Chances Are

Song Meaning

“Chances Are” opens in a hazy, introspective space, with the narrator feeling “lost inside a daydream” and “swimming through the saline.” This initial sense of detachment quickly gives way to a starker reality, hinting at past struggles and a feeling of being adrift. Yet, a persistent, almost quiet optimism threads through the chorus, suggesting a path forward despite the messiness of life. The core tension emerges from the contrast between this dreamy state and the harsh self-assessment of time spent in an “L.A. jail,” where the perceived “crime was living inside a failure.” This isn't just external confinement; it's an internal prison of regret. The lyrics cleverly pivot this struggle in the chorus, shifting from the passive act of “doing time” to the more active and hopeful idea of “creating time,” implying agency even in difficult circumstances. The craft here is particularly effective in the evolving chorus and the unexpected philosophical interlude. The lines “You don't always have to make it right” and later, “We don't always have to make it a crime,” reveal a growing acceptance of imperfection. This culminates in the bridge, where Terence McKenna's quote about inner exploration and humanity's pre-sin origins offers a cosmic reframe, suggesting that personal failures are perhaps less significant than our inherent capacity for wonder. The concept of “hybrid lives” seems to capture this ongoing negotiation of identity and experience. Ultimately, the power of these lyrics rests in their resilient refrain: “Chances are we'll make it back.” It's not a promise of perfection, but a quiet, insistent mantra of survival and return.