Hanging On (For DRC)

Song Meaning

These lyrics paint a stark picture of two survivors against impossible odds. The narrator and a companion, "you," are defiantly clinging to existence. They've faced countless threats, yet they persist, refusing to be extinguished. It's a testament to stubborn resilience. The central tension here is the relentless nature of their struggle. The lines "A thousand ways we should've died" and "comrades dropped like meat from bone" vividly illustrate the pervasive danger and loss they've endured. Yet, amidst this devastation, they are "Searching for more pain to kill," suggesting a grim determination to confront or exhaust their suffering, always pushing towards "another land to find" or "another way." The craft truly shines in how it broadens the scope of their survival while deepening their bond. Their journey spans "wilderness, valley and over hill" to "asphalt wilds and concrete wilds," indicating a struggle that transcends any single environment. Crucially, the narrator confesses, "Only you and the devil know where I've been," and acknowledges the companion "held your tongue / Despite what evil thing I'd done," revealing a profound, almost complicit loyalty forged in dark shared experiences. What makes these lyrics so effective is the escalating external pressure that only strengthens their resolve. "Some say we should be gone," then "The police say we should be gone," and finally, "The doctors say we should be gone." This repetition of judgment from various societal voices amplifies the isolation and defiance of their shared existence, making their continued "hanging on" a powerful, almost sacred act of mutual survival against a world that wants them gone.