What Will Become Of Us

Passenger's song 'What Will Become Of Us' delves into the impermanence and fragility of both love and life. The lyrics are rich with metaphors that compare human relationships and existence to various forms of decay and destruction. The opening lines, 'Well, wood burns, and metal rusts / So, darling, what’s to become of us,' set the tone for the song, suggesting that just as materials deteriorate over time, so too might their relationship. This theme of inevitable decay is a recurring motif throughout the song, emphasizing the uncertainty and vulnerability that come with love and life.

The song also explores the idea of facing challenges together versus going it alone. Lines like 'Will we go alone, out on our own / Oh, darling, what’s to become of us' question whether the couple will stick together through tough times or drift apart. The imagery of 'boats sink into the sea' and 'airplanes that crash like computer screens' further underscores the unpredictability and potential for disaster in life. These metaphors serve to highlight the precarious nature of their bond and the external forces that could threaten it.

In the final verse, the song takes a more introspective turn, contemplating the internal struggles and emotional barriers that can erode a relationship. 'We lament in separate towers / Never knowing if we’re brave or if we’re cowards' speaks to the isolation and uncertainty that can plague individuals within a partnership. The closing lines, 'For they pour cement down this hole of ours / And we’ll be stuck under stones and flowers,' evoke a sense of finality and entrapment, suggesting that without effort and communication, their love could become a buried relic of the past. Overall, 'What Will Become Of Us' is a poignant reflection on the transient nature of love and the existential questions that accompany it.