I'm shocked I'm the first one to comment on this song. This is probably my favourite song VNV Nation has ever done (well, most of my favourites come from the Futureperfect cd, really). I think of it as my anthem. It gets me going when I hear it. I'll play it when I'm depressed and it'll lift me like no other song really has ever done to me before.

I don't quite understand this song. "Such a stupid ritual, to have to say to myself everyday..." He's saying that he hates it. But is he saying that it works? "I'm not alone but I found my answer and set myself free." What is he talking about, in that line? The music is dark, and the lyrics alternate between defiant ("I'm not afraid!") and self-loathing ("Such a stupid ritual..."). So. Yeah.

I personally love this song, the music itself kind of pumps you up, is perhaps a little self destructive as well. But my focal points are not going to be so much the beat, rhythm, or tempo of the music itself. The lryics are that of a shattered self confidence. It is obvious that he is disturbed by common human emotional plagues, the same ones that eat most of us away much like the browning of an apple after it's been cut. The difference between what he does and others is he turns those words "I'm not alone, not afraid, not unhappy" to a personal self anthem that "sets himself free" by not allowing himself to become chained down by being alone, afraid, or unhappy. Yes, it is a struggle to do this and after thinking about it, more like looking from the outside in, yes it is "stupid" because common general society will think little of someone who has to create his own confidences by somewhat fooling themself (confidences only come from experience or just being full of ourselves anyway!). Though this of course is looked down upon, it's what he needs to survive. Rather than letting this get him down too much, he uses it even more as fuel, rather than hearing all the discouraging thoughts he gives himself he screams and yells "his ritual" at himself, I judge him yelling this by how the music gets more intense later in the song). As for "such a stupid ritual I have to say to myself everyday" I think he does somewhat loathe himself for doing it, but it is something he simply needs, not only to win a battle of his common pains (alone, afraid, unhappy) but also against "such a stupid ritual I have to say to myself everyday." In effect, it does more good than harm, and eventually (hopefully) he will no longer need his ritual. I especially love the last part of his little self anthem, "I'm not afraid!" I believe that he will indeed not need his anthem anymore because of this, it is that single most important lryic that gives my idea credit, because in the end that is what he yells and focuses on, not being afraid would simply allow all other thoughts melt away, because he does not fear them at all anymore. Fear is broken as we become stronger, by means of our bodily strength, or our mental/spritual strength. Ther eis hope indeed within this. (Sorry for being long winded, I am afterall an American, and a proud one too).

At the beginning of the live version he says "There is only one purpose to the song 'Fearless'. Don't be afraid. This song is about letting go, losing your inhibition, and just doing whatever the hell you want to do. Because who gives a damn what your friends think? Why waste your time obeying the opinions of others?" I think that sums the song up pretty well. I love this song. =)

Celebrity worship.

"From the chaos that followed me, I have found my answer.
I’ve told you before, don’t follow me because I am not your answer."

He's saying that he has his own life to deal with, and is in the process of finding his own answers. He doesn't want anyone, specifically fans, to "follow him" or look towards him as the answer to solve their problems with his music. The way people swear themselves to their favorite musicians, it’s probably hard to have such an impact on the lives of so many people you never even met.

This is exactly what I feel everyday; literally, I have to tell myself, ''I'm not alone; I'm not afraid; I'm not unhappy...'' It's kind of sad, actually.

However, at the risk of offending RockNRollSuicide, I don't feel that it's just about celebrity worship; I think Mr. Harris values his fans too much to write a song like that, that pretty much says, "It's okay to love me, since if you didn't you wouldn't be here, but don't love me too much because I have my own life to deal with." :(

For me it's about overcoming insecurities and fears, hence the name. :) It pretty much covers what I went through all my life, though I've gotten better lately: it re-enacts to me my feelings of hate for the world, literally needing to say in order to make myself feel better, "I'm not unhappy..."

It gives me a bitter-sweet feeling to listen to this song; it makes me think about very negative feelings I have, but it also reminds me of my efforts to overcome them, and it lets me know that I'm not the only one who has felt that way. :D

But that's just me. >_> (shrug)

This feel this song is like a personal call to arms for anyone who has suffered at the hands of cowardly bullies (as I did when at school). It's a celebration of life - my life, your life; everyone's life. We all face things daily that we feel like running away from sometimes, but hearing this song always gives me the strength to think "bring it on - I'm ready!". I just wish I'd heard this song when still at school - I believe it would have given me the inner strength I needed during that time....ah well, I survived and moved on. Definitely one of my favourites from VNV.

