Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control by Tame Impala Lyrics Meaning – Surrendering to the Cosmic Flow
Lyrics
Been anything we could control
I have just been waiting for the perfect
Time to tell you I don’t know
Maybe I’m just reading into it a
Little deeper than I should
We would make it easy we would take
It slowly if only we could
Hey, what are you doing out here?
You’re thinking about everything, aren’t you?
I know it’s crazy, but just don’t think of it like that
Nothing has to mean anything
Come on, come back inside
Elodie
Look at me
Unless you’re trying to hurt me
Heavy blow
Down I go
Now I just want to let go
Is it right?
Is it wrong?
I don’t know
It’s not the cause I’m fighting for
Anymore
But it sucks to keep on running
Eventually
There will be
A time for clearer thinking
For now I weep
Can’t get to sleep
I try to hold a good feeling
I just get one
Here it comes
There it goes
Now we just might
Lose the fight, yeah
But it’s alright
It wasn’t our decision
Nothing that has happened so far
Has been anything we could control
I am just here waiting for the perfect
Time to tell you what I know
Every man is happy until
Happiness is suddenly a goal
I’ll just be here waiting ’til the
Doctor calls and then I’ll let you know
In the throes of our chaotic lives, Tame Impala hits a nerve with ‘Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control,’ a song that waxes philosophical on the enigmatic currents of fate and chance. Kevin Parker, the prodigious mind behind the project, is known for his ability to weave a psychedelic auditory tapestry that not only stimulates the senses but also provokes deep introspection.
This track from the acclaimed album ‘Lonerism’ is a musical journey that encapsulates the human condition – our fears, doubts, and the universal struggle to find meaning in the events that unfold around us. It hums with the existential pondering of what lies within our sphere of influence, gently reminding us that the illusion of control is as intangible as the dreams that dance in our subconscious.
The Illusion of Control: Unraveling the Cosmic Puppetry
Kevin Parker’s mesmerizing soundscapes, with their swirling synths and introspective lyrics, create an illusion of control, as if steering the listener through the unpredictable waves of existence. However, upon closer examination, ‘Nothing That Happened So Far…’ acknowledges our collective surrender to the vast, unfathomable script of life. By declaring outright that we have no control, Parker invites listeners to peer behind the veil of their own autonomy.
The repetitive mantra throughout the song serves as a grounding force, a focal point in the storm that insists we peel back our white-knuckle grip on life’s steering wheel. The realization might unsettle, but within it lies a paradoxical sense of freedom – in releasing the need for control, we might find ourselves more aligned with the natural flow and less at the mercy of the tumultuous human experience.
Euphoria in Surrender: When Happiness Becomes a Goal
Parker touches a bittersweet nerve with the line ‘Every man is happy until happiness is suddenly a goal.’ The relentless pursuit of happiness is a thematic undercurrent of the song, highlighting the human propensity to create destination out of a state of being. The song suggests that the moment happiness becomes objective rather than experiential, we are set adrift on an ocean of insatiable longing, constantly chasing the horizon.
In recognizing this, ‘Nothing That Has Happened So Far…’ becomes an existential lullaby that soothes the listener into acceptance. There is a melodic resignation to the fleeting nature of joy—a reminder that sometimes, the most profound peace comes from living moment to moment without attachment to the outcome.
Confronting the Abyss: Elodie’s Enigmatic Sorrow
In a poignant turn within the song, the mention of ‘Elodie’ is packed with enigmatic significance. While the identity of Elodie remains a mystery, this character embodies the human element of longing and sorrow within the song’s cosmic narrative. ‘Look at me, unless you’re trying to hurt me,’ she is implored, her presence marking the intersection between the personal and the impersonal themes of the track.
The descent ‘down I go’ and the subsequent ‘I just want to let go’ signify a surrender to the forces larger than oneself, possibly denoting a pivotal, transformative emotional surrender that the song encapsulates. Elodie’s struggle is, in many ways, the struggle of every listener who grapples with letting go of the delusion of control.
The Path to Clarity: Accepting the Inevitability of Uncertainty
There’s resoluteness in the line ‘Eventually, there will be a time for clearer thinking.’ It doesn’t offer an immediate solution but provides a measured hope that clarity will come with time. The song embraces the confusion and disarray of the present, yet it holds onto the promise that as the fog of tumult recedes, what remains will be insights hard-earned by trials and melancholy.
Tame Impala manages to turn existential malaise into an anthem for clarity, offering listeners a sense of companionship and understanding. The acknowledgment of life’s ebb and flow, and the affirmation that perhaps our battles are not for today, serves as a gentle nudge to be present and patient amid adversity.
Lyrical Introspection: The Memorable Echoes of Solitude
‘Now I just want to let go’ is one of those lines that resonates long after the music fades. It’s a candid, universal declaration of the fatigue we’ve all felt when grappling with issues beyond our grasp. The stoic yet vulnerable admittance of a desire to relinquish struggle serves as an emotional release valve, voicing a sentiment that often remains unspoken.
Repetition in the song serves as a meditative device, with Parker’s words echoing like a mantra that merges with our subconscious as we sink deeper into the music. It becomes the listener’s own spirit humming, ‘It wasn’t our decision,’ a cathartic end to a journey through the human psyche, offering resolution and rest in the acceptance of life’s grand, unpredictable symphony.
