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).
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).