Ballad
The Nerve Lyrics

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I keep pretending I'm leaving
To try and remember why I came
So many accusations
For so little blame

I'd ask you for your keys
But I feel out of breath
I'd probably just loose them

So it's all for the best

And time will surely find you
A stranger to your nest
It pays to travel light
While running far from this
While running far from this
While running far from this

Will I become a phantom
An orphan to this mess
My past a strip of lightning
Aiming for your chest

And time will surely find you
A stranger to your nest
It pays to travel light
While running far from this

While running far from this
While running far from this

Overall Meaning

In The Nerve's song Ballad, the lyrics describe a person who is trying to remember why they came, while pretending to leave. The singer is in a state of confusion, feeling that there have been many accusations but little blame. The lyrics become more introspective as the singer questions their future, wondering if they will become an orphan to their past, and if their past will forever aim like a strip of lightning for someone else's chest. The song suggests that the only solution is to travel light and run far from the situation.

The use of metaphors in Ballad cleverly conveys the emotion of the song without being too on-the-nose. The idea of the past aiming like a strip of lightning for someone's chest suggests that the singer's past mistakes or issues are a constant reminder or pain for themselves and potentially those around them, much like the pain of a lightning strike. The lyrics, "time will surely find you, a stranger to your nest," is also a strong metaphor, implying that if you don't take care of your current nest (your current situation or life), then time will make it unfamiliar and uncomfortable when you return.

The song is also layering the guitar riff throughout the song, which creates an eerily foreboding and tense feeling, matching the lyrics. The Nerve's song Ballad showcases the power of metaphors and how they can add more depth to a song while keeping the lyrics open for interpretation.

Line by Line Meaning

I keep pretending I'm leaving
I keep telling myself that I will leave, but I am still here

To try and remember why I came
I am trying to figure out the reason why I am here

So many accusations
There are many blame and accusations thrown around

For so little blame
But in reality, there is not much blame to be had

I'd ask you for your keys
I would like to leave, but I do not want to ask for your keys

But I feel out of breath
I feel exhausted and out of energy

I'd probably just lose them
I am afraid that I might misplace or lose the keys if I ask for them

So it's all for the best
Therefore, it's better if I stay here and not leave

And time will surely find you
As time goes by, you will eventually see

A stranger to your nest
You will feel like a stranger in your own home

It pays to travel light
It is better to travel without any baggage or burdens