Orphans
The Gaslight Anthem Lyrics

Goodbye circus wheel
Farewell to the cycle of life that seemed infinite and always moving forward like a wheel.

May you rest along the sea
May the journey of life come to rest along the vast and tumultuous sea of existence.

I have given you the fire of my youth
I have devoted my youth and energy to this life, burning brightly with passion and ambition.

And the triumph o're my enemies
And in doing so, I have overcome my enemies and achieved victory.

Goodbye fair weather home, and your faithless factories
Farewell to the home that only offered security in times of good weather, and the factories that lacked loyalty.

I have given you the blood and the truth
I have shared my essence and honesty with this place, its people, and its endeavors.

From the wounds they laid onto me
Despite the scars left by the experiences, pain, and suffering I endured.

And whatever they left, well, I kept it for my own heart
I will carry within my heart all the lessons learned, the moments cherished, and the memories immortalized.

And the lonesome all understand
Only the lonely truly comprehend the depth of emotion and longing expressed in these words.

With the choirs in my head
With the voices of all my past and present companions, the angels of my conscience, and the demons of my doubts.

And we were orphans before
We were always searching, seeking, and wandering, adrift in this vast world before finding our true place and purpose.

We were ever the sons of regret
Born out of the remorse, sorrow, and guilt of the past, which we carry with us like a burden or a chip on our shoulder.

My baby
A term of endearment, not towards a human being, but rather towards life itself, which is both a source of comfort and a cause of pain.

And on and on and on
The endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth, sometimes smooth and sometimes rough, sometimes joyous and sometimes somber.

The alphabet boys carry on
The institutions and bureaucracies that dominate our world carry on, indifferent to the struggles and aspirations of individuals.

Now I'm trying to keep it straight
Now I am attempting to stay grounded, focused, and authentic, navigating the maze of life's challenges with clarity and purpose.

Learning all the streets and the alleyways
I am discovering the hidden, the obscure, and the dark corners of existence, where beauty and danger coexist.

And learning where they lead
Understanding and accepting the consequences of my choices and actions, as well as the consequences of others' choices and actions.

Now that I'm left alone here to drive
Now that I am the sole driver of my own destiny, with nobody to guide, advise, or console me but myself.

But it's so hard to stand on your own
However, it is difficult to remain steadfast, independent, and resilient in the face of adversity, temptation, and loneliness.

Against mirror of glass, hard and cold
Against the unforgiving and impersonal reality of the world, which reflects back our flaws, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities.

But the clothes I wore
The outer garments, the persona, the facade that I used to wear in order to fit in, impress, or deceive others.

Just don't fit my soul anymore
No longer align with my inner self, my true needs, wants, and values, which have evolved and matured over time.

When we were young
In the innocent, carefree, and optimistic phase of life, when everything seemed possible and nothing seemed impossible.

We were diamond Sinatras
We shone like diamonds, like the legendary singer Frank Sinatra, who epitomized glamour, romance, and class.

Like something I saw in a dream
Like a surreal, fantastic, and fleeting vision that I once glimpsed in my subconscious, perhaps a long time ago.

We kept our secrets in rooms
We guarded our private thoughts, feelings, and memories in secluded and hidden places, away from prying eyes and ears.

Locked up tight like a tomb
Sealed and protected, like a precious or dead thing, to be preserved or forgotten, as circumstances dictate.

Where the ballerinas lay
In the magical and ethereal realm where dancers, poets, and artists dwell, creating beauty and meaning out of nothingness.