Herbie Murray
Sleeping With Sirens' 2019 album 'How It Feels To Be Lost' explores the hardships people face in their lives, including feelings of hopelessness and grief. The title track was written by vocalist Kellin Quinn, who was struggling with depression and anxiety during the band's hectic touring schedule. In an interview, Quinn explained that the song is about feeling lost and alone when dealing with depression and anxiety, and that the goal of the record was to help people understand that they are not alone in these feelings. The album features a mix of heavy guitars and classic tones, with acoustic versions of some tracks, showcasing the band's love of playing acoustic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Theme | Hardships in life, feeling alone, depression, anxiety |
| Message | You're not alone in your struggles |
| Mood | Dark, hopeless |
| Structure | Contrasting chorus and verses |
| Lyrics | References to blood, knives, bullets, and self-blame |
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What You'll Learn
The song's exploration of depression and anxiety
The song "How It Feels to Be Lost" by Sleeping with Sirens explores themes of depression and anxiety. The lyrics describe feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and being on the brink of giving up. In a 2019 Loudwire interview, vocalist Kellin Quinn admitted that he struggled with his mental health during the band's hectic touring schedule for their 2017 album. Quinn explained that the goal of the song was to help listeners understand that they are not alone in their feelings of depression and anxiety.
The song's lyrics depict life as walking on a tightrope with a blindfold, highlighting the uncertainty and precariousness of the narrator's situation. The chorus repeats the line "It's like a knife right in the back/Like a bullet to the head," illustrating intense emotional pain and a sense of betrayal. The narrator questions their own actions and feels responsible for their situation, as indicated by the lines "Why do I do this to myself?" and "The blood is on my hands."
The song also touches on feelings of isolation and loneliness, with the narrator feeling as though they are "standing on the edge with nowhere to go." This sense of isolation is a common symptom of depression and can contribute to feelings of hopelessness and despair. The song acknowledges the internal struggle and self-blame that often accompany mental health issues, as the narrator asks, "Why can't I understand?" and expresses frustration at their inability to change their situation.
"How It Feels to Be Lost" also addresses the sense of stagnation and hopelessness that can come with depression. The lyrics "I'm stranded in an ocean, treading water but it's hopeless" and "For every step that I take, I take two steps back" reflect a feeling of being unable to make progress or improve one's situation, no matter how hard they try. This sense of hopelessness and futility can be paralyzing and contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety.
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Feeling like you're on the brink of giving up
In the song, Quinn describes how it feels to be lost and standing on the edge with nowhere to go. The lyrics "It's a long way down"/ Why do I do this to myself?/ Why do I put myself through hell? convey a sense of being on the brink and not knowing how to move forward. The song also touches on the idea of taking one step forward and two steps back, adding to the feeling of being stuck and unable to make progress.
The track 'Leave It All Behind' is particularly relevant to the theme of feeling close to giving up. It encourages listeners who are feeling this way to look for escapes and to know that they are not alone. The acoustic version of this song, with its reworked guitars and simple additions like claps, creates a new atmosphere that may resonate with those feeling lost and on the brink.
'Ghost', another track on the album, adds a softer side with its simple guitar riff and drums, accompanied by Quinn's vocals. It touches on losing hope and the grief that comes with feeling like there is nothing left after death. The acoustic version of this song brings an even greater sense of grieving to the forefront.
Overall, the album 'How It Feels to Be Lost' by Sleeping With Sirens explores the feelings of being on the brink of giving up, offering a sense of comfort and community to listeners who may be struggling with similar feelings of despair and hopelessness.
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The imagery of life as walking on a tightrope
The song "How It Feels to Be Lost" by Sleeping with Sirens uses the imagery of life as walking on a tightrope to convey the feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability that come with navigating through life's challenges. This imagery captures the delicate balance we strive to maintain as we face obstacles and uncertainties that can throw us off course at any moment.
The tightrope walker metaphor is a powerful one, conveying the sense of precariousness and the potential for disaster with each step. The lyrics "Life is walking on a tight rope / With nothing but a blindfold / It's a long way, it's a long way down" highlight the sense of being ill-equipped and unprepared for the challenges that lie ahead. The blindfold represents the unknown future and the inability to see clearly, adding to the sense of danger and risk.
