And So Will Always Be

Song Meaning

The lyrics present three distinct vignettes, each revealing a narrator grappling with observation and their own internal response. First, a "crippled man" struggles, met with the narrator's inaction. Then, the narrator's "simple melody" is dwarfed by the effortless beauty of birdsong. Finally, a quiet scene of snow falling, covering "all that's left," including graves. A profound sense of detachment and resignation permeates these observations. The narrator witnesses suffering and beauty, yet consistently retreats into a passive, almost fatalistic stance. The core tension lies in the gap between external events and the narrator's internal, unchanging declaration: "And I will be this me." This isn't just observation; it's a statement of immutable self. The recurring refrain, beginning "And so it is, and so it was," functions as both a philosophical anchor and a stark emotional barrier. It's a powerful declaration of inevitability, suggesting that circumstances, human nature, and even the self are fixed. This repetition transforms individual moments of inaction or insignificance into a universal, unyielding truth for the narrator, solidifying a worldview of passive acceptance. The effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their quiet, almost stoic portrayal of human limitation and acceptance. By moving from a specific instance of failed empathy to a feeling of artistic inadequacy, and finally to the sweeping, indifferent embrace of nature and death, the lyrics build a cumulative sense of existential weight. The narrator's unwavering "I will be this me" isn't a defiant cry, but a quiet, almost melancholic acknowledgment of an unchanging self in an ever-changing world, leaving the listener with a profound sense of resignation.