Terrible Things

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of humanity's inherent capacity for violence and self-destruction. The opening lines immediately establish a bleak view, stating "We are human, we are violent" and "We are heartless and immoral." This isn't just a passing observation; it's presented as a fundamental truth, with hatred carried "Like a bible," suggesting a deeply ingrained, almost religious adherence to negative impulses. The narrator grapples with this grim reality, acknowledging a "hole in my life" and a "blackness inside" that feels consuming. The central tension arises from the conflict between this perceived human nature and a desperate flicker of hope. The narrator witnesses "terrible things" and a "sickness in a world on its knees," an external force that "will take what you love like a thief." Yet, this bleak outlook is directly contrasted with an internal belief: "But in my dreams I believe / We're not these / Terrible things." This internal dichotomy fuels the song's emotional weight, questioning whether the external darkness defines us or if an inner ideal can persist. A key craft element is the powerful, almost paradoxical, connection between failure and identity. Verse 3 asserts, "We are nothing without failure," but then pivots to how we "have chosen ill behavior." The scars we accumulate aren't for healing but for "to hurt," leading to a transformation where "Even I cannot tell just why" we've become this way. The bridge further solidifies this, suggesting that succumbing to despair or avoidance is precisely what *makes* one "Terrible things." Ultimately, the lyrics resonate because they articulate a profound struggle with the darker aspects of existence, both within ourselves and in the world. The raw, unflinching descriptions of human flaws are balanced by the fragile, persistent dream of something better. The repeated affirmation, "I'm not these / Terrible things," becomes a defiant act of self-preservation against overwhelming evidence, making the song a powerful, albeit somber, testament to the enduring human desire to transcend our worst impulses.