www.wise-children.com
Compost
Wise Children Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tearing things apart,
You need the end to show you the start.
I know we said that things
Would always be this way,
But we could only break each other's heart.
I threw you on the compost today,
Time drew out the sweetness
As you slowly fell apart
In my mouth.
And I hope for this:
That you'll be reborn,
And in new life you find everything and more.
Fermenting in the darkness here
Could only ever hold you back.
'Cause even if it scares you--
Tearing things apart,
You need the end to show you the start.
I know we said that things
Would always be this way,
But we could only break each other's heart.
I'll reach in and pull you
From the earth one day,
When our bodies learn that they've grown apart.
Spring will be upon us
And the dark days will have left no trace of snow.
We'll know in this we've both been reborn,
'Cause in our faces color will return.
Eye to eye, we'll look inside
And on our ground we'll both feel secure.
'Cause even if it scares you--
Tearing things apart,
You need the end to show you the start.
I know we said that things
Would always be this way,
But we could only break each other's heart.
The lyrics of Wise Children's song Compost are metaphorical and introspective in nature. The opening line, "Even if it scares you--Tearing things apart," suggests that the act of breaking things down can be frightening or uncomfortable at first. The second line, "You need the end to show you the start," implies that chaos and destruction can actually be necessary for new beginnings to take place. The following two lines, "I know we said that things, Would always be this way, But we could only break each other's heart," suggest that the song is related to relationships that are coming to an end, but it is unclear whether the relationship is romantic, platonic or familial.
The song then shifts the narrative to the metaphor of composting. The line, "I threw you on the compost today," describes the act of discarding something that is now excess or unwanted in one's life. The following lines, "When your body became overripe, Time drew out the sweetness, As you slowly fell apart, In my mouth," imply that the unwanted thing becomes useful and valuable when it is allowed to decay and transform. The chorus is then repeated, emphasizing the idea that destruction can lead to new beginnings and that endings are often necessary for growth.
Towards the end of the song, the metaphor of composting is revisited. The line, "I'll reach in and pull you From the earth one day," suggests that even though something has been discarded, it can still be retrieved and have a renewed purpose in the future. The following lines, "Spring will be upon us And the dark days will have left no trace of snow," reinforce the idea that new beginnings are possible and that a fresh start can emerge after tumultuous times. Overall, the song speaks to the resilience of the human spirit and the potential for growth and transformation even in the face of destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Even if it scares you--
Don't be afraid of tearing things apart.
Tearing things apart,
Breaking old habits or relationships apart.
You need the end to show you the start.
Endings are necessary to start something new.
I know we said that things
Would always be this way,
We thought things would never change, but they did.
But we could only break each other's heart.
Our old habits or relationship was destroying us.
I threw you on the compost today,
I let go of our old relationship.
When your body became overripe.
When our relationship had run its course.
Time drew out the sweetness
As you slowly fell apart
In my mouth.
As we parted, we remembered the sweet moments we shared.
And I hope for this:
That you'll be reborn,
And in new life you find everything and more.
I hope you find happiness and fulfillment in your new life.
Fermenting in the darkness here
Could only ever hold you back.
Holding onto the past would limit your growth.
'Cause even if it scares you--
Don't be afraid of change.
I'll reach in and pull you
From the earth one day,
I'll always be there for you.
When our bodies learn that they've grown apart.
When we realize that our old relationship is over.
Spring will be upon us
And the dark days will have left no trace of snow.
After a difficult time, things will get better.
We'll know in this we've both been reborn,
We'll both move on and start anew.
'Cause in our faces color will return.
We'll both regain our happiness.
Eye to eye, we'll look inside
And on our ground we'll both feel secure.
We'll reconnect and feel safe with each other.
'Cause even if it scares you--
Don't be afraid of letting go and moving on.
Tearing things apart,
Breaking old habits or relationships apart.
You need the end to show you the start.
Endings are necessary to start something new.
I know we said that things
Would always be this way,
We thought things would never change, but they did.
But we could only break each other's heart.
Our old habits or relationship was destroying us.
Contributed by Sebastian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jesska Reid
I wish you guys would do more music!!! Takes me to another world. ❤
Mathias Gabrielsson
Tabs? Great song!