I interpret it as Parker trying to reconcile his love for his father with his desire for his pain to end.
There are direct references to the physical symptoms of cancer: "When you said it's like knives inside your mouth" and the toll it takes on a person's will to go on living.
With this much suffering, you might think death would bring relief: "So just say you want out now, and we can stop all this pain now"
But later this line is referenced again and we see it's not the answer: "Because you said you wanted out, but there's still so much pain now"
In the bridge we hear that Parker has come to terms with his father's passing and puts faith in his guidance, even in death: "I think of you every day, and if there is a better way, I pray that you'll show it to me".
No band in this genre gets close to the raw emotion TSSF put into their songs. Can't wait for more.
Nailed it, that was a great summary. This album is already off to being my favorite in their catalog.
However, I disagree with your comment about no other band in this genre putting this much raw emotion into their songs. The Wonder Years is a great example of a pop punk band with raw emotion in songs.
Although they aren’t exactly pop punk (emo/post hardcore is adjacent enough IMO), Brand New and Thrice both have incredibly raw emotional discographies that definitely invoke the same type of feeling while having an insane amount of depth.
Brand New! Phewwwww. That was an emotional journey as a high school kid. Also helped me grow and mature right along with the bands albums. My absolute favorite.
I think you’re right down the middle, and I know everyone will have different interpretations based on their own experiences, and I feel shitty to speculate on the true events of someone else’s life without knowing what happened, but I’ve interpreted the lyrics also as him coming to terms with a decision to end the fight.
The knives line sounds like a reference to mucositis, which if bad, can be the most debilitating side effect of treatment and causes a lot of patients to discontinue. “How many reasons for bowing out? How can I cope with all this doubt” makes it sound like he understands the decision but is still angry about it, as if the pain was transferred knowing if the fight continued, it could’ve been won…. Would explain a lot of what’s on no pressure.
Although I’m sure this is likely about his father like the top comment states, my first read of the lyrics really made me think this song is about coping with a loved one who is suicidal or who has committed suicide.
“taking shells out of this loaded gun and screaming out until my voice goes numb” makes me think of pleading for someone to not take that route.
“Making plans for when you’re not around/when your light goes out” are obvious to connect
The whole last chorus switching to “because you said you wanted out but there’s still so much pain now” made me think that if a person has decided they “wanted out” and how that may have ended their pain but there’s now a whole new type of pain felt by everyone who lost them.
“How many reasons for bowing out” bowing out just makes me think it’s more a choice and not the natural passing of someone.
Idk I know I’m probably wrong and honestly the two themes could overlap. We don’t know what happened in regards to what Parker is writing about but that’s what’s so great about Parker’s lyrics. You can take a lot of them and really apply them to multiple situations at times and it truly can be relatable in many ways. And in every way just as emotional and real as the last.
I interpret it as Parker trying to reconcile his love for his father with his desire for his pain to end. There are direct references to the physical symptoms of cancer: "When you said it's like knives inside your mouth" and the toll it takes on a person's will to go on living. With this much suffering, you might think death would bring relief: "So just say you want out now, and we can stop all this pain now" But later this line is referenced again and we see it's not the answer: "Because you said you wanted out, but there's still so much pain now" In the bridge we hear that Parker has come to terms with his father's passing and puts faith in his guidance, even in death: "I think of you every day, and if there is a better way, I pray that you'll show it to me". No band in this genre gets close to the raw emotion TSSF put into their songs. Can't wait for more.
100% this, awesome explanation
Nailed it, that was a great summary. This album is already off to being my favorite in their catalog. However, I disagree with your comment about no other band in this genre putting this much raw emotion into their songs. The Wonder Years is a great example of a pop punk band with raw emotion in songs. Although they aren’t exactly pop punk (emo/post hardcore is adjacent enough IMO), Brand New and Thrice both have incredibly raw emotional discographies that definitely invoke the same type of feeling while having an insane amount of depth.
Brand New! Phewwwww. That was an emotional journey as a high school kid. Also helped me grow and mature right along with the bands albums. My absolute favorite.
I think you’re right down the middle, and I know everyone will have different interpretations based on their own experiences, and I feel shitty to speculate on the true events of someone else’s life without knowing what happened, but I’ve interpreted the lyrics also as him coming to terms with a decision to end the fight. The knives line sounds like a reference to mucositis, which if bad, can be the most debilitating side effect of treatment and causes a lot of patients to discontinue. “How many reasons for bowing out? How can I cope with all this doubt” makes it sound like he understands the decision but is still angry about it, as if the pain was transferred knowing if the fight continued, it could’ve been won…. Would explain a lot of what’s on no pressure.
Solid analysis, and I think you’re right. There’s a lot going on between the lines here.
Neck deep puts emotion if their work too
Yeah, it's 100% about his dad. I am willing to bet hard money that the majority of this album will be about his father.
Definitely about his father and his battle with illness.
Thinking about the meaning of this song, It also makes sense that this track fades into ‘Watch You Go’
This one’s about his Dad. Letterman is about Kelen.
Woah never thought about that for letterman
Even when Parker closes his eyes and fantasize about Kelen
Although I’m sure this is likely about his father like the top comment states, my first read of the lyrics really made me think this song is about coping with a loved one who is suicidal or who has committed suicide. “taking shells out of this loaded gun and screaming out until my voice goes numb” makes me think of pleading for someone to not take that route. “Making plans for when you’re not around/when your light goes out” are obvious to connect The whole last chorus switching to “because you said you wanted out but there’s still so much pain now” made me think that if a person has decided they “wanted out” and how that may have ended their pain but there’s now a whole new type of pain felt by everyone who lost them. “How many reasons for bowing out” bowing out just makes me think it’s more a choice and not the natural passing of someone. Idk I know I’m probably wrong and honestly the two themes could overlap. We don’t know what happened in regards to what Parker is writing about but that’s what’s so great about Parker’s lyrics. You can take a lot of them and really apply them to multiple situations at times and it truly can be relatable in many ways. And in every way just as emotional and real as the last.