Afterlife
Todd Rundgren Lyrics

They say I don't think enough
People have suggested that I don't ponder the afterlife deeply enough

About the afterlife
The life after death, which remains a mystery to many

Of what's below and above
The realms beneath and above us, which are often taken for granted

It's all in black and white
Many people see the afterlife in simple, binary terms without much complexity

They say there's only one kind of love
Some individuals argue that there's only one type of love to experience

You have to choose just right
Choosing the correct type of love is regarded as crucial by some people

In the afterlife
This phrase marks the shift towards discussing the afterlife exclusively

Kiss it all goodbye
The belief that everything we've grown used to will vanish in the afterlife

You don't get another try
When we die, there won't be any more attempts to live life again

But I can't see, I don't know how
The singer admits that they're unable to imagine the afterlife with great certainty

That I won't be what I am now, no
The singer's essence in this life may persist in some form in the afterlife

Even in my afterlife
A phrase that's used frequently to signify that the topic of the lyrics remains the afterlife

And I won't have some other heart
Despite the afterlife, the singer will still be the same person without another heart

That could find peace though we're apart, no
Even after we die and are apart from one another, there's no guarantee that peace will follow

It's not enough anymore
The current state of affairs is unsatisfactory as it pertains to the afterlife

To be good in this life
The traditional concept of doing good and living a righteous life doesn't suffice anymore

They say you've got to be sure
To have any chance of rest in the afterlife, security is now key according to some people's beliefs

So you can sleep at night
The idea of a sound night's sleep is linked to the security that comes from believing in the afterlife

The only love that endures
There's only one type of love that can stand the test of time

Gives up without a fight
Love that endures must be willing to sacrifice and give up

It was just a clever lie
The concept of the afterlife as a place of rest and peace is merely a deceptive falsehood

If I could never see your face
The singer muses on what they would lose if they're unable to ever encounter their loved one again

Then I would have to fall from grace, I know
The loss of a loved one would cause the singer to descend from their state of grace

Or for eternity be blind
In this hypothetical scenario, the alternative to seeing a loved one again is eternal blindness

To your presence in my mind, no
The singer might never forget the presence of their loved one in their head

And they could promise me a seat
Even if someone is guaranteed a seat in the afterlife, it might not satisfy their desires

At the right side of the throne
A seemingly desirable spot to occupy in the afterlife

But all would still be incomplete
Any form of guarantee is likely to be unsatisfying and unable to complete one's desires fully

Within the holy host, alone
Even the most revered communities could eventually leave one isolated and alone

Without the guiding light so sweet
The loss of a loved one is similar to the absence of a source of comfort and guidance

That has forever led me on
The source of guidance has accompanied the singer through life until now

For me there's no eternal rest
The singer is unable to find genuine peace and rest when thinking of the afterlife

You and I have unfinished business
The singer laments that they have yet to complete something with their loved one before they pass

If I could still hold one thought clear
Despite any potential difficulties, the singer hopes that this one thought will be able to persist

Then you will instantly appear, I know
The singer believes that this one thought will be intimately connected with their loved one

For I could not repose in bliss
Without the memory or thought of their loved one, the singer would never find true rest

Nevermore to know your kiss
The singer would be unable to experience or know anything about their loved one anymore