The Escape
The Agonist Lyrics
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Catch yourself, self-dissect, how youth outlives age
How beauty shames skill
Prayer is for dependents and wish is for the will
A struggle for independence, a harmless stage
Art gaining post-mortem fame
Oh Creatice!
As your latest masterpiece
All efforts' fruition in such a wondrous offspring
How did you manage a piece so perfect?
Entrancing passers-by to lock eyes and gaze, hypnotized
Overcome with a need to outdo the last
A child born so dependent rebels so quickly once he has his footing
Forgets who and where raised him and how he came to be
But a growing pain cannot explain behavior of the like
A perfect child deserves the best
But at the cost of what else did you instill this need
To over-consume without regret?
Broken pencils, charred marble drafts
He leaves destruction in his path
Your one mistake, oh great Creatice
Was giving too large a brain
(This organ, like disease, can disseminate beyond your reach
You didn't predict this, a carnal rebellion in its wake)
Strike back with forces beyond his reach
That even six billion can't defeat
Go lock up the aggressor, quarantine before it's too late
Bred to lose sense of consequence
In his greed he exhausts your milk, your blood, your shelter...
Don't let him escape!
Memory is fiction, so the past is your invention
Catch yourself, self-dissect, how youth outlives age
How beauty shames skill
Prayer is for dependents and wish is for the will
A struggle for independence, a harmless stage
Art gaining post-mortem fame
Throw your blood upon his lands, your skin cracked and depleted
Suck the air out from his lungs, expose him fully, let him burn
Show him to appreciate, discipline the cruel ingrate
You still have the power to reshape - do not let this escalate
Vapors vanish in the night, statuesque guards seconds too late
What rebellion possessed thee?
A dangerous subterfuge, a lonely rampage, anxious fleet
Like limbs tumbling horizontally
Now it's too late - the child has escaped!
Indignant ties, parental constraints
A child protected sets self free
And the ingrate will lie in the bed he has made
As a self-imposed apocalypse finally sets You free
The Agonist's song "The Escape" describes a character who rebels against the restrictions imposed by their creator, known as "Creatice." Throughout the lyrics, the singer examines the concept of memory, particularly how it shapes our perception of the past. They also explore the tension between beauty and skill, as well as the relationship between prayer and willpower.
The song's protagonist describes Creatice and their work as creating a perfect child, endowed with a vast intellect and talent. However, this perfection comes at a cost, as the child's thirst for knowledge and power leads them to exploit their environment and eventually break free of Creatice's control. The song ends with Creatice lamenting the consequences of their creation's rebellion and regretting giving them so much power.
"The Escape" is a thought-provoking song that raises questions about the nature of creativity, free will, and the human condition. It encourages listeners to examine their own beliefs and attitudes towards these topics, questioning what it means to be truly free and how we can balance our desires for personal growth with the needs of the broader world.
Line by Line Meaning
Memory is fiction, so the past is your invention
The past is nothing but our own interpretations and imagination
Catch yourself, self-dissect, how youth outlives age
Reflect and analyze how youthfulness can last longer than aging
How beauty shames skill
Attractiveness can sometimes overshadow talent
Prayer is for dependents and wish is for the will
Only those who are weak rely on wishes and prayers
A struggle for independence, a harmless stage
Rebelling against authority is a normal phase that does not hurt anyone
Art gaining post-mortem fame
Artists often become famous only after their death
Oh Creatice!
Addressing someone named Creatice
Your vibrant portfolio has never shown as brightly
Your best work so far has never been surpassed
As your latest masterpiece
Referring to someone's recent creation as their best work
All efforts' fruition in such a wondrous offspring
All the hard work has resulted in an amazing creation
How did you manage a piece so perfect?
Asking how someone was able to create something so flawless
Entrancing passers-by to lock eyes and gaze, hypnotized
Mesmerizing and captivating people to look at their work
Overcome with a need to outdo the last
Having an urge to create something better than their previous work
A child born so dependent rebels so quickly once he has his footing
Children who are initially dependent become rebellious once they gain independence
Forgets who and where raised him and how he came to be
Forgetting their upbringing and how they became who they are
But a growing pain cannot explain behavior of the like
Growing up cannot justify harmful actions
A perfect child deserves the best
A well-behaved and obedient child deserves to have the best things in life
But at the cost of what else did you instill this need
What other negative traits did parents pass on while raising their child?
To over-consume without regret?
To indulge in things excessively without feeling remorse
Broken pencils, charred marble drafts
Destroyed art supplies
He leaves destruction in his path
The person causes destruction wherever they go
Your one mistake, oh great Creatice
Addressing someone named Creatice, and blaming them for one mistake
Was giving too large a brain
The mistake was giving the person too much intellectual capacity
(This organ, like disease, can disseminate beyond your reach
The person's brain can go beyond the creator's control
You didn't predict this, a carnal rebellion in its wake)
The creator didn't foresee this rebellious behavior
Strike back with forces beyond his reach
Fighting back with tactics that the person cannot overcome
That even six billion can't defeat
Even if the entire world comes together, they cannot defeat this person
Go lock up the aggressor, quarantine before it's too late
Putting the person in confinement before they cause more harm
Bred to lose sense of consequence
Raised in a way that they do not understand the impact of their actions
In his greed he exhausts your milk, your blood, your shelter...
Taking advantage of everything that is provided to them
Don't let him escape!
Don't allow the person to run away from their responsibilities
Throw your blood upon his lands, your skin cracked and depleted
Sacrificing everything to stop the person from causing harm
Suck the air out from his lungs, expose him fully, let him burn
Taking away everything they have and exposing them to the consequences of their actions
Show him to appreciate, discipline the cruel ingrate
Teach them how to be thankful and discipline them for their cruel behavior
You still have the power to reshape - do not let this escalate
Still having the ability to make things right before things get worse
Vapors vanish in the night, statuesque guards seconds too late
Time has run out to stop the person from doing more harm
What rebellion possessed thee?
Asking why the person is rebelling
A dangerous subterfuge, a lonely rampage, anxious fleet
A dangerous and desperate attempt to cause chaos
Like limbs tumbling horizontally
Describing their actions as uncontrolled and chaotic
Now it's too late - the child has escaped!
The person cannot be stopped now
Indignant ties, parental constraints
Feeling angry and trapped by parental restrictions
A child protected sets self free
A child who was once protected is now free to do as they please
And the ingrate will lie in the bed he has made
They will suffer the consequences of their actions
As a self-imposed apocalypse finally sets You free
As the world falls apart due to their actions, the person who created them is finally relieved of their burden
Contributed by Caleb G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.