Always New Depths

Song Meaning

The lyrics of "Always New Depths" paint a stark picture of a world after a significant, unnamed event. "All the clouds are black / Mother is cried out" immediately establishes a scene of profound despair and exhaustion. The speaker, however, maintains a defiant stance, declaring, "The truth is I'm not sorry." This defiance clashes with the overwhelming sense of futility that permeates the verses. The speaker describes being "Internationally bastardised" and suggests the situation is "bigger than the both of us," hinting at forces beyond individual control. The cynical pronouncement that "In this world, there are no second chances" reinforces a bleak worldview, where past mistakes or misfortunes are irreversible, much like how "All the pennies in the Thames / Will not make it how it was." A particularly striking craft element emerges in the desperate bargain presented: "I will tear myself apart / If you promise to paint me / As a work of art." This suggests a profound yearning for meaning, validation, or even immortality, willing to sacrifice personal integrity or well-being for a lasting artistic legacy. The repeated plea, "As a work of art," transforms a moment of self-destruction into a bid for transcendence. Ultimately, these lyrics are effective because they juxtapose a hardened, cynical exterior with an underlying, almost desperate, need for significance. The relentless repetition of "Always new depths" in the refrain leaves the listener with a haunting sense that the speaker is continually uncovering new layers of understanding, or perhaps, new levels of despair, in a world that offers no easy redemption.