In 2013, he uploaded the song "Vapour" online, where it caught on, drawing thousands of plays.
A follow-up EP, Winter, also garnered considerable attention and by 2014, Bettinson had begun playing live shows, including making an appearance at Austin's SXSW festival.
In 2016, Bettinson released Vancouver Sleep Clinic's full-length debut, Revival, on Sony.
Collapse
Vancouver Sleep Clinic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now they're all frozen over
I should have took your hand
We should have crossed the border
Because never again
Means none of this at all
Forever pretend
Falling short again
I'm falling short again
The ranges set so high
And I could never climb
Falling
It's so cold, I've come out
Where's the all I have to show
The knowledge that I've never known
The garden that I failed to grow
Cause when the wreck is through and it's all consumed
Maybe then baby, you'll tell me that we didn't cling to enough
That we couldn't outlast the rough
Falling short again
I'm falling short again
The ranges set so high
And I could never climb
Falling
On my own
I've been outgrown
We've been outgrown
The Vancouver Sleep Clinic's song Collapse tells a story of someone who has sunk into the depths of the ocean but now finds that the once-blue waters are frozen over. The singer expresses regret for not taking the hand of their loved one and crossing the border. The lines "because never again means none of this at all, forever pretend in our shelters we don't fall" suggest that the singer is stuck in a cycle of never fully committing to their relationship, instead finding solace in pretending that everything is okay, even when they are falling short.
As the singer looks around, they realize that they have nothing to show for themselves. They have failed to grow the garden of knowledge and experience, and when the "wreck is through and it's all consumed," they fear that they will look back and realize they didn't cling to enough, that they couldn't outlast the rough.
The repetition of the line "falling short again" emphasizes the singer's feeling of inadequacy and their inability to reach the high standards they have set for themselves. The song ends on the poignant lines, "on my own, I've been outgrown, we've been outgrown," suggesting that the relationship has ended and the two parties have grown apart.
Overall, the song Collapse is a powerful meditation on regret, cycles of unhealthy relationships, and the fear of not having left a meaningful impact on the world. It speaks to the universal human desire to cling onto what we love and to feel that our lives have meaning, even in the midst of chaos and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd sunk in oceans blue
I was struggling and drowning in difficulties
Now they're all frozen over
Now everything around me is stagnant and immobile
I should have took your hand
I should have accepted your help when you offered it
We should have crossed the border
We should have taken a chance and stepped outside of our comfort zone
Because never again
Because the past cannot be undone
Means none of this at all
Means that all of this has no value or significance
Forever pretend
Forever live in a state of denial and falsehood
In our shelters we don't fall
In the false sense of security we create, we think we are safe from failure
Falling short again
Once again, I am failing to meet expectations
The ranges set so high
The goals are too lofty for me to achieve
And I could never climb
And I do not possess the ability to reach those heights
It's so cold, I've come out
After being isolated within myself, I am now exposed to reality
Where's the all I have to show
Where is the evidence of my efforts and accomplishments?
The knowledge that I've never known
The wisdom and enlightenment that I have yet to acquire
The garden that I failed to grow
The potential that I did not cultivate and bring to fruition
Cause when the wreck is through and it's all consumed
Because when the destruction is complete and everything is used up
Maybe then baby, you'll tell me that we didn't cling to enough
Perhaps at that point, you will express how we did not hold on to enough
That we couldn't outlast the rough
That we were not strong enough to endure the hardships
On my own
Alone and without assistance
I've been outgrown
I have been surpassed and left behind
We've been outgrown
Together, we have been surpassed and left behind
Contributed by Oliver T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
kartell ng manila
Collapse"
I sunk in oceans blue
Now they're all frozen over
I should have took your hand
We should have crossed the border
Because never again
Means none of this at all
Forever pretend
In our shelters we don't fall
Falling short again
I'm falling short again
The ranges set so high
And I could never climb
Falling
It's so cold, I've come out
Where's the all I have to show?
The knowledge that I've never known?
The garden that I failed to grow?
Cause when the wreck is through and it's all consumed
Maybe then baby, you'll tell me that we didn't cling to enough
That we couldn't outlast the rough
Falling short again
I'm falling short again
The ranges set so high
And I could never climb
Falling
On my own, I've been outgrown
On my own, I've been outgrown
We've been outgrown
We've been outgrown
We've been outgrown
We've been outgrown
We've been outgrown...
Four Fair Productions
I'd sunk in oceans blue
Now they're all frozen over
I should have took your hand
We should have crossed the border
Because never again
Means none of this at all
Forever pretend
In our shelters we don't fall
Falling short again
I'm falling short again
The ranges set so high
And I could never climb
Falling
It's so cold, I've come out
Where's the all I have to show
The knowledge that I've never known
The garden that I failed to grow
Cause when the wreck is through and it's all consumed
Maybe then baby, you'll tell me that we didn't cling to enough
That we couldn't outlast the rough
Falling short again
I'm falling short again
The ranges set so high
And I could never climb
Falling
On my own
I've been outgrown
We've been outgrown
jflow08
Vancouver Sleep Clinic, how dare you make something so hauntingly profound? I enjoy this song on so many levels it's unreal.
Lyfe Chami
Damn!how dare they..so good..
interpretingquotes
mastapiiiiiece
About36GREEKS
Music that touches the soul ! Always listen to their stuff late night by myself
Castleguard24
I'm here too man. At 12:37AM, all alone hehe.
Sachiko Shinozaki
I listen to it while traveling at night, it's magical when you're on a train
Ira
About36GREEKS 2:48 AM. :') beautiful stuff ❤
Zé Pereira
3:09 AM here :)
kristen schupner
Sachiko Shinozaki that sounds so pretty
Golden Fleece
If Vancouver Sleep Clinic isn't a huge band one day, i will give up on society. This is just amazing.