Tides of Man is an American instrumental/post-rock (formerly post-hardcore)… Read Full Bio ↴Tides of Man is an American instrumental/post-rock (formerly post-hardcore) band formed in Tampa, Florida in 2008. The now-instrumental band currently consists of members Spencer Gill (lead guitar), Josh Gould (drums), Alan Jaye (bass guitar), and Daniel Miller (guitar). The band's former lead vocalist Tilian Pearson and rhythm guitarist Adam Sene departed from the group in 2010. Tilian went on to join Dance Gavin Dance.

The band signed with Rise Records and released the studio albums Empire Theory (2009) and Dreamhouse (2010), and independently went on to release their third album Young and Courageous in 2014 and their fourth album Everything Nothing in 2018.

Contents Within
Tides of Man Lyrics

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Desolately awaiting nightfall,
The cool dead feeling, to fall on my face,
Patiently

And I'll forget this day,
Did you forget me here,
In this corridor of Hell?
Where I lost my mind,

To desecration and fear?
Did you leave me behind,
Thinking I would tell your secrets?
Did you leave me to die?
My shroud removed,
And my body uncovered

Left for the Vultures to tear at my skin,
To relish from my skull, the contents within,
Here I have lay,
With these dark demons of prey,
Using grimy black talons they disfigured my face,
Please God I pray

Send your Eagle this way!
Did you forget me here,
In this corridor of Hell?
Where I lost my mind,
To desecration and fear?
Did you leave me behind,
Thinking I would tell your secrets?
Did you leave me to die?

Entirely surpassing the point of apathetic submission I spilled all,
Yet with every surrendering word I let slip
The more un-satiated the Vultures became
I must set things right.

But sprawled upon this mires coagulated bed,
I forget the plentiful pints I bled,

And dwell on many more I let them shed,
From my honest brother's blameless head.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tides of Man's "Contents Within" allude to feelings of abandonment and betrayal. The first verse portrays a sense of desperation and loneliness, as the singer seems to be waiting for nightfall to descend upon them. The line "To desecration and fear" suggests that the singer is aware of the danger they are in and is fearful of what is to come. The chorus repeats the question "Did you forget me here?" which emphasizes the singer's fear of being left behind, whether it is physically or emotionally. The imagery of vultures tearing at the singer's body further enforces the feelings of vulnerability and the fear of being left to die. In the second verse, the singer reflects on their own actions, admitting that they have given up too easily and that they have become prey for these dark demons. However, the line "I must set things right" suggests a desire to take control of their situation and to do something to change their circumstances. The final lines draw attention to the singer's guilt and deep sense of regret for their own actions, as they reflect on the innocent harm that they have caused their brother.

Overall, the lyrics of "Contents Within" convey a sense of haunting despair and loneliness. The singer seems to be grappling with feelings of abandonment and betrayal, both by themselves and by those around them. The imagery of vultures tearing at the singer's body further emphasizes the sense of desolation and hopelessness that the singer is feeling. Yet, there is also a sense of determination and a desire for redemption, as the singer acknowledges their own mistakes and seeks to make amends.

Line by Line Meaning

Desolately awaiting nightfall,
Feeling empty and lonely, waiting for darkness to come.

The cool dead feeling, to fall on my face,
The numb feeling that comes with sadness and depression.

Patiently
Waiting calmly without complaining.

And I'll forget this day,
Hoping to forget the pain and difficulties of the current day.

Did you forget me here,
Feeling abandoned and alone, wondering if someone has forgotten about you.

In this corridor of Hell?
Feeling trapped in a terrible place or situation.

Where I lost my mind,
Feeling overwhelmed and unable to think clearly.

To desecration and fear?
Feeling violated and scared.

Did you leave me behind,
Feeling abandoned and left alone.

Thinking I would tell your secrets?
Wondering if someone left you behind because they were afraid you would reveal their secrets.

Did you leave me to die?
Feeling like someone abandoned you in a dangerous situation.

My shroud removed,
Feeling exposed and vulnerable.

And my body uncovered
Feeling exposed and vulnerable.

Left for the Vultures to tear at my skin,
Feeling like you are being attacked or taken advantage of by someone else.

To relish from my skull, the contents within,
Feeling like someone is taking advantage of you and enjoying it.

Here I have lay,
Feeling helpless and unable to move or act.

With these dark demons of prey,
Feeling surrounded by dangerous and threatening people or situations.

Using grimy black talons they disfigured my face,
Feeling like someone is attacking your physical appearance and trying to hurt or damage you.

Please God I pray
Asking for help from a higher power or authority figure.

Send your Eagle this way!
Asking for protection and support from a higher power or authority figure.

Entirely surpassing the point of apathetic submission I spilled all,
Going beyond the point of giving up and expressing everything that was held back.

Yet with every surrendering word I let slip
Even though you feel like you have lost control, you still have to be careful about what you say and do.

The more un-satiated the Vultures became
The more you give in and show vulnerability, the more others will try to take advantage of you.

I must set things right.
Feeling determined to fix things and make them better.

But sprawled upon this mires coagulated bed,
Feeling physically trapped and unable to move or escape.

I forget the plentiful pints I bled,
Forgetting the pain and suffering that has already been endured.

And dwell on many more I let them shed,
Focusing on the pain and suffering that is still to come.

From my honest brother's blameless head.
Feeling guilty for causing problems for someone who did nothing wrong.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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