Meanwhile

Caroline Polachek's song 'Meanwhile' is a poetic exploration of the restless nature of life and the inevitable cycles of existence. The opening lines, 'How do you know if a volcano is dead or just patient? It's restless, like me,' set the tone for the song's contemplative mood. The volcano serves as a metaphor for latent potential and the unpredictable nature of life. Just as a volcano can lie dormant for years before erupting, so too can human emotions and experiences simmer beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to burst forth.

The imagery of 'High above in the second sea' and 'Our bathwater never cools' evokes a sense of timelessness and constancy amidst the chaos. This juxtaposition of the eternal and the ephemeral is further highlighted by the line 'Meanwhile, out of the heavens, a swan plummets to earth, transfixed.' The swan, often a symbol of grace and beauty, falling from the sky suggests a sudden and dramatic change, mirroring the unpredictable nature of life.

In the second verse, Polachek shifts focus to the earth, where 'the woodlice work' and 'Both halves of this severed rock will crumble to sand.' This imagery underscores the idea that everything, no matter how solid or permanent it seems, is subject to decay and transformation. The line 'For if a thing can live, then it can also die' encapsulates the song's meditation on the transient nature of existence. The final lines, 'Meanwhile, walk beside me, The untraceable path of God's lightning back to God,' suggest a journey through life's uncertainties, guided by a higher power or fate, and the acceptance of life's inherent unpredictability.