Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a stark picture of a group or entity defined by extreme, almost robotic, actions. They are characterized by constant motion – screaming, running, flying – and an absence of quieter, more introspective behaviors like talking, walking, hiding, or listening to their own minds. This creates an immediate sense of unease and otherness, as these figures operate outside normal human experience.
The central tension lies in the perpetual state of 'always' doing one thing and 'never' doing its opposite. This binary opposition highlights a lack of balance or natural human range. The contrast between laughing and crying, or living without dying, suggests a state that is perhaps unnatural or even monstrous, existing in a perpetual, unfeeling present.
The most striking craft element is the relentless repetition of the "They always X, they never Y" structure. This anaphora hammers home the absolute, unyielding nature of these beings. The lyrics also present a paradox in "They never die but always live," which hints at an eternal, perhaps soulless, existence, devoid of the natural cycles of life and death that define human experience.
This writing is effective because it uses extreme contrasts and relentless structure to build a feeling of alienation and unease. The absolute statements, devoid of nuance, force the listener to confront a vision of existence that is fundamentally alien. The lack of personal pronouns or specific context leaves the 'they' as an abstract, unsettling force.