The Calm That Keeps You Awake

Knocked Loose's 'The Calm That Keeps You Awake' delves into the paradoxical nature of inner turmoil and the struggle to find peace. The song opens with imagery of a home filled with waves, symbolizing a state of constant unrest. The line 'Nothing still can stay' suggests an inability to find stability or tranquility, as the storm within never truly subsides. This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of emotional and mental chaos, where even moments of calm are fraught with anxiety and unease.

The lyrics 'Forever midnight, sink heavy into the abyss' paint a picture of profound loneliness and despair. The protagonist is left alone with their thoughts, forced to reminisce and confront their grief. The absence of bliss and the feeling of losing control highlight the intense emotional struggle. The repetition of 'drowning in the waves' reinforces the sense of being overwhelmed by one's own emotions, unable to find a way out. The calm, rather than being a source of comfort, becomes a trigger for sleeplessness and anxiety, keeping the protagonist awake and restless.

The song also touches on the theme of distraction as a coping mechanism. 'Time spent distracted, nothing simple, nothing pure' suggests that the protagonist tries to ignore their inner turmoil by keeping busy, but this only leads to further unrest. The repeated assertion that 'nothing still can stay forevermore' underscores the relentless nature of their struggle. In essence, 'The Calm That Keeps You Awake' is a powerful exploration of the inner battles we face, the difficulty of finding peace, and the ways in which our minds can become our own worst enemies.