Clarity

Matthew Koma's song 'Clarity' delves into the complexities and contradictions of a tumultuous relationship. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a love that is both painful and essential, capturing the essence of a bond that is difficult to break despite its destructive nature. The opening lines, 'Hot dive into frozen waves / Where the past comes back to life,' suggest a relationship that is cyclical and fraught with emotional highs and lows. The imagery of 'frozen waves' and 'a clock ticks 'till it breaks your glass' evokes a sense of inevitability and fragility, highlighting the precarious balance between love and pain.

The chorus encapsulates the central paradox of the song: 'If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy? / If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?' These lines reflect the internal conflict of loving someone who brings both chaos and clarity into one's life. The use of words like 'tragedy,' 'insanity,' and 'clarity' underscores the emotional turmoil and the inexplicable pull that keeps the lovers bound together. This paradox is further emphasized by the repeated questioning, which suggests a search for understanding and meaning in a relationship that defies logic.

The second verse continues to explore the destructive nature of the relationship, with lines like 'Walk on through a red parade / And refuse to make amends.' The 'red parade' symbolizes danger and conflict, while the refusal to make amends indicates a stubbornness that prevents resolution. Despite the pain and confusion, the lovers are drawn back to each other, as illustrated by the line, 'If you pull and I push too deep then I'll fall right back to you.' This cyclical pattern of conflict and reconciliation highlights the addictive nature of their love, making it both a source of suffering and a necessary part of their lives.