Ending Is the Beginning (2012 Memorial Show Live)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of intense internal conflict and a feeling of being trapped by unseen forces. The repeated phrase "Can't be seen, causes everything" establishes a sense of pervasive, invisible influence that dictates actions and outcomes. This creates an immediate atmosphere of dread and helplessness, suggesting a struggle against something intangible yet all-encompassing. The central tension seems to stem from a desire for connection or expression that is immediately met with aggression. The narrator offers a hand, only to threaten to crush it, a stark contrast that highlights a self-destructive impulse or a profound distrust. This push-and-pull is amplified by the chorus, "Nothing can be something to me / Nothing can be me," which articulates a profound sense of existential void and the inability to define oneself or find meaning. The most striking aspect of the writing is the juxtaposition of violent imagery with abstract pronouncements of futility. Phrases like "Smashing, lashing, slashing" are presented as actions undertaken "For the same thing," implying a cyclical, pointless struggle. The bridge's desperate "For what?" underscores this confusion and the feeling of being a "victim of high tension" without understanding the cause. This lyrical construction is effective because it mirrors the disorienting nature of overwhelming anxiety or trauma. The repetition of "Can't be seen" and the chorus's nihilistic declarations create a claustrophobic, inescapable feeling. The raw, almost percussive language, combined with the unanswered questions, leaves the listener with a visceral sense of the narrator's profound distress and alienation.