Avalanche
Witness Lyrics


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We follow the leads
But the clues offer nothin' of any
So you work and you sleep and you wake
And then you've got to wait there
For an avalanche to cover you

But you know you gotta scream
To shake the ice on the side
Of the mountain free

So scream your lungs raw
Till you can't do it anymore
Then work and sleep and wake
And then you've got to wait there
For an avalanche to cover you

But you know you gotta scream
To shake the ice on the side
Of the mountain free

Have you ever thought of children?
Is the world here a heaven?
Are the secrets in the walls here
That I never had been given?

I spend half of my lifetime
Just trying to work for Jesus
I only wish my folks had told it
And he didn't really need us, no

But you know you gotta scream




To shake the ice on the side
Of the mountain free

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Witness’s song “Avalanche” convey the sense of frustration, helplessness, and the overwhelming feeling of waiting for something to happen that might never come. The song begins with the lines “We follow the leads but the clues offer nothing of any,” which suggests the singer has been trying to make sense of the world and find direction, but without any success. They have been working hard, sleeping and waking, but still, they feel stuck and have to wait for an avalanche to cover them, which can be interpreted as an external force beyond their control to take over.


The idea of screaming to shake the ice on the side of the mountain free serves as an analogy for breaking free from whatever binds a person in their situation. The singer seems to believe that waiting for an avalanche is their only option, but they also realize that they have to scream to shake off the ice that keeps them from moving forward. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is reflecting on their life and wondering about its meaning. They think about children and whether the world is a heaven, questioning the secrets in walls they may have missed. Finally, they lament the fact that they have spent so much time “trying to work for Jesus,” wishing their parents had not made them internalize that need.


Interesting facts about “Avalanche":


1. Witness formed in Brooklyn in 1985 and consisted of lead singer and songwriter Carla Werner, producer Evan Rogers, and a range of musicians who played on individual songs.


2. “Avalanche” was released on the group’s eponymous first album in 1988, which was produced by Rogers.


3. Despite being seen as a rising band, Witness broke up in 1990, the same year the album was released.


4. Werner later worked with producers such as T-Bone Burnett and David Byrne, performed backing vocals for artists such as Rufus Wainwright and k.d. Lang, and released a solo album in 2010.


5. “Avalanche” was covered by alternative rock band Nothing But Thieves in 2018, showcasing the song's enduring impact.


6. The lyrics of “Avalanche” suggest Werner had a religious upbringing and struggled with the influence of it on her life.


7. The album cover art for "Witness " was designed by iconic artist Keith Haring.


8. The video for “Avalanche” features Werner alone in various settings, including a bedroom and a city street, suggesting the isolated and lonely feeling similarly conveyed in the lyrics.


9. “Avalanche” was used in a 1996 Mercedes-Benz advertisement in Germany.


10. The song is a fan-favorite and is frequently cited as an example of the 1980s post-punk/new wave sound.


Chords:
The chords for “Avalanche” are not available.


Line by Line Meaning

We follow the leads
We try to find clues and answers


But the clues offer nothin' of any
The clues are not helpful


So you work and you sleep and you wake
You work tirelessly to find answers


And then you've got to wait there
And then you have to wait for something to happen


For an avalanche to cover you
For a defining moment of change to happen


But you know you gotta scream
You need to make a bold move


To shake the ice on the side
To cause a chain reaction


Of the mountain free
To break free from being stuck


So scream your lungs raw
Put your all into it


Till you can't do it anymore
Until you exhaust all efforts


Have you ever thought of children?
Have you thought about the future generation?


Is the world here a heaven?
Is life good enough?


Are the secrets in the walls here
Are there hidden truths?


That I never had been given?
That I was never aware of?


I spend half of my lifetime
I invest a significant amount of my life


Just trying to work for Jesus
In trying to do good


I only wish my folks had told it
I wish I had more guidance


And he didn't really need us, no
But it turns out that we are not essential




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DYLAN KEETON, GERARD STARKIE, JOHN LANGLEY, JULIAN PRANSKY-POOLE, RAY CHAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

theonemodifier

It would be nice to see a continuation afterwards maybe his surrounding areas. Him getting up looking around, a picture of himself etc.

C.H.K.N tenders 😳😨

I knew it! The cameraman never dies

Green Man

Such a totally British response. In conversational tones "oh dear god" .

triiiexe

cameraman never dies

The Rocktion

"Almost dying, a person switch character to become cameraman and save a disaster"

"Hampir menjadi korban, orang ini memutuskan mengganti statusnya menjadi kameramen agar selamat"

IB JUAN

Yes

Arti Hirup

dan ketahuilah ,jika ada yang mencoba juga seperti dia, tapi tidak selamat, maka bisa dipastikan dia lupa mencet tombol rekam, jadi status nya belum berubah ke mode kameramen😂😂

DYMARS

the cameraman always survive

SANZ ZR

HAhaah🗿

Otto By Ograffey

The Horse Power in that avalanche is MASSIVE!

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