Perpetual Notion
The Agonist Lyrics
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The lyrics of The Agonist's song "Perpetual Notion" explore themes of human existence, fear of the unknown, the passage of time, and the pursuit of immortality. The song begins by appealing to external forces, asking for potions that can conceal the decay and offer a never-ending tomorrow while forgetting the present. This reflects a desire for security and a reluctance to confront the inevitable decay and mortality that comes with human existence.
The lyrics also express a longing for comfort and familiarity, as depicted by the line "An extended stay in the arms of security." This suggests a fear of venturing into the unknown and a preference for staying within one's comfort zone. The reference to a "slow death of longevity" emphasizes the contradiction of desiring both eternal life and the dread of growing old and frail.
The bridge of the song questions the value of infinity and challenges the notion of timelessness. It questions whether an eternal existence is truly desirable when time itself becomes defied. This implies that the passage of time is intrinsic to the human experience, and without it, a sense of purpose is lost. The lyrics also speak to the exploitation of this fear and denial of mortality, as people are manipulated into buying into the false promises of immortality.
In the chorus, the lyrics pose the question of what will be left for humanity to preserve if we deny the meaning of life and cling to false illusions of immortality. The metaphor of drowning in the fountain suggests submitting to a cycle of existence without truly experiencing it, as if living in a never-ending state of obliviousness. The repetition of the line "You have yet to understand existence" further emphasizes the need to come to terms with the limitations and impermanence of life.
In the final verse, the lyrics bring attention to the transience of life and our futile attempts to rationalize or prolong it. The line "Sleepwalking through ages, no thought of collapse" suggests a lack of awareness and appreciation for life's fragility. The act of blinking the mind's eye implies a deliberate ignorance or avoidance of confronting the reality of mortality. The lyrics ultimately question whether humanity will ever truly accept the inevitability of the end and the meaning (or lack thereof) it brings to death.
Line by Line Meaning
Give us your potions
We seek temporary remedies
To conceal the decay
To hide the deterioration
A never ending tomorrow
An eternal future
And a forgotten today
Neglecting the present
An extended stay
Remaining in comfort
In the arms of security
Finding safety and certainty
A fear of the unknown
Fear of what's uncertain
And the slow death of longevity
The gradual loss of lastingness
You have yet to understand existence
You haven't comprehended being
Tell me what's so grand about infinity
Explain the greatness of endlessness
When time is defied (a product in the making)
When time is distorted (by manufactured items)
All reason goes blind (to sell to the weaker)
Logic becomes ignorant (for the sake of exploiting the vulnerable)
And if we deny (victims of nature)
And if we reject (as casualties of nature)
The meaning of life (to extend the lie)
The purpose of existence (to propagate a falsehood)
What will there be left
What remains
For us to preserve?
To safeguard?
Come drown in the fountain
Let yourself be submerged in the source
Submit to the water's grasp
Surrender to the hold of the water
Sleepwalking through ages
Moving aimlessly through time
No thought of collapse
Not considering the downfall
Embers glow – hanging on
Fading sparks persist
Slips smoke to the sky
Smoke rises into the atmosphere
An act of the Futile
An action in vain
To blink the mind's eye
To close the mind's perception
With no final words
Without last utterances
To bring meaning to death
To give significance to demise
Will we ever accept the end?
Will we ever embrace the conclusion?
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER KELLS, DANIEL MARINO, SIMON BAMBIC-MCKAY, VICKY PSARAKIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Clementine's Tears Ov Joy
Give us your potions
To conceal the decay
A never ending tomorrow
And a forgotten today
An extended stay
In the arms of security
A fear of the unknown
And the slow death of longevity
You have yet to understand existence
Tell me what's so grand about infinity
When time is defied
(a product in the making)
All reason goes blind
(to sell to the weaker)
And if we deny
(victims of nature)
The meaning of life
(to extend the lie)
What will there be left
For us to preserve
Come drown in the fountain
Submit to the water's grasp
Sleepwalking through ages
No thought of collapse
Embers glow - hanging on
Slips smoke to the sky
An act of The Futile
To blink the mind's eye
You have yet to understand existence
Tell me what's so great about infinity
When time is defied
(a product in the making)
All reason goes blind
(to sell to the weaker)
And if we deny
(victims of nature)
The meaning of life
(to extend the lie)
What will there be left
For us to preserve
With no final words
To bring meaning to death
Will we ever accept the end?