Regret
Wye Oak Lyrics
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My tired body to absorb the shock
Years of decay will make a mess of me
These rotted floor boards arch below my feet
The flood will take us when we're in our sleep
This city swallowed by the oceans deep
The ice will melt and then the seas will swell
But this is not a thing on which to dwell
The lyrics of Wye Oak's song "Regret" depict a sense of impending doom, with vivid imagery of disaster and decay. The first verse mentions the collapse of the floor at ten o'clock, with the singer's tired body ready to absorb the shock. This could represent a metaphorical, figurative collapse, or a literal one, but either way, it is something that has been building up for years and is about to reach a breaking point. The mention of rotted floorboards arching below the feet adds to the sense of instability and decay.
The second verse depicts a flood taking place while people are asleep, with the city being swallowed by the deep oceans. This could be seen as a natural disaster, an effect of climate change, or a metaphor for something else entirely. The line about the ice melting and the seas swelling reinforces the sense of environmental crisis, but the final line suggests that dwelling on such things is not productive or helpful. This could be interpreted as a call to action, a warning, or a meditation on the inevitability of decay.
Overall, the lyrics of "Regret" convey a mood of unease and apprehension, but also a sense of acceptance and resilience. The singer acknowledges the decay and disaster that surround them, but is not overwhelmed by it, and remains ready to face whatever comes next.
Line by Line Meaning
The floor will all cave in at ten o'clock
The unstable foundation of my life will collapse at a specific time, leaving me vulnerable and exposed
My tired body to absorb the shock
I am too exhausted to cope with the upheaval and trauma of the impending collapse
Years of decay will make a mess of me
The accumulated neglect and deterioration of my well-being will contribute to my downfall
These rotted floor boards arch below my feet
The signs of decay have been there all along, unnoticed or ignored, and now they are threatening to give way beneath me
The flood will take us when we're in our sleep
There are forces beyond our control that can sweep us away without warning, even in moments of vulnerability and rest
This city swallowed by the oceans deep
Entire communities and societies can be consumed by catastrophic events beyond their influence or preparation
The ice will melt and then the seas will swell
The gradual but inevitable consequences of climate change and ecological imbalance will have profound and far-reaching consequences
But this is not a thing on which to dwell
Despite the overwhelming scale and severity of these threats, we cannot afford to be paralyzed by fear, regret, or despair
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANDREW BRANT STACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind