Make What You Can

Song Meaning

“Make What You Can” paints a stark picture of a society grappling with pervasive “violent” language and a silent lack of “compassion.” The narrator observes a world where “entitlement triumphs over shame,” leaving little room for nuance or a “middle way.” Despite their deep anger, they struggle to articulate it, feeling their message is often “missed.” A profound sense of urgency and despair permeates the lyrics, particularly with the repeated declaration, “It’s too late / Too late for too many.” This isn’t just a personal lament; it suggests a societal tipping point has been passed. The speaker’s effort to “not disengage” highlights a desperate fight against apathy, even as they acknowledge the overwhelming odds and the futility of “waiting in line.” The central refrain, “I make what I can / But the future gets further away,” powerfully captures the Sisyphean struggle against an eroding sense of progress. This repetition isn’t just a statement; it’s a desperate mantra, emphasizing the constant effort required just to maintain a foothold. The growing fear that “everything that I’ve worked for would be taken away” reveals a deep-seated anxiety about the stability of personal achievements in such a volatile world. The lyrics effectively build a mood of frustrated resilience through their direct, unsparing language. Phrases like “authority sees no shape” and the repeated assertion that “language is violent” underscore a chaotic, unmoored reality. The brief, almost academic interjection of “anachronistic” suggests a deeper critique, implying that the roots of this pervasive violence lie in outdated or ill-fitting systems, pulling “laughing in our faces” as society struggles to adapt.