Be Longing Always

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a stark declaration of inherited traits and the inescapable nature of consequences, suggesting a lineage of both physical and emotional scars. The narrator observes that these inherited burdens, like "father's teeth" and "mother's bite marks," place everyone in a position where actions have repercussions. Yet, there's an immediate counterpoint: the power to "build it or tear it down" with the same hands, hinting at agency amidst determinism. This sets up a central tension between being a product of circumstance and the capacity for self-determination. The core conflict seems to revolve around overcoming shame and the destructive pursuit of unattainable goals. The repeated phrase "Chasing what was too far away" implies a futile effort, a life spent striving for something out of reach, which the lyrics argue is "not a contest." The narrator urges against living "in shame," suggesting that this external validation or pursuit is a source of deep personal suffering. The idea that "broken homes lead the way, for twisted tongues" points to how familial or foundational instability can foster harmful communication and distorted perspectives. A striking image is the "tape worm / Growing within your soul," a visceral metaphor for an internal corruption or destructive habit that must be confronted directly confronted and removed. This internal struggle is mirrored by the external plea to "not live like this" and to refuse to "break this empathy." The lyrics suggest a profound, almost spiritual, struggle to maintain connection and compassion in the face of personal or inherited damage, finding a "foothole in the faultline" as a point of resilience. The recurring refrain "I still love you somehow" acts as an anchor of persistent affection, even amidst the acknowledgment of failure and internal rot. This enduring love, whether directed outward or inward, seems to be the force that allows the narrator to refuse despair and to believe "we will not be forgotten." The finality of "And I always will" offers a powerful statement of unwavering commitment, suggesting that love, in its most resilient form, is the ultimate answer to the consequences and failures laid out at the beginning.