No Choice
A Symphony of Choices Unmade: Exploring Love, Pain, and Art in Edwin McCain's 'No Choice'
Lyrics
It was a love so big that it filled his heart
The love was so significant that it filled the person's heart.
Til it swelled and finally burst apart
The intensity of love reached a point of bursting.
And where the love spilled out they called it art
The aftermath of the burst love was considered art by others.
But he never really had no choice
Despite the circumstances, the person felt they had no choice in the matter.
Chorus
Chorus begins, emphasizing the lack of choice in the person's actions.
Whoa, he had no choice
Reiteration of the person's lack of choice in their experiences.
No, he never had no choice
Confirmation that the person truly had no choice.
When he gave his river a voice
The person's creative expression is described as giving a voice to their emotions.
He never really had no choice.
Reiteration of the lack of choice despite expressing emotions.
He was thinking that the pain came much too soon
Reflection on the perception that pain arrived too soon.
When he locked himself up inside his room
The person isolates themselves to cope with the pain.
Well it hurt real bad to write that tune
The difficulty and pain of creating art are acknowledged.
But he never really had no choice
Despite the pain, the person feels compelled to create.
And there were some who could not understand
Recognition that some may not understand the person's creative endeavors.
When he built those castles with his hands
Reference to building metaphorical castles with hands.
And he knew damn well they were only sand
Acknowledgment that the achievements are fragile and temporary.
But he never really had no choice.
Reiteration of the lack of choice despite awareness.
Chorus
Chorus restates the theme of lacking choice.
Sometimes a man sometimes a boy
Reflection on the dual nature of the person—sometimes a man, sometimes a boy.
And he made some music and he made some noise
Reference to the person's creation of music and noise.
But he felt his pain and he felt his joy
The person experiences both pain and joy in their creative process.
But he never really had no choice.
Reiteration of the lack of choice despite emotional experiences.
There was a beautiful fire inside of him
Metaphorical description of a burning fire inside the person.
As he balanced his way out on that limb
Balance is mentioned as the person navigates challenges.
Could of burned right through that branch so thin
Potential danger is highlighted, but the person had no choice but to proceed.
But he never really had no choice
Despite risks, the person had to pursue their path.
(Chorus)
Chorus reiterates the theme of the person's lack of choice.
And they all talked about him when he died
After the person's death, others discuss and analyze their life.
They studied and they theorized
People try to understand the person's actions and motivations.
But when he was through they'd laughed and cried
Acknowledgment that emotions, both laughter and tears, accompanied the person's legacy.
And he never really had no choice
Reiteration of the lack of choice despite the impact on others.
It was a love so big that it filled his heart
Repetition of the powerful love that filled the person's heart.
'Til it swelled and finally burst apart
Recurrence of the overwhelming love leading to a burst.
Where the loved spilled out they called it art
Artistic expression is again associated with the spilled love.
But he never really had no choice
Despite the artistic outcome, the person had no choice in their experiences.
(Chorus)
Final repetition of the chorus emphasizing the person's lack of choice.
(Chorus)
Reiteration of the chorus, emphasizing the inevitability of the person's actions.
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