Brace Yourself

Ceremony's song 'Brace Yourself' paints a vivid and harrowing picture of survival in a world filled with hardship and loss. The lyrics delve into the daily struggles of a man who is trying to navigate life amidst overwhelming adversity. The opening lines, 'Living from the chest / Living through the day,' suggest a raw, visceral existence where each day is a battle. The imagery of 'blankets closeted' and 'shop closing doors' evokes a sense of isolation and confinement, hinting at a life lived on the margins of society.

The song then shifts to a more personal narrative, recounting the man's memories of 'easier days' before he was consumed by pain and loss. The mention of 'hands cracked and calloused from surroundings' underscores the physical toll of his environment, while the line 'Son replaces father when father dies' speaks to the cyclical nature of suffering and the inevitability of death. The man's wife, now a widow, carries a 'stone that dropped from her heart,' symbolizing the heavy burden of grief that eventually overwhelms her.

The recurring theme of impermanence is starkly highlighted in the lines 'Resistance is a place where nothing lasts / The Pacific is a place where nothing lasts.' The Pacific, often seen as vast and eternal, is here described as 'a Pacific made of ash,' suggesting a world reduced to ruins. The final exhortation, 'Brace yourself / Try to stay alive,' serves as a grim reminder of the relentless struggle for survival in a desolate landscape. Ceremony's raw and unflinching lyrics compel the listener to confront the harsh realities of life and the enduring human spirit in the face of despair.