Things are What You Make of Them (Rough Mix)

Song Meaning

The narrator opens by describing a period of deep internal struggle, where "demons" have taken root in their heart, actively trying to "keep me entertained" while simultaneously "tearing me apart." This sets a tone of conflicting forces within the self, a battle for control that leaves the narrator feeling consumed and distressed. The imagery suggests a loss of agency, as these internal struggles are personified and actively working against the narrator's well-being. The core of the song's emotional arc seems to hinge on a moment of profound departure and a subsequent, almost absurd, piece of advice. Memory itself "packing" and vanishing into "black" signifies a loss of past self or a critical turning point where the narrator is forced to confront their present without the comfort or context of what came before. This dramatic exit leaves the narrator with a cryptic message, setting the stage for the song's central refrain. The repeated chorus, "Things are what you make of them," acts as a stark, almost disorienting, mantra. It's delivered after a series of profound personal crises: demons tearing the narrator apart, memory vanishing, and a surreal encounter with common sense advising to "make a noise" or be forgotten. The advice from Jesus Christ is reduced to a mere "thimble of advice," further emphasizing the minimalist, yet potent, message of self-determination. The contrast between the narrator's overwhelming internal chaos and the simple, repeated directive creates a powerful tension, suggesting that agency is the only recourse. This lyrical construction is effective because it grounds an abstract, empowering message in a narrative of profound personal breakdown. The narrator is not offering platitudes from a place of strength, but rather a hard-won realization amidst despair. The stark, almost surreal encounters with personified concepts and religious figures highlight the narrator's desperate search for meaning, ultimately landing on the idea that the power to shape one's reality, however daunting, rests solely with the individual.