Time Around

Song Meaning

The narrator is facing a critical juncture, embracing a morally ambiguous path for advancement. The opening lines, "These tattered clothes / With them unbound," suggest a state of disarray or perhaps shedding old constraints. This is immediately followed by the recurring adage, "Reap what you sow / That's what I found," implying a recognition of consequences, but the chorus pivots sharply. The central tension lies in the decision to go "unclean this time around." The lyrics present a stark, almost fatalistic view of upward mobility: "The quickest way up, is stronger than the way down." This isn't about gradual improvement but a potentially reckless ascent, contrasting sharply with the potential fallout. The phrase "I didn't quite not make our sale" is a double negative that hints at a near miss or a compromised success, adding a layer of uncertainty to their actions. The repetition of "Hear the drone" and the imagery of "tattered clothes" create a sense of persistent, oppressive background noise and a worn-down state. The lyrics seem to suggest that this environment, this internal or external "drone," is what leads to the narrator's current resolve. The repeated phrase "This time around" acts as a mantra, underscoring a determined, perhaps desperate, commitment to this chosen, dirtier path. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their raw, unvarnished portrayal of ambition clashing with integrity. The narrator isn't seeking redemption but a pragmatic, albeit ethically questionable, route to escape their current circumstances. The final, increasingly urgent repetitions of "This time around" in the outro, culminating in "Stop fuckin' around," solidify the feeling of a point of no return, a final, decisive move made under duress.