Luck As a Constant

Periphery's song 'Luck As a Constant' delves into the internal and external struggles of an individual seeking autonomy and self-determination. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone grappling with societal expectations and personal desires. The opening lines, 'Staring up at the ceiling / While I'm falling into the flames,' suggest a sense of entrapment and inner turmoil. The imagery of something 'gnawing my shoulder and scarring / This moment into my memory frame' indicates a lasting impact of these struggles on the individual's psyche.

The song critiques societal norms and the pressure to conform, as seen in the lines, 'The fathers speak but might as well be castrated / It feels so good from where I stand.' Here, the 'fathers' symbolize authority figures whose advice or commands feel irrelevant to the protagonist. The individual finds empowerment in rejecting these norms, as expressed in 'Collecting through the sheets / A sense of power filling me / And I will never let go.' This sense of empowerment is further emphasized by the defiant tone in 'Shut the fuck up and let us live a life we can call our own / Leave me alone.'

The recurring theme of guilt and its impact on one's life is also prominent. The lines 'If you love the guilt, then let it die / A life kept so clean will measure the price of misery' suggest that adhering to a guilt-ridden, overly cautious life leads to unhappiness. The song advocates for embracing one's flaws and desires, as seen in 'But manifest a taste of paradise / And surely you'll see the sin inside of me.' This line implies that true fulfillment comes from accepting and integrating all aspects of oneself, even those deemed sinful by societal standards.