So Far So Good

Song Meaning

The lyrics to "So Far So Good" reflect on two decades of life marked by hardship and unfulfilled desires. Despite this past, the recurring chorus defiantly declares, "I'm alive," signaling a hard-won sense of survival. The speaker repeatedly questions, "was it all in the mind?", adding a layer of introspection to their journey. The central tension arises from the contrast between the speaker's past—"taken everything that's bad," "wanted things I've never had"—and their present, pragmatic resilience. The chorus, "So far, so good doing what we could/should," isn't a boast of triumph but a grounded assessment of enduring through "Taking chances, those chances." It suggests a survival born from necessity and a willingness to engage with life's risks. A key craft element is the persistent, rhetorical question, "Oh was it all in the mind?" This query casts doubt on the objective reality of past struggles, hinting at a psychological battle alongside external ones. The lyrics further nuance this by contrasting the ideal of "living the life of a King" with the more grounded reality of "making the best out of having a go," suggesting a shift from grand aspirations to gritty perseverance. The effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their blend of weariness and stubborn resilience. The speaker acknowledges that "the fantasy has worn away" after years of effort, yet the repeated "I'm alive" serves as a powerful testament to simply enduring. The slight, vulnerable hesitation in the outro, "Think I'm alive," adds a human touch, suggesting that even hard-won survival can feel precarious and requires constant affirmation.