldn't keep
I've never cherished anything so dearly that I couldn't retain it


Into the day, the strangest feeling
The sensation of stepping into a new day, filled with inexplicable emotions


Do you really live without the fear?
Is it possible to go through life without being afraid of something?


Everything is changing
The world around us is constantly in flux


And there's nothing I can do
Despite feeling powerless to stop it all from shifting


My world is turning pages
My life is advancing, page by page


While I am just sitting here
Even though I feel stagnant


Well, am I getting closer?
Am I making progress?


Will I ever get there?
Will I ever reach my destination?


Does it even matter?
Is the end result truly significant?


Do I really need it?
Is what I'm striving towards truly necessary?


Wish that I'd remember
I want to recall what led me to strive for this in the first place


And I'm on the outcome
I am fixated on reaching the end result


Push it out the window
Forget my concerns and let them go


On and on we all go
Life continues, always moving forward


Into another morning
Moving into another day with new possibilities


It was only yesterday
It seems like a short while ago


Didn't even know you
I was previously unaware of you


Now I'm gonna miss you
I will miss you now that we have spent time together


Nothing ever changes
Regardless of how much time we spend on our appearance or situation, it may all remain the same to others


No matter how long you do your hair
Even with great effort to alter your appearance


Looks the same to everyone else
Others may not notice or appreciate the change


I guess I should warn my mum
I should prepare my mother for upcoming changes


But she'll just be excited
But she may be overjoyed with the coming changes




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jay Watson, Kevin Parker

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@adamgreenhill110

When he said "Everything is changing, and there's nothing I can do"
That part hits me every time

@xEnzokaze

relateable

@littlewillowlinda

Nothing has ever been such a relevant mood

@BarnyWaterg8

Cry every time

@CertifiedSlacker

personally i just repeat "gotta be above it"

@ezequiellobo5791

@gusZ77 that's my morning prayer too

15 More Replies...

@ferdixprestige

2020 defined as:
“Everything is changing
And there's nothing I can do
My world is turning pages
While I am just sitting here”

@GoogleUser-ms6hr

Lonerism is so perfect for this year

@BasMoerland

Theres’ still so much you can do this year, come on...

@CJLomega

I find:
“I guess I should warn my mum,
But she’ll just be excited”
Haunting for some reason, such an interesting song

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