The Things We Do

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of human frailty and the often-futile effort of living. They describe moments of deep regret, hidden desires, and the painful realization that some things are simply out of reach. There's a pervasive sense of resignation, punctuated by a desperate, almost defiant, energy. A core tension emerges from the repeated "Sometimes we..." observations, detailing common failings like being "Past all of our sorries." This collective struggle culminates in the poignant question, "So why do we try?" The lyrics suggest a battle between the inherent human drive to strive and the crushing weight of inevitable disappointment and unfulfilled longing. The shift from the collective "we" to the intensely personal "I" is a powerful craft choice. When the speaker declares, "I'll keep on loving you," it introduces a specific, almost paradoxical commitment. The lyrics then suggest a profound entrapment, where devotion itself becomes a cage, preventing the speaker from ever leaving. This personal confession grounds the earlier, more general observations in a deeply felt, individual struggle. The lyrics' effectiveness lies in their unflinching honesty about the human condition. The repeated motif of hiding "All the things we will never have" resonates deeply, articulating a universal experience of concealed desires and unfulfilled potential. This builds to the devastating final line, where the speaker states they "never wanna live" in this world anymore, which, stripped of metaphor, delivers a raw, visceral punch, making the listener confront the ultimate despair that can arise from these persistent struggles.