The workdays were propping the bar quietly erasing the week and I was in a
Corner-booth thinking (pretending to read) about the impossibility of one to love
Unconditionally and the words that we drive into the ground, their repetition
Starts to thin their meaning.

Then everything got frighteningly still as they entered and intersected the
Floor and I tried to choke my stare at the perfection that others would kill for.
But all of the parts are the same on every face (few variables change).
The differences pale when compared to the similarity they share

Finally there is clarity and there is purpose after all, but every night ends
The same as I'm collapsing once more by your side.
Finally there is clarity, this tiny life is making sense.
And every drop numbs the both of us, but I alone am staggering.



Lyrics submitted by jephque

Track duration: 04:37

"Debate Exposes Doubt" as written by Christopher Walla, Benjamin Gibbard

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

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Debate Exposes Doubt song meanings
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33 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:My impression of the song's ending was the same as @eatrawsugar's. It just looked to me like a reference to drunkeness, which isn't at all uncommon, especially considering the song starts out in a bar.
    This song's actually far more cynical than it might appear at first. His realization is (more or less) that love doesn't really exist. They're in the bar "Quietly erasing the week" with a few drinks. "And the words that we drive into the ground" are the most basic ones, "I love you." Maybe he's thinking of a past lover while pretending to read. When I read something like "The differences pale when compared To the similarity they share", it makes me think of that special and unique kind of love everyone thinks they have not being so unique and special. Then, everything makes sense to him; the doubt is exposed through his own internal debate, but he (alone) is left staggering and numb, perhaps physically as well as emotionally.
    Flag phasetransitionon September 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:He starts off thinking about love, and then a couple walked in, so "perfect" that he starts to question his own relationship. Then he realizes "all of the parts are the same on every face" meaning that love is love, and the love in his relationship probably wasn't too different from theirs.
    The line that confuses me a bit is "And every drop numbs the both of us / But I alone am staggering." I know it's something being likened to alcohol and drunkenness. But I can't figure out exactly what it's talking about? Maybe they're both in love but he's the only one who is madly in love (or staggering)? Or maybe she is happy with their relationship but he's overwhelmed by the idea of unconditional love?
    Flag eatrawsugaron May 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Good song. Contemplative about the concept of true love and whether it exists or not.
    Flag xmakesherflyxon March 05, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:"Finally there is clarity: this tiny life is making sense
    And every drop numbs the both of us
    But I alone am staggering"

    i fit that verse so perfectly. i think the speaker feels he's in with the crowd but always a step behind in what's truly important.
    Flag ikatyaon January 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Another classic
    Flag ohplease(!)on November 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:For me this song is about a war the man is facing in himself. One that beleives in love and one that doesnt. He is having a debate with himself here and contemplating the reality of love when he see's the perfect couple that everyone wishes to be and thats when his beleifs are questioned and he starts to doubt. (debate exposes doubt), i think in the end of this song he finds that love is the remedy for every problem in his life hes almost drunk off of his new discovery (I alone am staggering.)
    Flag sarahbearon May 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:he's just so fucking honest about life.

    "Finally there is clarity and there is purpose after all
    But every night ends the same
    As I'm collapsing once more by your side
    Finally there is clarity: this tiny life is making sense
    And every drop numbs the both of us
    But I alone am staggering"

    i mean come on. you can't say it any better than that. life just seems meaningless but it's pointless to live thinking that. but it's inevitably true. it's just like something that tears everyone apart a little.
    Flag fisheatsteelon May 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the meaning is pretty clear, the song is perfection.
    Flag adiosxaudioson March 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:well what makes me laugh about this website , although i love this website soo much , is how people start of their comment by saying " well obviously ... ". i dont know , but i really find ben's songwriting ok ... AMAZING , but i dunno sometimes ben isnt writing about himself i mean look at styrofoam plates, who would of said that was about his mates dad ? having looked at the lyrics. I really want to meet him to find out which song is about who or what . sometimes its really confusing as to what exactly he is writing about. That why whenever i see some lyrics i write what i feel about them.
    Reading these lyrics and listening at the same time. All i feel is jealousy lol , ben clearly has what he wants and that great for him. i sure wish i could get what i want.
    Flag Deathcabforleeon March 09, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song is about wondering if the eternal love everyone craves even exists. I think he has a lover, something many people yearn for. And I think he's wondering if it truly is as magnificent as it seems.
    Flag CarrieWithoutSoundxon August 28, 2008   Link

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