Inevitable by Anberlin Lyrics Meaning – Decoding the Timeless Desire in Melodies
Lyrics
And cardboard boxes took us miles from what we would miss?
School yard conversations taken to heart
And laughter took the place of everything we knew we were not
I want to break every clock
The hands of time could never move again
We could stay in this moment for the rest of our lives
Is it over now, hey, hey, is it over now?
I want to be your last first kiss that you’ll ever have
I want to be your last first kiss
Amazing how life turns out the way that it does
We end up hurting the worst, the only ones we really love
I want to break every clock
The hands of time could never move again
We could stay in this moment for the rest of our lives
Is it over now, hey, hey, is it over now?
I want to be your last first kiss that you’ll ever have
I want to be your last first kiss
Is it over now, hey, hey, is it over now?
Is it over now? Hey, hey, it’s not over now
I want to be your last first kiss that you’ll ever have
I want to be your last first love that you’ll ever have
Lying here beside me, palms and eyes open wide
I want to be your last first kiss for all time
Anberlin’s ‘Inevitable’ is one of those enigmatic tracks that sneaks into the listener’s conscience, combining poetic lyrics with a powerful, sweeping melody. It’s a song that begs for a deeper exploration, not just for a listen, but for an understanding of the yearning that echoes through its verses.
Like an intricate puzzle, ‘Inevitable’ reveals different aspects of itself upon each listen. It’s the kind of song that appears simple at first glance but is richly layered with emotion and meaning, a testament to the band’s skillful storytelling through music.
Time Capsules and Cardboard Dreams: The Nostalgia of Innocence
The opening lines of ‘Inevitable’ invoke a vivid sentimentality, taking the listener on a journey back to the simplicity of childhood. Cardboard boxes aren’t just childhood playthings; they are vessels of imagination, representing unadulterated hopes and the ability to travel miles from life’s complications.
Schoolyard conversations and laughter symbolize the untainted joy and straightforward emotions of youth. This is a critical framework for the song, which later juxtaposes these carefree days against the intricate web of grown-up relationships.
Breaking Clocks and Pausing Time: An Intimate Desire for Permanence
The recurring plea to ‘break every clock’ is more than a metaphor for resistance to change; it’s a deep-seated wish to freeze a perfect moment. It’s the desire to hold onto the now, indefinitely, a sentiment anyone who’s experienced love can understand.
There’s a poignant desperation in this imagery, the refusal to accept that time must march forward. It’s not simply about fear of the future; it’s about savoring a connection so profound that its potential end feels unfathomable.
The Last Firsts: Romance in the Age of Cynicism
In a world where first experiences are often over-romanticized and just as quickly dismissed, Anberlin’s frontman, Stephen Christian, yearns to be the ‘last first kiss.’ It’s a pledge of timeless commitment in an era where love is frequently transient.
The lyrics poetically underscore the gravity of this promise—the last first kiss, the final leap into love, suggesting a permanence that defies the odds, aiming for a love that’s enduring and final.
The Hidden Meaning Behind the Melancholic Melody
Beneath its surface about love and time, ‘Inevitable’ subtly speaks to the human condition. The inevitability in the title is a resignation to the fact that life changes, that love hurts, and yet, paradoxically, that we yearn for the eternal.
This duality is the song’s true power—the acceptance of life’s inevitable flow alongside the pursuit of a love that lasts forever. It’s a contradiction that resonates with anyone who’s ever grappled with the fleeting nature of experience.
The Power of Lyrics: Lines That Echo Through Time
‘Amazing how life turns out the way that it does / We end up hurting the worst, the only ones we really love.’ With these lines, ‘Inevitable’ touches on the inherent tragedy of love and human connection—we often wound the ones we hold dearest, despite our best intentions.
It’s a universal truth laid bare in a single couplet, encapsulating the complex dance of intimacy and pain. These lines linger long after the song ends, a memorable distillation of the song’s overarching ideas about love, time, and the inevitability of both.
