Into the Valley
Zack Hemsey Lyrics

Monuments atop the summit of the mind
Our minds hold great intellectual achievements, like monuments atop a summit.

But stone pillars turn to dust when attention shines
Things we once thought were solid, like stone pillars, can crumble and fade when we pay attention to them.

That granite chips when the point of observation pries
Even something as strong as granite can be damaged or weakened when we closely examine it.

Them cornerstones are prone to crumble right before our eyes
The foundation of our beliefs and ideas can easily collapse when challenged or questioned.

Now that's the truth in lies
The paradox of truth being hidden within lies.

Grave deceptions are but servants of the wise
Great deception can be a tool for the wise to uncover truths.

Deluded in our grandeur like a fool that's in disguise
We can be blinded by our own sense of superiority, just like a foolish person can be disguised as someone wise.

But strip away the surface and reveal the great divide
When we look beyond appearances, we can see a stark contrast between superficial culture and the true meaning of life.

Between the ornaments of culture and the meaning of our lives
The things we adorn ourselves with culturally can detract from the true meaning and purpose of our lives.

Before we lay in ash
Before we die and become ashes.

I feel ascension giving way at last
I feel like we are finally ascending to a higher level of understanding.

Into the valley once more now we go
We are entering a difficult time or situation again.

Into the gray, into the ground down below
Descending into a place of uncertainty or despair.

You can search the afterlife for pearly gates
People seek the promise of a better afterlife, often depicted with pearly gates.

But only manner of the earth can serve to wipe the slate
Real change and redemption can only come from the actions we take in this life.

Reject what's given or accept it, that's the choice you make
We can choose to defy expectations or accept them and conform.

But destinations are determined by the steps we take
Where we end up in life is determined by the actions we take along the way.

So make that great escape
Make the bold decision to break free from expectations and pursue your own path.

That fixed belief it will fracture before it changes shape
Holding onto rigid beliefs only leads to their eventual breaking or shattering.

That chain holds firm up until it shatters amidst the ties you break
Chains of conformity or expectation can seem strong, but they will inevitably break if we try to go against them.

Don't root your feet or you'll never manage to slide and shift your weight
Don't cling so tightly to one way of life or thinking or you'll never be able to move and grow.

Turn about face and imagine what can happen, see that's the twist of fate
Changing one's perspective can lead to unexpected and transformative experiences.

They found the treasure but their pockets are full of toys
People can have all the material wealth they desire, but it may not bring them true fulfillment.

And their victors of status but of true spoils they can't enjoy
People may gain status or recognition, but it does not guarantee happiness or inner peace.

Although no man's an island within many of them exists a void
Even though people are connected, they can still feel a sense of emptiness or loneliness.

And they will forever forfeit passage across the bridge that they've destroyed
When we burn bridges with others, we sever important connections that can never be rebuilt.

In the hollow of our hands we survive
We can survive and thrive even with very little, represented by the small space of our hands.

Drifting through the meadow next to mountains in the sky
We can hold onto beauty and wonder even in difficult or trying times.

No method to the madness but in madness they will climb
Sometimes people can find meaning and purpose in chaos or madness.

Why settle in the heavens when the river's in decline
Why focus on an idealized afterlife when the present world needs our attention and care?

To arrive is to wither and erode
Once we have achieved our goals, we may find that they do not bring us lasting fulfillment and can even fade away.

To rest upon your laurels is to shrivel to the bone
To become complacent and comfortable in our achievements is to stagnate and become empty inside.

To catch the unexpected ditch the devil that you know
We must take risks and abandon familiar patterns if we want to experience true growth and new possibilities.

And if you get to where you're going then there's nowhere left to go
Achieving our goals or reaching a destination can be liberating, but we must strive for more if we want to keep growing and evolving.