Crescendo

Ashbury Heights' song 'Crescendo' delves into the chaotic and often overwhelming nature of life. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person grappling with dissatisfaction and a sense of entrapment. The opening lines, 'I look upon my life / And then I realize / It's but an endless strife,' set the tone for a narrative of struggle and the quest for freedom. The protagonist feels like a prisoner, yearning to break free from the mundane and the petty, seeking a higher purpose or a sense of liberation.

The recurring metaphor of 'Crescendo' is central to the song's theme. In music, a crescendo is a gradual increase in loudness, symbolizing the build-up of tension and intensity. Here, it represents the protagonist's escalating emotions and the feeling that their life is spiraling out of control. The lines 'It's the sound you make / When everything is out of shape' capture the essence of this turmoil. The fear of one's 'overblown existence' exploding or one's identity dissipating and corroding speaks to a deep-seated anxiety about losing oneself amidst the chaos.

The imagery of living life 'loud' and 'off ground' like a 'storm cloud, mad dog, wolfhound' further emphasizes the intensity and unpredictability of the protagonist's experience. The mention of 'rabies' and 'foam around my mouth' adds a layer of raw, almost primal emotion, suggesting a struggle between aggression and the need to be heard. The repeated questioning of whether to 'claw against your throat / Or do I shout' highlights the internal conflict between violent outburst and vocal expression. Ultimately, 'Crescendo' is a powerful exploration of the human condition, capturing the tension between the desire for freedom and the fear of losing control.