Will Have to Do for Now (2018)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of two individuals grappling with existence, each pursuing a hidden truth in their own way. One narrator "toast[s] and drink[s]" while "staggering toward the holy, hidden heart of it," suggesting a somewhat disoriented but determined search for meaning. The other, by contrast, "swim[s] and sink[s]," seemingly embracing a more perilous, perhaps even self-destructive, method of discovery. This stark contrast highlights different approaches to understanding life's deeper currents, with both actions framed as attempts to grasp something profound. The central tension lies in the repeated refrain, "Will have to do for now." This phrase underscores a pervasive sense of impermanence and dissatisfaction, implying that current circumstances or understandings are merely temporary placeholders. It suggests a resignation to the present, a recognition that the ultimate answers or ideal states are not yet attained. The repetition of this line, especially in the chorus and outro, hammers home the feeling that fulfillment is perpetually deferred, leaving the searchers in a state of ongoing, albeit accepted, incompletion. A striking element is the shift in perspective in Verse 2, where the narrator observes, "the rain against the window's saying, 'Life is grace.'" This introduces an external voice, or perhaps an internal realization, that finds beauty and meaning in the mundane, contrasting with the more active, almost desperate, quests described earlier. The idea that "mystery hiding in the commonplace" is revealed at "your every turn" offers a different path to insight, one found not in grand gestures but in quiet observation. This lyrical turn suggests that the profound might be accessible through a less arduous, more receptive stance. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their ability to capture a universal feeling of searching without necessarily finding, and accepting that temporary states are all we have for the moment. The juxtaposition of active struggle and passive observation, coupled with the melancholic acceptance of the chorus, creates a resonant portrait of the human condition. The lyrics don't offer easy answers but instead articulate the complex emotional landscape of striving, failing, and finding small moments of grace along the way.