Sidelined

The song "Sidelined" by Children On Stun delves into the complex emotions surrounding love, loss, and the passage of time. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the internal struggle faced when parting from a loved one. The opening lines suggest that leaving someone emotionally is as challenging as physically leaving a room, highlighting the omnipresence of the loved one's influence. The phrase "Forever holding me" suggests a sense of being trapped or bound by these emotions, unable to escape their grasp.

The recurring question "How long is always?" with the answer "forever" underscores the timeless nature of these feelings. This repetition emphasizes the idea that love and its accompanying pain are eternal, persisting beyond the immediate moment. The imagery of "a thousand burning needles" conveys the intense and piercing nature of love, suggesting that it can be both beautiful and painful. The needles working their way inside symbolize how deeply love can penetrate one's being, leaving a lasting impact.

The song also explores themes of isolation and the passage of time. The "lonely sun" ascending over the narrator signifies a sense of solitude and the relentless march of time, as "years all seem like days." This imagery suggests that while time moves forward, the emotional weight of love and loss remains constant. The repeated mention of being "underground" and "sidelined" evokes a feeling of being marginalized or overlooked, perhaps reflecting the narrator's sense of being trapped in their own emotional turmoil.