Feelings

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of relentless struggle in a harsh, unrewarding world. The opening lines demand strength and a clear vision, immediately setting a tone of adversarial existence. The narrator is told to be a "strong man" who "knows what you want" and is prepared to "fight ev'ryone in your way." This isn't about personal growth; it's about survival in a system where effort doesn't guarantee reward, as evidenced by the line "what do you get / When someone else picks up your pay." The central tension lies between the exhausting, often futile effort of the individual and the overwhelming, indifferent forces that control outcomes. The imagery of "fightin' a wolf" with "a pack" suggests a brutal, systemic opposition. The daily grind is depicted through "stuck to the phone" and "Burn up a hundred cigarettes," leading to "dissatisfaction" despite the efforts of "yes-men" who offer false encouragement. The narrator's desire for something better, a "queen," is met with "a jack," highlighting a consistent pattern of disappointment and being dealt a losing hand. The most striking aspect is the stark contrast between the grim reality described and the defiant, almost desperate refrain about "rock forever and ever." The lyrics insist, "We've still got the feel / The music is real / And we'll rock'n'roll forever." This isn't presented as an escape, but as a fundamental truth, a source of resilience. The message is that external validation or success is secondary to this internal, enduring spirit. The repeated assertion that "rock forever" is the ultimate message, even when faced with "greed" and a world where "survival is a business head," offers a powerful counterpoint to the bleakness. This juxtaposition makes the lyrics resonate. The raw depiction of struggle, the feeling of being exploited and consistently let down, feels visceral. Yet, the unwavering commitment to the "feel" and the "music" provides an anchor. It suggests that even when the world offers nothing but "rotten, helpless, dead" outcomes, the act of creating or engaging with something real, like rock and roll, is its own form of survival and victory. The power lies in this defiant declaration of an internal, unshakeable core amidst external chaos.