Oxygen Feed
Viet Cong Lyrics

The lyrics of Viet Cong's song Oxygen Feed can be interpreted in a few different ways, but the overarching themes seem to be about the fragility of life, the tenuousness of our connections to one another, and the importance of living in the moment. The line "skeletons in between" suggests that our lives are fleeting and temporary, like mere skeletons between the moments of existence. The "tubes for the oxygen feed" speak to our dependence on technology to keep us alive, but also hint at the idea that we are detached from the natural world around us. The "signal fire really glows in the clock radio" could represent the flicker of hope we find in our daily routines, or the struggle to stay connected in a world that can seem cold and mechanized.

The following lines seem to be urging the listener to seize the moment and appreciate what they have: "you can let it burn and fall apart and burn the ground / i can only see you where you are / i can only carry you so far." This could also speak to the fleeting nature of relationships and human connections, and the idea that we should appreciate what we have while we have it.

The final verse is somewhat cryptic, but could be interpreted as a commentary on the human experience more broadly: "like the dull human scene? / nods their heads to the piece? / no one knows what they need / said the trembling sea?" This suggests that we are all going through life somewhat blindly, not knowing exactly what we want or need, but simply following the rhythms of the world around us. The "trembling sea" could represent the vast, unknowable forces that govern our lives, or simply the fear and uncertainty that we all experience from time to time.