We Carry On by Portishead Lyrics Meaning – A Deep Dive into the Song’s Existential Voyage
Lyrics
It’s choking on my mind
Reaching out I can’t believe
The faith it can’t decide
On and on I carry on
But underneath my mind
And on and on I tell my self
It’s this I can’t disguise
Oh can’t you see
Holding on to my heart
I bleed the taste of life
The pace, the time, I can’t survive
It’s grinding down the view
Breaking out which way to choose
A choice I can’t renew
Holding on I carry on
But underneath my mind
And on and on I tell my self
It’s this I can’t disguise
Oh can’t you see
Holding on to my heart
I bleed, no place is safe
Can’t you see the taste of life
Portishead, a band synonymous with the brooding soundscapes of trip-hop, has always had a knack for weaving complex emotional tapestries with their music. Their song ‘We Carry On’ is no different, offering a lyrically dense and sonically haunting track that stays with the listener long after the final note has faded. It is a piece that compels us to explore the depths of human experience, nudging at the boundaries of our own understanding.
Dissecting the layers of ‘We Carry On’ reveals a profound commentary on the struggles that define our existence. The visceral imagery and mesmerizing beats create an atmosphere that is both oppressive and liberating, a duel of sensations that seems to echo the human predicament itself.
Unraveling The Gordian Knot of Existence
The opening lines of ‘We Carry On’ immediately immerse us in a confessional state, where the taste of life is overwhelming and indescribable. The lyrics choke on the complexity of life, grappling with a sensory overload that defies explanation. The struggle to articulate such an experience is universal—a reminder of how life’s intensity can render us speechless.
This inability to describe the everyday pushes the protagonist, and thus the listener, into an existential void, where faith wavers and decision-making becomes paralytic. The cyclical nature of carrying on despite inner turmoil becomes a Sisyphean task that sits at the core of the human condition.
The Pulse of Persistence Amidst Inner Turmoil
As the song progresses, the repetition of ‘on and on I carry on’ acts as an anthem for the weary. It’s an acknowledgement of the perseverance that is demanded by life, but also a delicate insight into the mental state of someone who is close to breaking. Underneath the act of moving forward lies a mind that is conflicted and seeking solace.
The self-dialogue that takes place—’and on and on I tell myself’—is indicative of the internal battles we face. The song suggests that this relentless self-assurance is as much about convincing oneself as it is about masking the truth that lurks in the recesses of the psyche.
A Herald of Heartache: The Emotional Core Exposed
Holding onto one’s heart, bleeding the taste of life, presents a vivid narrative of vulnerability. There’s a raw openness in admitting to the pain that comes with fully experiencing life. The heart, often a symbol for the emotional core, is not impervious to the trials Portishead details.
This bleeding is not one of defeat but a testament to being alive in the truest sense. It is a purge of sentiment, an unapologetic show of the scars and burns we receive in our journey, yet it stands as a symbol of resilience in the face of existential adversity.
Deciphering the Song’s Hidden Meaning: Between the Notes
Amid the layers of Portishead’s ethereal sound lies a more profound statement on choice and time. The ‘pace, the time, I can’t survive’ speaks to the relentless march of existence that permits no pause for the weary or indecisive. Choice is but an illusion in this unyielding progression, renewing itself in perpetuity.
It is in this revelation that we find the song’s hidden meaning. ‘We Carry On’ isn’t just about the journey but also confronts the illusion of autonomy within the journey. It’s about the often illusory nature of control we believe we have over our path, when in reality, we are all subject to the same ruthless ticking of the clock.
Memorable Lines that Haunt Our Collective Psyche
There are certain lines in ‘We Carry On’ that resonate with universal truths and lodge themselves firmly in the mind. ‘The faith it can’t decide’ or ‘No place is safe’ are more than poetic expressions; they are a reflection of the innately human experience of uncertainty and the search for sanctuary.
These moments within the song act as a mirror to the listener, reflecting back the uneasy truths we all recognize but so often leave unspoken. Portishead has a unique ability to articulate the inarticulable, to bring to light the dark corners of our existence that we carry on through, hoping to find—and perhaps never fully grasping—the meaning of the taste of life.
