Meaning of "Never Take Friendship Personal" by Anberlin

The lyrics of "Never Take Friendship Personal" delve into the complexities of relationships and the disillusionment that can come with them. The opening lines, "There's a hatchet, got a knife / When I awoke there was nothing real in this life," convey a sense of emptiness and lack of authenticity. The speaker feels detached from reality, finding solace only in dreams. This loneliness is further emphasized with the line, "When you're doing this alone."

The chorus speaks to the idea of not investing too much in friendships, cautioning against taking them personally. The line, "If you can't hold yourself together / Why should I hold you now?" suggests that the speaker desires reciprocity and stability in relationships. They question why they should hold someone else up if that person can't hold themselves together.

The second verse explores the theme of disillusionment. The speaker, once a skeptic, has now become a critic. They have seen through the façade of others and found themselves among the "cold and timid souls" who only know failure. This shift in perspective has made the speaker question the authenticity of those around them.

The bridge of the song highlights the theme of honesty and self-exploration. The lines, "Tell me something more than what you tried to hide / If you can't find yourself / Then how can I expect to find you," point to the importance of genuine communication and self-discovery. The speaker desires deeper connections, where people can reveal their true selves rather than hiding behind masks.

The lyrical outro asserts that life has no purpose without reason. The repetition of the line, "Life has no purpose," emphasizes the speaker's belief that life's meaning comes from finding one's purpose and living with intention.