Composure by August Burns Red Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Cry for Perseverance in Metalcore
Lyrics
Pick yourself up, they say
Your life fell apart in your hands, and you’ve got the scars to prove it
It’s not the first time, and they’re getting deeper
Pull it together
Button up your shirt
Roll down those sleeves
Don’t let them see how you’ve coped
It’s not the first time, and they’re getting deeper
More and more your demeanor looks like quicksand
More and more your demeanor looks like quicksand
It seems like your giving up, giving up on everything you worked for
It seems like your giving up, giving up on everything you worked for
It’s pulling you under
It’s gripping around your throat
It’s pulling you under
It’s gripping around your throat
It seems like your giving up on everything
It seems like your giving up on everything
It’s pulling you under
(It’s pulling you under)
Life can be overwhelming
But don’t turn your back on the strongest crutch you’ve ever had
(You’ve ever had)
They have always been there to brace your fall
Wave goodbye to the past
You’ve got your whole life to lead
Wave goodbye to the past
You’ve got your whole life to lead
Wave goodbye to the past
You’ve got your whole life to lead
Wave goodbye to the past
You’ve got your whole life to lead
You’ve got your whole life to lead
You’ve got your whole life to lead
It’s time to gain some ground
In the aggressive yet melodic landscape of metalcore, ‘Composure’ by August Burns Red emerges as a powerful anthem that delves into the urgency of regaining control in the face of adversity. Though wrapped in bone-crushing riffs and thunderous drumming, the song’s lyrical narrative weaves a far more intimate tapestry that speaks to the battling human spirit.
As we unravel the layers behind the fiery vocals and rigorous instrumentals, the resonance of ‘Composure’ with its audience is not merely in its sonic abrasion but also in the profound message it aims to deliver. It is a gritty manifesto about the internal struggle for stability, aimed at anyone who has ever felt their life slip through their fingers.
Battling Your Inner Demons with a Backbeat
The immediate aggression of ‘Composure’ is impossible to ignore, a hallmark of August Burns Red’s signature sound. Yet, the combat is not solely in the music; it’s in the confrontational lyrics that challenge the listener. The repeated cry to ‘shake it off’ is less a suggestion and more a command, a desperate plea to overcome the sheer weight of life’s trials manifesting in one’s ‘demeanor looking like quicksand’.
This song doesn’t offer solace in comfort; rather, it screams for action against the inner demons that threaten to consume us. The physicality in the metaphors — scars, the grip around the throat — transforms the emotional ordeal into something tangible, something we can fight against.
The Art of Concealing Pain – A Destructive Glamour
‘Button up your shirt, roll down those sleeves’ – the song exposes the societal preoccupation with maintaining an exterior unmarred by personal struggle. It is a criticism of the facade we are often encouraged to uphold, revealing the damage done by concealing one’s pain.
The recurring emphasis on hiding ‘how you’ve coped’ brings to light an insidious aspect of mental health where vulnerabilities must be masked. ‘Composure’ compels us to question why we glorify this stoicism when it only leads to deeper wounds.
Surrendering to Despair or Surging Forward? The Song’s Hidden Meaning
‘Composure’ might give off an initial impression of surrendering to despair — the feeling of being ‘pulled under’. However, embedded within the roaring landscape of despair is an undercurrent of resilience. The song subtly shifts from an outcry of anguish to a roadmap for recovery.
Through the turmoil and the feeling of suffocation, the song extends a lifeline, reminding listeners that they possess ‘the strongest crutch’ they have ever had: their own resilience and surrounding support systems. The band isn’t merely narrating a downfall; they’re orchestrating the rise that follows.
Memorable Lines: The Echoes of Lifelines and Goodbyes
In a juxtaposition that August Burns Red masters, the song’s most memorable lines serve as both a farewell and a call to arms. ‘Wave goodbye to the past, you’ve got your whole life to lead’ isn’t just an optimistic sentiment; it’s a decisive severance from what was, marking a new chapter.
These lines resonate long after the last note as they encapsulate the essence of moving forward, no matter how formidable the past might have been. It is not about forgetting but about acknowledging that life is not meant to be lived looking backward.
The Rigor of Regaining ‘Composure’: Turning Lyrics into Action
For many, ‘Composure’ is not just a collection of well-crafted verses over a complex time signature. It is a survival anthem. The song’s title itself becomes a crucial lens through which to interpret its meaning. Composure implies a regaining of control, a measured response to chaos. It’s a deliberate, challenging process that the song both acknowledges and demands.
As the final shouts of ‘It’s time to gain some ground’ ring out, they embolden the listener to not just endure struggle, but to harness it. To gain ground is to create positive advancement, to grow from the pain, and to never stop fighting for one’s composure, no matter the scars you bear.
