Consequence by Incubus Lyrics Meaning – Delving Into the Echoes of Choice and Reaction
Lyrics
Keep one of your eyes open at all times
Think that you’re on the brink?
The shit hasn’t even begun to hit the fan
Consequence, you’ll see, will be stranger than a gang of drunken mimes
Situation has a stink
Better clear the air before your son becomes a man
Before your son becomes a man
Blink, everything’s been augmented, you’ve been left so far behind
I think, for sure, next time you should
Wear a pair of eyes in the back of your head
Consequence you’ve seen has been stranger than sci-fi of any kind
Situation baffles me
I guess it’s true, you are too one of the walking dead
You better think fast, think fast
‘Cause you never know what’s coming around the bend
You better not blink, don’t blink
For consequence is a bigger word than you think
It’s bigger than you or me
You or me, you or me
You or me
You better think fast, think fast
‘Cause you never know what’s coming around the bend
You better not blink, don’t blink
For consequence is a bigger word than you think
It’s bigger than you or me
You or me, you or me
Incubus has long been synonymous with crafting music that pushes beyond the confines of genre, often weaving intricate tales through a vocabulary of versatile sound. With ‘Consequence,’ a track from their 1999 album ‘Make Yourself,’ the band taps into the universal theme of action and reaction, spinning a tale of forewarning that resonates with the inevitability of outcomes born from choices.
On its surface, ‘Consequence’ strums the strings of edgy rock, laced with the band’s iconic blend of alternative funk and nuanced messages. But beneath the melody and groove lies a commentary that is both a cautionary tale and a piercing insight into human behavior and the far-reaching ripples of our decisions. Here, we dissect the layers of Incubus’s ‘Consequence,’ decoding the rich tapestry of its lyrical nuances.
The Prophetic Vision of Vigilance
In the opening lines, ‘Blink and you miss a beat,’ we are immediately thrust into a realm where vigilance is paramount. The song cautions the listener to always remain attentive, as life’s rhythm can be capricious, and inattention might lead to being blindsided by unforeseen events. This prophetic call for one eye to be perpetually open serves as a metaphor suggesting that consequences abound in the periphery of our awareness, often going unnoticed until they manifest in full force.
The lyric ‘Keep one of your eyes open at all times’ not only reinforces the theme of caution but also invokes an almost Orwellian sense of surveillance in one’s life. This creates a tension between mindfulness and paranoia, where the line of balance is so finelay strained, it sparks a conversation on how we navigate the unpredictability of existence.
Confronting the Absurd with Acumen
‘Consequence, you’ll see, will be stranger than a gang of drunken mimes,’ offers an abstract image that juxtaposes humor with an unsettling sense of disorder. Mimes, who traditionally communicate without words, when imagined inebriated, become a symbol for the confusion and misunderstanding that often follows our actions. Incubus here artfully conveys the message that the outcomes of our decisions can be as bizarre and unpredictable as such a disoriented troupe.
The song serves as an existential commentary, suggesting that despite our attempts at control, the fallout from our choices can be as perplexing and unforeseen as the most outlandish science fiction. We’re reminded that for all our strategies and foresight, life’s script can throw in twists that leave even the most astute observer baffled.
The Hidden Message in Daily Pivots
As ‘Consequence’ progresses, it unearths the hidden meaning in what might seem like daily inconsequential pivots. With the line ‘Situation has a stink,’ Incubus infers that often untended issues, much like ignored problems, begin to fester, with an impetus to ‘clear the air’ highlighting the urgency for proactive confrontation before it’s too late — the simple truth that the decisions of today mold the adults of tomorrow.
This is not merely a call to action, but a warning against the passive life where failing to engage with the present circumstances leads to a more complex entanglement in the future. The song subtly underscores the significance of being engaged with ‘now’ to prevent a cascading series of reactions that we may be ill-prepared to handle.
Memorable Lines: Echoes of a Post-Apocalyptic Reverie
‘For consequence is a bigger word than you think / It’s bigger than you or me.’ These lines bear a weight that encapsulates the core sentiment of the song. They suggest that consequences hold a power and presence that surpass individual understanding, often dwarfing personal perspectives and fortifying the song’s assertion that our choices are a part of a larger interconnected web.
These words resonate long after the song concludes, echoing the sobering reminder that the ripple effect of our actions is vast and often extends beyond our own scope of influence. This reverberating message is tantamount to recognizing our responsibility in a wider, shared human experience.
Through the Eyes of Incubus: The Inevitable Dance with Consequence
In the end, Incubus doesn’t just paint a picture but rather invites the listener on a journey with ‘Consequence.’ Through metaphors that span science fiction and quirky mimes, the band conjures a soundscape that is as whimsical as it is profound. The song is a philosophical musing set to rhythm, a dance with destiny and outcome, a mirror reflecting the eternal interplay between action and the enigmatic laws governing its sequel.
‘Consequence’ is a rich expanse where music meets the mind, urging a dialogue on the nature of causality. Incubus uses their lyrical prowess and sonic mastery to nudge us towards self-awareness and the vigilant observance of the world we shape, a world where each blink might conceal a beat we can ill-afford to miss.
