Start as You Mean to Go On

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a life lived in fast-forward, where youth is fleeting and traditional milestones are quickly adopted and just as quickly abandoned. There's a palpable sense of cynical acceleration, almost as if the speaker is rushing through life's stages with a predetermined, destructive agenda. The opening line, "Had my youth in six weeks," immediately sets this breakneck pace. A core tension emerges between the desire for conventional life, like getting married and having children, and a deep-seated disillusionment that leads to immediate destruction, such as splitting up at twenty-two. The repeated chorus, "If I can't have it," reveals a possessive, almost petulant attitude, suggesting that if satisfaction isn't instant, the whole thing must be ruined. This isn't just chaos; it's a deliberate, almost instructional chaos, as implied by the idea that it's "all part of the plan." The lyrical craft truly shines in its use of stark juxtaposition and ironic instruction. Mundane tasks like "home improvements for amusement" are immediately followed by the urge to "smash this place to smithereens," highlighting a volatile inner world. Even amidst this self-sabotage, there's a darkly humorous insistence on practicalities, like paying premiums. This blend of domesticity and destruction, often delivered with a detached tone, underscores the narrator's cynical embrace of a life where "paradise often falls apart." Ultimately, these lyrics are effective because they capture a specific kind of modern fatalism. The phrase "start as you mean to go on" transforms from a common idiom of intention into a self-fulfilling prophecy of disillusionment and rebellion. It suggests that the initial, perhaps reckless, impulses of youth inevitably lead to a cycle of building up and tearing down. The power lies in this grim acceptance, making the chaotic narrative feel both inevitable and strangely empowering.