Not Waving But Drowning
Drowning in Silence: Big Country's Poignant Reflection on Life's Struggles
Lyrics
He sits and says he's sick and tired of the argument
Expressing frustration and exhaustion from repeated arguments.
He's heard them all and it makes no change when the money's spent
Previous arguments have not led to positive changes despite spending money.
And all his life he's had to watch the way he's went
Lifetime of observation of his own actions and their consequences.
No less in need no less deceived by the violence
Feeling deceived and in need, affected by violence.
She stands and says let my man go
A plea for freedom, asking to release her man and others.
Let them all go free
Advocating for the release of all, but materialism prevails.
But the diamond's talk
Material possessions dominate conversations.
And fools gold is bought
False values are embraced.
Where the market's free
Market forces influence decisions.
The sticks come down
Social unrest, indicated by sticks coming down and bombs going off.
The bombs go off
A world burdened by guilt.
The world is guilty
Powerless, lacking influence.
She holds no power
A love for truth and one's own country.
Just a love of truth
The speaker emphasizes that they are not waving but drowning.
For her own country
Feeling isolated and unheard despite being too far out.
I'm not waving I'm drowning
Reiteration of not waving but drowning, emphasizing their struggle.
I've come too far out here
Expressing distance and isolation from others.
I'm not waving I'm drowning
Repeating the plea for understanding, despite the drowning feeling.
And there's no way you can hear
Highlighting the inability of others to comprehend the distress.
I was too far out all of my life
A realization of being distant throughout life.
I'm not waving but drowning
Reiteration that the speaker is not waving but drowning.
For everyone whose life is run by their daily bread
Referencing those whose lives are consumed by survival needs.
Another one holds a loaded gun at someone's head
A dangerous situation involving a loaded gun.
And we stuck fast and our petty fears are already dead
Stuck in fear while societal norms lose significance.
While division rules and tradition's roles
Divisions and traditional roles mislead everyone.
We are all mislead
Highlighting collective misguidance.
I'm not waving I'm drowning
Repeating the drowning metaphor to emphasize the struggle.
I've come too far out here
Feeling too far out, distant from understanding.
I'm not waving I'm drowning
Reiterating the drowning metaphor and the lack of comprehension.
And there's no way you can hear
Emphasizing the inability of others to hear the distress.
I was too far out all of my life
Realization of being distant throughout life.
I'm not waving but drowning
Repeating the assertion of not waving but drowning.
I'm not waving I'm drowning
Emphasizing the struggle and lack of recognition.
I've come too far out here
Feeling too far out, distant from understanding.
I'm not waving I'm drowning
Reiterating the drowning metaphor and the lack of comprehension.
And there's no way you can hear
Emphasizing the inability of others to hear the distress.
I was too far out all of my life
Realization of being distant throughout life.
I'm not waving but drowning
Repeating the assertion of not waving but drowning.
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