The Black Heart Procession (occasionally spelled The Blackheart Procession)… Read Full Bio ↴The Black Heart Procession (occasionally spelled The Blackheart Procession) is an indie rock band from San Diego, California. The band was formed in 1997 by Pall Jenkins (member of Three Mile Pilot, Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects and the short-lived Ugly Casanova) and Tobias Nathaniel (also of Three Mile Pilot). The group is often augmented by the contributions of Mario Rubalcaba, Jason Crane, Joe Plummer, Dimitri Dziensuwski Jimmy LaValle, and Matt Resovich.

Why I Stay
The Black Heart Procession Lyrics

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This isn't wise they say
To force a line engraved
Though we may come close
These things won't ever change
This is why i know
This is why i must go
And so the game is plagued
With the rituals we've made

I know we won't ever learn
These things they'll never change

This is why i stay
But this is why i must go

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Black Heart Procession's "Why I Stay" explore the tension between the desire for familiarity and the need for change. The singer acknowledges that forcing a relationship or creating habits won't necessarily lead to a happy ending because even with those things in place, people may never change. The lyrics highlight the futility of trying to mold a relationship into something that may not be compatible with the personalities involved.

The mention of a "game" being "plagued with the rituals we've made" underscores the idea that many relationships may just be going through the motions without deep understanding or love. The chorus of the song seems to contradict the opening verse, with the repetition of "This is why I stay" suggesting that the singer can't help but remain in the relationship, despite their reservations. At the same time, the line "This is why I must go" reminds the listener that sometimes staying in an unsatisfying situation is not always the best decision, and change may be necessary for growth.

Overall, the lyrics of "Why I Stay" convey a sense of melancholy and resignation about a relationship that may not be working. The singer acknowledges the limitations of both themselves and their partner in trying to maintain the status quo.

Line by Line Meaning

This isn't wise they say
People caution against doing this

To force a line engraved
Trying to make a permanent mark

Though we may come close
We might get close to making a mark

These things won't ever change
But it won't ever change anything

This is why i know
This is what I understand

This is why i must go
This is why I need to leave

And so the game is plagued
So the situation is troubled

With the rituals we've made
With the habits we've developed

I know we won't ever learn
I understand that we'll never learn

These things they'll never change
These patterns won't ever change

This is why i stay
This is why I'm still here