We Are the Reasons by We Came As Romans Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Anthem of Self-Realization and Dualism
Lyrics
It runs through my rivers.
Created and cured by the same, and it will flow.
Tear through these holds, and rip away my heart.
With an effort so constrained, this is the venom in my veins.
This is the venom in my veins, created and cured by the same.
This is the venom in my veins. (I’ve spoken reckless words?)
And I know I’ve built a bed of unrest
That destroys my heart once I lay my head down.
Destroys the crutches that I’ve built,
I thought they were sound.
We are the reasons for health and light, for illness and weakness.
It will flow from my body to yours, an infection that can’t be cured.
We are the reasons for health and light, for illness and weakness.
We will tear through these holds.
We will tear through these holds or we will keep them strong.
We are the reasons for health and light.
For illness and weakness, we will tear through these holds
Or we will keep them strong
We will keep them strong.
With an effort so constrained, this is venom in my veins
Created, cured by the same,
By the same.
I’ve chosen selfless over selfishness,
I’ve left a bed of disgust and unrest.
Destroyed the crutches that I built myself, I found that they were never sound.
It won’t consume my heart anymore.
And I know I’ve built a bed of peace
That restores my heart once I lay my head down.
Rebuilds the crutches that I destroyed myself.
I plead to change my life, just before I dream
And wake to realize that change is inside me.
We are the reasons for health and light, for illness and weakness.
We will tear through these holds.
We will tear through these holds or we will keep them strong
We are the reasons for health and light.
When piercing through the lyrics of ‘We Are the Reasons’ by We Came As Romans, it’s as if we’re invited into an intimate battle between light and darkness, self-destruction and self-renewal. The band, known for their masterful blend of melodic intensity and philosophical lyrics, engages listeners in a gripping narrative that captures the essence of human struggle.
This song isn’t merely a collection of chord progressions and rhymes; it’s a raw exposure of the human condition in cacophony and harmony. As we navigate through the stormy waters of the lyrics, we reveal a journey that speaks to the heart of every listener who has ever faced their own venom and sought the antidote within.
The Visceral Venom: Exploring the Symbiosis of Creation and Destruction
At the core of the song lies the potent metaphor of venom—both the hurtful toxin and the healing serum. This introspective poison is representative of the addictive and destructive habits or thoughts that ‘run through our rivers’. The band confronts the frightening realization that the very thing that harms us can also hold the seed to our cure.
This poison is depicted as flowing, suggesting a movement or a journey from toxicity to purification. The challenge presented to the listener is to tear through the restrictions, the ‘holds’, that confine our hearts, understanding that the struggle is intrinsic and the remedy must come from within.
Unrest in Repose: The Turmoil of the Mind at Night
Prominently portrayed is the restless bed— a symbol of the quandary we face in the quietest hours. The bed represents not just a place of physical rest, but of mental unrest. Made by the ‘venom’ discussed, it demolishes the heart and the ‘crutches’ of false security.
The motif of sleep is wielded to highlight the contradiction of seeking rest in a bed crafted by our own flaws and misgivings. It’s an admonition about the places and structures we build for comfort that subsequently become our undoing, indicating the need to confront and dismantle them.
Dualistic Anthems: The Chorus of Contradiction
The chorus captures the duality of our existence–we are the culprits of both health and suffering. It presents a stark reminder that the potential for both strength and weakness resides in us. The phrase ‘We will tear through these holds or we will keep them strong’ underlines the choice before us: to break free from our toxic patterns or to solidify them.
This duality reveals interdependence, the shared journey of human experience where the actions and states of one can ‘infect’ another. The song draws a beautiful and painful picture of this shared human condition, pushing the listeners to acknowledge their role in this dichotomy.
Breaking and Mending: The Cycle of Self-Destruction and Growth
Halfway through the narrative, there’s a monumental shift. The lyrics depict a transition from choosing ‘selfless over selfishness’ and a shifting away from the ‘bed of disgust and unrest’. The once potent venom becomes ineffectual, representing a victorious personal growth.
As the protagonist destroys the crutches he once constructed, we as listeners are invited to reflect on the structures we depend on. Are they stable or do they simply postpone the inevitable collapse? The challenge is to rebuild the crutches that genuinely support us, which is part of the healing process.
The Resolve of Dreams: Internal Change as The Ultimate Revolution
The closing lyrics weave a vision of transformation that happens in the repose of night, before the dreams take hold—the plea ‘to change my life’. This segment is an intensely personal call to action, not to the world, but to the self.
The song closes with an acknowledgment that the capacity for change ‘is inside me.’ This ultimate internalization brings the song full circle, from the outward ripple of affliction to the inner wellspring of change. It’s a potent reminder that while the scars may come from the outside, the healing comes from within.
