Meaning of "Prisoners" by Our Last Night

"Prisoners" delves into the disconnection and emptiness that can result from living in a materialistic and conformist society. The opening lines depict a luxurious lifestyle ("We wake up in a bed of silk") but quickly reveal the hollowness that lies within ("can't seem to escape the loneliness, Running in circles around happiness"). The lyrics highlight the pursuit of wealth and possessions as a defining factor in society's perception of success ("With houses made of gold, defined by what we own"), and the pressure to conform to societal expectations ("We follow what we're told, fit right into the mold"). Our Last Night challenges the notion that these external markers of success are truly fulfilling, questioning whether they are necessary for happiness or if they only serve to deepen a sense of dissatisfaction ("Is this what we need to breathe? Or are we just feeding our disease?").

The chorus carries a poignant message about the importance of love and emotional connection in life. It asserts that without love and meaningful relationships, all of the material wealth and achievements become meaningless and leave a person feeling empty ("''We've lost sight of what we can't touch, We've lost it all if we can't remember how to love''). The lyrics metaphorically compare the human heart to an empty plate, emphasizing the emptiness and hunger that results from an absence of love ("A full plate with an empty heart, We feast on greed until we starve"). The song questions the purpose of striving for a life of wealth and success without a sense of love and fulfillment, highlighting the detrimental effect it has on individuals and society as a whole ("A lonely world with a bad design, We waste our time on an endless climb").

The title, "Prisoners," encapsulates the central theme of the song. The lyrics convey the idea that individuals are trapped in a metaphorical prison created by societal expectations and materialistic pursuits. The repetition of the phrase "feeding our disease" suggests that the relentless pursuit of wealth and possessions is a destructive force that enslaves individuals, preventing them from experiencing true freedom and contentment. The song ultimately proposes that by breaking free from these oppressive expectations and cultivating love and deep connections with others, individuals can find liberation from their self-imposed prisons and discover genuine happiness and fulfillment.