To me it means trying to convince yourself that everything is well, and you are happy, but in a way knowing that you can't.

Yes, he tells himself he's not alone, afraid, or unhappy. This is something everone does. Only, he explains it in words. He goes trough this process everday, and i think most of us do. Perhaps most often subconsciously.
Again, here is the message that one is never alone with one's emotions; we're all humans. Elven Honor's analysis covers the rest of the details pretty good.
This is perhaps my favourite VNV Nation song contesting with Epicentre, Genesis and Beloved. They're such strong songs, probably because i recognize myself very often in them, and naturally because of the sound of the songs and the motivation of the singer.
Now, Elven Honor, i'm wondering what exacly you're meaning with your parenthesis. "(Sorry for being long winded, I am afterall an American, and a proud one too)."
What does Americans have anything to do with this? Is it characteristic for an american to be long winded? And proud? It seems like it's a bit taken out of the blue. Just curious, not offensive in any manner.

more agreeing and reinforcing what was said than actually saying anything new... this is definitely (to me) a song of the work in progress rather than of accomplishment... i feel a sense of "i've found the path and started on it, and eventually i'll be where i need to be... but right now, it's still a daily struggle, so i have to keep telling myself, reminding myself, that i am stronger than i think... i am -not- afraid, -not- alone, and -not- unhappy..." daily affirmations...

VNV NATION "SONG MEANINGS" INSIDE
15 page interview with Ronan Harris.

http://dancemusic.about.com/od/artistshomepages/a/VnVNationInt.htm

It is a stupid ritual. But it works. First time I encountered this line of thinking, I found it abusrdly ridiculous. The "think posistive!" cliche has always irritated me to no end. Bastard idiots that thinks everything will be alright just because they repeat silly words to themselves? Argh.

But you know, if you don't encourage yourself, who will? Hope for tomorrow is very important to most people. You need something to go on, to get the energy to fight for what you really care about. When you lack hope you easily fall into darkness. Everybody who have been depressed knows what kind of darkness I talk about. So called inner motivation is a huge component to happiness. If you don't have much of it, you must train yourself. Telling yourself positive things is a good start. I am happy. I have friends. I do meaningfull stuff. Whatever works for you, like he says in the song: "don’t follow me because I am not you answer" which means to me that you need to find what works for you. Not to copy someone elses way verbatim.

I love this song. When he yells "I AM NOT AFRAAAAID" I kind of forget all my greifs and troubles. It makes me want to yell too. YAAAAAH!

I am surprized no one has mentioned the "eleven point two" that is sung in this song. Who ever submitted the lyrics didn't include it.

your answer for 11.2 is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_velocity

He's saying that he has always repeated this sort of mantra to himself, to keep himself alive and resisting. He is obviously looking for something, and needs strenght to keep looking, and finally finding it (his answer).
Then, he says that he knows he's not alone, but he has found his answer now and so, he is free (and being free he doesn't really need anyone or anything else now, does he? A free man, with nothing to lose, and nothing to fear.) When he keeps repeating it, and screams it (the "I'm not afraid!" scream part), you realize that that is when he really starts believing.
Everybody in his own kinda way is looking for an answer. He is one of the lucky ones who have found it. But one needs to find his own answer. I think that's what he means when he says "I have found my answer", "don't follow ME, because I am not YOUR answer". I have found my answer, but I can't find yours. That's sth we must do on our own, walking our own path. (nothing to do with that "I hate my fans, get the fuck away from me" thing some people mentioned here).

And something else. This girl before me said, refering to the "eleven point two" line mentioned repeatedly in the song: "your answer for 11.2 is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_velocity ", which is very interesting, because it says 11.2 km/s is the escape velocity needed to leave the shitty planet we live in. This makes me think that he's found his answer and it is like escaping the earth, and reaching his absolute freedom (and happiness).
Perhaps he's trying to say that he is free from this horrible world? ^^' (L) I love that idea. This song f*ing rules.