Tongues
The Chariot Lyrics


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Maybe everything's alright.
Maybe all the chairs are always spoken for.
We got workers in back and the light is on
Their eyes but the sadness in your face is beside you with a grin.
You've mistaken all the homes and inspirations for the cage.
How was I supposed to know that we were never meant for this?
You're the reason we already know
And I believe you can call this weekend-mission: success,
But there's a scratch across the lens.

We catalogued all our fears that you treasured,
And you hoped was here to stay.
This is the cut of the director and we got scenes out of our way.




When there's a scratch across the lens, all is lost.
Hey, wait, we hold our breath as we pass everyone sleeping.

Overall Meaning

The Chariot's song "Tongues" is a complex expression of the struggle with identity and belonging. The first two lines, "Maybe everything's alright. Maybe all the chairs are always spoken for." suggest a sense of unease and discomfort despite the appearance of a functional and complete situation. The line "You've mistaken all the homes and inspirations for the cage" highlights the theme of feeling trapped or confined in one's surroundings or circumstances. The persona questions their contingency and how they ended up in this place feeling out of place.


The second verse "We catalogued all our fears that you treasured, And you hoped was here to stay. This is the cut of the director and we got scenes out of our way" delves deeper into the way one is conditioned by the expectations and fears of others. The metaphor of the director and the cut scenes suggests that the persona is aware of the manipulation and censorship of their own identity. The final line of this section, "When there's a scratch across the lens, all is lost" can be interpreted as the moment when one realizes the falseness of the constructed reality.


The concluding lines "Hey, wait, we hold our breath as we pass everyone sleeping" convey a sense of slipping away from the imposed structures and towards a possibility of authentic existence. The song presents a challenging view on the necessity of self-determination and self-actualization towards overcoming social pressures.


Line by Line Meaning

Maybe everything's alright.
Perhaps things are fine, maybe there is no reason to worry or be concerned.


Maybe all the chairs are always spoken for.
It's possible that every seat is already taken, that there's no room for anyone else to join in.


We got workers in back and the light is on
There are people behind the scenes working and the work is continuing.


Their eyes but the sadness in your face is beside you with a grin.
Others may not see the pain or struggle you face, but you feel it despite putting on a brave face.


You've mistaken all the homes and inspirations for the cage.
You may have thought that places and people that inspire you were holding you back or trapping you, when in reality they were not.


How was I supposed to know that we were never meant for this?
It wasn't clear beforehand that this was the wrong path or situation for us.


You're the reason we already know
You, or your actions and choices, have made it evident that this is not the right fit for us.


And I believe you can call this weekend-mission: success,
Despite the challenges, it can still be considered a success or accomplishment.


But there's a scratch across the lens.
There's a flaw or disruption that is causing issues or preventing things from being seen clearly.


We catalogued all our fears that you treasured,
We acknowledged and documented the things we were afraid of, which perhaps you took solace in knowing.


And you hoped was here to stay.
You wanted those fears or worries to stick around and be present in some way.


This is the cut of the director and we got scenes out of our way.
This is the final product or vision of the creative leader and we have completed what was necessary to make it happen.


When there's a scratch across the lens, all is lost.
When something is hindering our vision or perspective, it's easy to lose sight of everything else.


Hey, wait, we hold our breath as we pass everyone sleeping.
We are cautious and quiet as we move on from this moment, not wanting to disturb anyone or anything that may be in our path.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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