Part III

Crumb's 'Part III' delves into the transient nature of emotions and the struggle to maintain a sense of self amidst constant change. The opening lines, 'The color of my face, it changes by day / But when the cold comes through it washes away,' suggest a fluctuating identity that is easily influenced by external conditions. The desire to 'paint it so that it stays the same' reflects a yearning for stability and permanence in a world that is inherently unstable. The 'dark purple shade' of the blood inside the narrator hints at a deeper, perhaps more melancholic, emotional state that underlies their daily existence.

The recurring theme of feeling something coming but not knowing where it can stay, coupled with 'My eyes go cloudy almost every day,' portrays a sense of confusion and disorientation. The narrator's wish to speak but having 'nothing to say' underscores a feeling of helplessness and the inability to articulate their inner turmoil. This is further emphasized by the repetitive line, 'It's just a feeling,' which serves as both a dismissal and an acknowledgment of the overwhelming emotions that the narrator experiences. The phrase 'I waste my time in the morning and evening / Caught in a feeling' captures the cyclical nature of their emotional state, suggesting a sense of being trapped in a loop of unproductive introspection.

The song also touches on the idea of escapism and the myriad ways one can spend their day to avoid confronting these feelings. 'You can spend the day in lots of other ways / Spend the day doing them' implies that while there are countless distractions available, they ultimately do not change the underlying emotional reality. The repetition of 'It's just a feeling' at the end of the song serves as a reminder that while emotions are powerful and consuming, they are also fleeting and transient. Crumb's 'Part III' beautifully captures the complexity of human emotions, the struggle for self-identity, and the search for meaning in a constantly changing world.