Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of a desperate search for meaning, even if the methods are flawed. The narrator "toast[s] and drink[s]" while "staggering toward the holy, hidden heart of it," suggesting a pursuit of something profound through less-than-ideal means. This contrasts with another figure who "swim[s] and sink[s], / Drowning just to see a little part of it," highlighting a shared, albeit different, struggle to grasp something essential.
The central tension lies in the repeated refrain, "Will have to do for now." This phrase acts as a resigned acceptance of imperfect solutions or temporary states. It implies that the current circumstances, methods, or even people are not ideal but are sufficient for the present moment, hinting at an ongoing, unresolved quest.
The lyrics introduce a fascinating duality in Verse 2, where the narrator "live[s] and learn[s]" from the rain's message: "Life is grace." This is juxtaposed with the idea that "every turn / Reveals a mystery hiding in the commonplace." This suggests that profound truths might be found not in grand gestures, but in the mundane, a subtle shift in perspective that re-frames the earlier struggle.
The bridge offers a character study of "The Artful Dodger," who finds sin sweeter than repentance and imagines heaven through "multi-colored glass." This figure seems to embody a similar struggle with imperfect desires and a distorted perception of salvation, echoing the narrator's own compromised pursuit. The lyrics effectively capture a feeling of striving for something pure while being mired in imperfection, making the repeated phrase "Will have to do for now" resonate as a poignant acknowledgment of this ongoing human condition.
View Artist