Like A Sunken Ship

Leprous' song 'Like A Sunken Ship' delves into the themes of despair, failure, and the cyclical nature of personal struggles. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone who feels trapped and unable to escape their own failures and disappointments. The metaphor of a 'sunken ship' is particularly powerful, symbolizing a state of being buried and forgotten, weighed down by the burdens of life. This imagery suggests a sense of hopelessness and being lost at sea, unable to find a way back to the surface.

The repetition of phrases like 'over and over' and 'once again' emphasizes the cyclical nature of the narrator's struggles. Despite attempts to move forward and find a sense of purpose, they find themselves repeatedly falling back into the same patterns of failure and despair. This repetition mirrors the feeling of being stuck in a loop, where every effort to break free only leads to the same outcome. The lines 'I chose to leave, but I'm back' and 'Can’t achieve what I lack' highlight the internal conflict and frustration of wanting to change but feeling incapable of doing so.

The song also touches on the concept of time and its relentless nature. The line 'Time will bend you for eternity' suggests that time is an unstoppable force that can shape and break a person. The narrator's struggle with time and their own limitations is a central theme, as they grapple with the realization that they may never achieve what they desire. The closing lines, 'I need to find what’s mine,' reflect a glimmer of hope and determination, indicating that despite the overwhelming sense of despair, there is still a desire to find a sense of purpose and belonging.