Death
Viet Cong Lyrics


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Anchored to the bottom, you can see the current
Situation bending in and out of focus
Floating to the surface, you can see much higher
Quality arrangements of the constellations

Stranded and broken
Another day where everything's turning inside out
We went too far the other way
We'll never get home, home

Sail into the shoreline, occupy the picture
Perfect combinations in the grains of sand

Stranded and broken
Another day where everything's turning inside out
We went too far the other way
We'll never get home, home, home, home

Holograms cutting through the lines
March in 4/4 time, hollow shells
Stuttering, convalescent hands
Obvious in what they desire

What does deep midnight's voice contend
Deeper than day can comprehend?
Accelerated fall
An orbital sprawl expanded and swollen

A catalogue of the passages never seen
Apprehending the instances there have been
Weighing out the occurrences guaranteed
Overlooking the idiosyncrasy

Holograms cutting through the lines
March in 4/4 time, hollow shells
Stuttering, convalescent hands
Obvious in what they desire
What does deep midnight's voice contend
Deeper than day can comprehend?




Accelerated fall
An orbital sprawl expanded and swollen

Overall Meaning

The song "Death" by Viet Cong is a complex and layered piece of music that delves into themes of isolation, desperation, and the struggles of humanity. The lyrics describe a sense of being lost and adrift, both mentally and physically, as if the singer is anchored to the bottom of the ocean, struggling to make sense of the world around them.


The opening lines paint a vivid picture of the current situation, visible only to those who are anchored to the bottom. As the singer continues, they describe a feeling of floating to the surface, where they can see the arrangement of the constellations much more clearly. This contrast between being anchored and floating highlights the duality of the singer's experience: they feel both stuck and liberated at the same time.


The chorus of the song repeats the lines "Stranded and broken" and "We'll never get home" like a mantra. These lines suggest that the singer's situation is hopeless and that they feel helpless to change it. The repetition of these lines creates a sense of urgency and desperation, which is reinforced by the frantic energy of the music.


The later verses continue to dig into these themes, using vivid imagery to create a picture of a world that is falling apart. References to holograms, convalescent hands, and orbital sprawls give the lyrics a science-fiction feel, as if the singer is grappling with something beyond their understanding.


Overall, the lyrics to "Death" are both poetic and enigmatic, drawing the listener in with their evocative imagery and powerful sense of emotion. While it's not entirely clear what the song is ultimately about, it's clear that the singer is struggling to make sense of their place in the world, and that they feel isolated and alone in their struggles.


Line by Line Meaning

Anchored to the bottom, you can see the current
Being stuck in an unpleasant situation allows for a better understanding of the current events


Situation bending in and out of focus
The situation is unclear and constantly changing


Floating to the surface, you can see much higher
By taking a step back, one can gain a clearer and more objective perspective


Quality arrangements of the constellations
The bigger picture becomes clearer and the pattern more evident


Stranded and broken
Being lost and helpless, with no way out


Another day where everything's turning inside out
Every day brings new chaos and confusion


We went too far the other way
We made the wrong choices and are now facing the consequences


We'll never get home, home
We will never find our way back to a place of safety


Sail into the shoreline, occupy the picture
Taking control of the situation and making it your own


Perfect combinations in the grains of sand
Finding beauty and harmony in the small things


Holograms cutting through the lines
Deceptive and false images that are obscuring the truth


March in 4/4 time, hollow shells
Life can feel like a repetitive and meaningless routine


Stuttering, convalescent hands
Feeling weak and vulnerable, unable to take control


Obvious in what they desire
Their intentions are clear and not to be trusted


What does deep midnight's voice contend
The mysteries and unknowns that hide in the dark


Deeper than day can comprehend?
Questions that cannot be answered by the light of day alone


Accelerated fall
A fast and inevitable decline towards disaster


An orbital sprawl expanded and swollen
Everything is spreading and growing out of control


A catalogue of the passages never seen
A list of untold stories and unexplored possibilities


Apprehending the instances there have been
Recognizing the events of the past and their impact on the present


Weighing out the occurrences guaranteed
Measuring the inevitable consequences of our actions


Overlooking the idiosyncrasy
Ignoring the unique and individual aspects of life in favor of a broader perspective




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Daniel James Christiansen, Matthew James Flegel, Michael Brendan Wallace, Scott Cameron Munro

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@blackman5867

Lyrics :

[Verse 1]
Anchored to the bottom, you can see the current
Situation bending in and out of focus
Floating to the surface, you can see much higher
Quality arrangements of the constellations

[Chorus 1]
Stranded and broken
Another day where everything’s turning inside out
We went too far the other way
We’ll never get home

[Verse 2]
Sail into the shoreline, occupy the picture
Perfect combinations in the grains of sand

[Chorus 1]
Stranded and broken
Another day where everything’s turning inside out
We went too far the other way
We’ll never get home

[Chorus 2]
Holograms cutting through the lines
March in 4/4 time, hollow shells
Stuttering, convalescent hands
Obvious in what they desire
What does deep midnight’s voice contend
Deeper than day can comprehend?
Accelerated fall
An orbital sprawl expanded and swollen


[Bridge]
A catalogue of the passages never seen
Apprehending the instances there have been
Weighing out the occurrences guaranteed
Overlooking the idiosyncrasy

[Chorus 2]
Holograms cutting through the lines
March in 4/4 time, hollow shells
Stuttering, convalescent hands
Obvious in what they desire
What does deep midnight’s voice contend
Deeper than day can comprehend?
Accelerated fall
An orbital sprawl expanded and swollen



All comments from YouTube:

@RegularDude00

I love that idea of 2 simple guitar melodys together creating a more complex melody.

@PoetryJesusY2K

This is the best performance I've ever seen on KEXP 

@MrPeguin666

Matthew White in fact people should just stop writing music because nothing will ever be this good.

@VitorSilva-xh5qn

+poetryjesus Pond - Midnight Mass

@takisnotdead

+poetryjesus I was just about to say this.
15 minutes and still delivering more passion in the presence than almost any other band I've seen on here.

@edfig

Vítor Silva I just watched the Pond performance and it was good, but Viet Cong was something else. It just had so much passion, sweat and emotion. It can't be described with words.

@ghostbong

they are something else

@TA-kv3nm

I can just feel the lactic acid building up in my forearms when I see Matt playing that bass.

@ZodiacEntertainment2

His bass lines with Women were incredible but he just has so much energy on this track. While singing! Insane.

@shellacSOUP58

Reimer would be proud

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