This imagery of the tightrope captures the fragile nature of our existence and the constant threat of falling or failing. The long way down referenced in the lyrics emphasizes the severity of the potential consequences, whether it be physical, emotional, or metaphorical. It conveys the sense of being on the brink, where one wrong move could lead to disaster.
The tightrope walker struggles to maintain balance and avoid falling, just as we struggle to maintain stability and sanity in the face of life's challenges. The image of a tightrope walker also conveys a sense of isolation and aloneness, as it is a solitary journey that requires individual strength and courage. This sense of isolation is further emphasized in the song by lyrics such as "Now I'm standing on the edge / With nowhere to go."
The tightrope serves as a powerful metaphor for the fragile and uncertain nature of life, where we strive to maintain balance and avoid falling, both physically and metaphorically. This imagery captures the feelings of vulnerability and the constant threat of potential disaster that looms over us as we navigate through life's challenges.
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The contrast between the hard chorus and melodic verses
The Sleeping with Sirens song "How It Feels to Be Lost" presents a powerful contrast between its hard-hitting chorus and its softer, more melodic verses.
The verses of the song set the scene, with the narrator describing feelings of isolation and hopelessness: "Life is walking on a tightrope with nothing but a blindfold / It's a long way, it's a long way down". The imagery here is striking, conveying a sense of uncertainty and the constant threat of falling. The narrator acknowledges their own struggles with mental health, asking, "But can you really blame me?" This verse sets the emotional tone for the song, providing a raw and vulnerable perspective that many listeners may relate to.
In contrast, the chorus explodes with intense emotion, capturing the all-consuming nature of anxiety and depression. The lyrics "It's like a knife right in the back / Like a bullet to the head / Why can't I understand?" depict the sharp, sudden pain of these mental health struggles. The chorus also includes the poignant line, "Now I'm standing on the edge with nowhere to go / This is how it feels, this is how it feels to be lost," which echoes the sentiments of the verses while adding a sense of desperation and loneliness.
This contrast between the verses and chorus creates a dynamic ebb and flow within the song. The verses provide moments of reflection and vulnerability, while the chorus releases a surge of raw, unfiltered emotion. This juxtaposition not only showcases the band's musical range but also mirrors the ups and downs of the human experience, especially when dealing with mental health issues.
The song's structure, with its contrasting sections, effectively communicates the message that despite feeling lost and alone, there is hope and a way forward. This message is reinforced by the band's intention to help listeners understand that they are not alone in their struggles. By presenting both the softer and harder moments, the song captures the complexity of emotional experiences and offers a sense of solidarity and understanding.
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The acoustic rework of 'Ghost'
The original version of "Ghost" by Sleeping with Sirens features a simple guitar riff, drums, and Kellin Quinn's vocals. The song includes hints of grief, giving it a sombre tone, and explores the idea of losing hope that there is anything left after death.
The acoustic rework of "Ghost" was released on the deluxe edition of the album "How It Feels to Be Lost" in 2020. The acoustic version maintains the sombre tone of the original while bringing a new sense of grieving to the song. The lyrics depict a couple in a loveless relationship, with the man cheating and the woman struggling to find reasons to stay. The chorus asks a series of rhetorical questions, reflecting on the couple's uncertain future:
> Are we just ghosts out in the night?
> Are we just waiting for a light that doesn't shine?
> Are we just faking, or is this real?
The acoustic arrangement of "Ghost" emphasises the raw emotion conveyed by Quinn's vocals and the heartfelt lyrics. The stripped-back instrumentation allows the lyrics to take centre stage, highlighting the themes of loss, uncertainty, and relationship struggles.
The deluxe edition of "How It Feels to Be Lost" also includes acoustic reworks of other tracks, such as "Leave It All Behind" and "Agree to Disagree," offering fans a new perspective on the band's music and showcasing their versatility.
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Frequently asked questions
The song's lyrics revolve around feelings of despair, hopelessness, and the anxiety and depression that can accompany them.
The song was inspired by vocalist Kellin Quinn's personal struggles with depression and anxiety during the band's hectic touring schedule.
Quinn wanted to convey that people experiencing feelings of loneliness and despair are not alone, and that many others share these feelings.
The song features a hard chorus and melodic verses that contrast each other. The lyrics describe feelings of being lost and stranded, with a sense of hopelessness and despair.
Yes, the songs 'Leave It All Behind' and 'Ghost' from the same album also explore themes of hardship, grief, and losing hope.
