Procession (Live in London, 1985)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a suffocating picture of inescapable dread, a feeling that something has gone fundamentally wrong and can't be fixed. The narrator grapples with a distorted perception, seeing a familiar face but failing to recognize the person it belongs to, suggesting a deep internal disconnect or a profound change in their relationship. This disconnect is framed as a lifelong "problem" that actively tries to sever their connection, turning the world into a bleak, colorless landscape. The desire to "turn away" offers no solace, only deepening "wounds that time won't heal." The core tension lies in the relentless, cyclical nature of this despair. The repeated phrase "There is no end to this" underscores a feeling of being trapped, with no possibility of escape or resolution. The world becomes a static, unyielding "scene" where movement and change are impossible, and even attempts to look away are futile. This sense of paralysis is amplified by the observation that "life keeps getting stranger every day," implying a constant escalation of this unsettling condition. The most striking aspect is the stark contrast between the external world and the internal experience. While the "mass of harmless attitudes" suggests a facade of normalcy, an "attack that won't subside" rages within. The repeated "Your heart beats you late at night" is a powerful, visceral image of internal turmoil that cannot be silenced, a constant reminder of the inescapable anxiety. The spoken outro, with its jammed doors and inability to leave, perfectly encapsulates this feeling of being physically and emotionally imprisoned. This lyrical construction is effective because it taps into a primal fear of being trapped and unseen. The insistent repetition of "alone" and the internal, physical manifestation of anxiety in the heartbeats create a palpable sense of isolation and dread. The lyrics don't offer explanations, but rather immerse the listener in the raw, disorienting experience of a mind under siege, making the feeling of being stuck profoundly resonant.