Meaning of "Adrift" by JBM

The lyrics of "Adrift" by JBM convey a sense of dislocation and yearning for stability and belonging. The opening lines, "Tied to what is late, ain't you now / Adrift, I know all I was is gone," reflect a feeling of being disconnected from one's past self and the passing of time. The image of "still life underwater" conveys a sense of being trapped or stuck in an unmoving and suffocating state.

The narrator longs for a life "to belong to and keep / In straight line," expressing a desire for stability and a sense of purpose. However, they feel that they have been blown too far away from this ideal, unable to achieve it. The repetition of "blown now too far away / To be done right" emphasizes the narrator's sense of being adrift and unable to fulfill their desires.

The lyrics also hint at a longing for emotional vulnerability and connection. The line "I wish you'd hide the way you feel" suggests a desire for someone to conceal their true emotions, perhaps to spare the narrator from feeling alone in their own emotional turmoil. This longing for emotional intimacy is contrasted with the image of "gun blasts get fired away," which suggests violence and aggression as a means of communication instead.

The lyrics further explore the theme of being lost or stranded, symbolized by being "effaced in the black." The mention of "old lives bleeding naked" and "last forms of other lines" suggests a sense of loss and past experiences fading away. The pursuit of fame and denial are also mentioned as ghostly remnants of the past.

Despite the sense of being adrift and lost, the lyrics end with a glimmer of hope. The repeated lines "Well they will find you again / Coming at you / When you're finding your way / When you're fine and eat away" suggest that there is a possibility for resolution and finding oneself again.

Overall, the lyrics of "Adrift" convey a deep longing for stability, belonging, and emotional connection. The narrator grapples with a sense of being lost and unable to find their way, but there is also a hint of hopefulness that they will eventually rediscover themselves.