Human By Definition + Plastic Fruit

Song Meaning

These lyrics plunge us into the solitary, often grueling world of an artist grappling with creation. We see an author pouring effort into their work, seeking authenticity, even as "truth bled out" from their poetic code. It's a vivid portrait of the intense, sometimes painful, birth of art. The central tension here is the artist's relentless pursuit of genuine expression against a backdrop of exhaustion and self-doubt. The lines "Sweat seeps graft but the key won't turn" and "Tear in the lobes where the free thought burned" paint a picture of immense effort yielding little progress, suggesting a creative block that feels almost physically damaging. This struggle is further underscored by the contrast between the grand aspirations of "moonbeams" and the mundane reality of "monitoring midi building on screen" until "his eyes got droopy." A pivotal shift occurs with the arrival of another person, described as stepping in "with a similar entry" to an otherwise "empty cinema." This moment seems to break the author's isolation, driving the creative project "to conclusion and a visual ending." The imagery of "wings grew drawn to the light like a moth" suggests a fragile hope, a yearning for connection or inspiration that finally finds its mark, leading to an "erupted" audience and critics applauding its "substance." Ultimately, the recurring refrain, "Human by definition," grounds this specific artistic journey in a universal human experience. It suggests that the confusion, the severity of the struggle, and the eventual understanding of one's "programme" are all intrinsic parts of being human. The lyrics effectively convey that the hard-won triumph, the "pure soul like a jazz composition," is not just an artistic victory but a profound act of self-definition.