This Too Shall Pass - Live At Northern Lights: Clifton Park, NY 10/27/10

Song Meaning

The lyrics confront a persistent, heavy burden that weighs the speaker down. There's a clear sense of frustration with this ongoing struggle, urging the listener to stop letting it "get you down" and to release the "dead weight around." The imagery suggests a physical resistance, a difficulty in moving forward, especially when faced with setbacks like hitting the ground. The central tension lies between the desire to move past this negativity and the difficulty of doing so. The repeated question, "Is it really all that much to lug around," hints at a potential self-deception or an underestimation of the problem's impact. This internal conflict is amplified by the admonishment not to "blame the kids again," suggesting a pattern of externalizing blame for internal stagnation. The most striking element is the relentless repetition of "When the morning comes" and the mantra "this too shall pass." These phrases create a dual effect: the former offers a hopeful, albeit passive, anticipation of relief, while the latter is a more active, philosophical acceptance of impermanence. The sheer volume of "When the morning comes" underscores a deep yearning for resolution, almost to the point of obsession. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their direct, almost conversational address and the raw, repetitive expression of a common human struggle. By grounding the abstract concept of hardship in concrete actions like "dragging dead weight" and the simple, repeated phrases, the song captures the exhausting cycle of trying to overcome something that feels overwhelming, while clinging to the hope of eventual release.