Begin
Weather Veins Lyrics

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Forests burning
To ash, to meaningless end.
Oceans choking
On oil, acid, plastic.
Earth raped and fractured,
Poisoned and parched.
Sky soaked in carbon
Weather turned violent.

Look what we've done
Look what we allow in our name
Look what we've done
What have we become?

Extinction run rampant
Humans life's enemy.
Wildness broken
Enslaved to technology.
Fueled by greed and injustice,
Contempt.
The needs of the many
Bent to the greed of the few.

The machine owns us all
Despite what we might will
The machine corrupts us all
How can we break this standstill?

Heed the call to
Action that stems from within.
Refuse to sit by, despairing,
As the world ends.
Look for the hope and
The beauty that dwells in all things.
Courage is trusting that
Even small deeds have meaning.

Strive with all we have
Even if we cannot win
Better to try and to fail
Than never to begin

Begin

Overall Meaning

"Begin" by Weather Veins conveys a powerful message about the destructive impact of human actions on our natural world. The first stanza paints a grim picture of environmental degradation, with forests burning, oceans polluted, and the earth suffering from human exploitation. The imagery of the sky soaked in carbon and the weather turning violent highlights the consequences of our collective inaction towards climate change.

The chorus challenges listeners to confront the reality of what humans have allowed to happen in the name of progress. It questions our complicity in the destruction of the planet and prompts introspection on the state of humanity and the choices we have made. The repeated refrain "Look what we've done, What have we become?" serves as a poignant reminder of the responsibility we bear for the current environmental crisis.

The second stanza delves deeper into the themes of extinction, greed, and the imbalance of power between the masses and the privileged few. It critiques the way human society values profit over preservation, leading to the exploitation and enslavement of the natural world. The imagery of the machine metaphorically representing our societal structures and the corruption that ensues speaks to the pervasive influence of greed and injustice in shaping our actions and beliefs.

The final stanza offers a message of hope and resilience amidst the despair, urging individuals to take action from within themselves and to find courage in the face of adversity. The call to seek out beauty and goodness in the world, no matter how small, is a reminder of the importance of collective effort and individual agency in making a positive change. The song ultimately encourages listeners to begin the journey towards a more sustainable and compassionate existence, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

Line by Line Meaning

Forests burning
Forests are being destroyed by fire, leading to a meaningless outcome.

Oceans choking
Oceans are being polluted by oil, acid, and plastic, causing harm.

Earth raped and fractured
The Earth is being severely damaged and harmed.

Sky soaked in carbon
The atmosphere is being filled with carbon, impacting the weather.

Look what we've done
Reflecting on human actions and their consequences.

Extinction run rampant
The extinction of species is widespread and out of control.

Wildness broken
The natural world is being dominated and controlled by technology.

Fueled by greed and injustice
Actions are motivated by greed and lack of fairness.

The machine owns us all
Our dependence on technology dictates our behavior.

Heed the call to
Listen and respond to the need for action.

Look for the hope and
Seek out positivity and beauty even in dire situations.