Meaning of "Destination" by The Church

The lyrics of "Destination" by The Church express a deep sense of dissatisfaction and disillusionment in relationships and life in general. The opening lines suggest that our instruments and measurements are incapable of capturing or understanding the complexity of human emotions and experiences. The inability to "cut below the floor, or penetrate the ceiling" speaks to the limitations of our understanding and the struggle to truly connect with others.

The mention of bones being discovered between the houses creates a sense that there is some hidden truth or past that haunts the characters in the song. However, despite this discovery, life continues without any significant change. The word "lurches" suggests an unsteady and disjointed progression, as if the characters are merely going through the motions, pretending as if they have recovered from something, but in reality, nothing has changed.

The lyrics then shift to reflect a sense of disillusionment with external structures and documents. The uselessness and forgeries of the documents symbolize the frustration of dealing with bureaucratic systems that often fail to provide what is needed. The storm forming between the cities metaphorically represents the growing tension and discord in the characters' lives.

The chorus speaks to the idea that the pursuit of destination, whether literal or metaphorical, is not a religious or sacred endeavor but merely a technique or strategy. It suggests that achieving goals and reaching destinations should be a means to an end, rather than the sole focus of life. However, the decay and mistreatment of the elements and beasts in the lyrics indicate that the journey towards these destinations has taken a toll. The road to completion is only possible through this mistreatment, emphasizing the destructive nature of the pursuit.

The final lines of the song touch on the physical and emotional distance between individuals. The air becoming "small fingers" symbolizes a cold and distant touch, highlighting the loss of intimacy and passion. The mention of "clapped-out swingers" suggests a weariness and exhaustion in relationships, reinforcing the overall disillusionment expressed throughout the lyrics.

In summary, "Destination" by The Church captures a sense of frustration, disillusionment, and dissatisfaction with the pursuit of goals, relationships, and life itself. The lyrics explore themes of emotion, stagnation, deceit, and the loss of passion, painting a picture of a bleak and unfulfilling existence.