Music Review: Duncan Sheik "Barely Breathing"
Duncan Sheik
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Barely Breathing
Album: Duncan Sheik
Year: 1996
Duncan Sheik cannot deal with his girlfriend’s emotional problems in the mopey “Barely Breathing.”
Cold guitars open the single, setting a final tone. In the first verse, he says he has her pegged. She is a girl who has frozen her emotions and can’t really feel for anyone. She told him they had a future and would get married someday. However, they only time he felt her say anything with meaning, it was when she was sobbing. She lives inside her problems and would rather sustain herself on her pain, than actually reach out to someone. She has said she didn’t know if she wanted a long-term relationship and if she was capable. However, she loved him and didn’t want to lose him. But he thinks it’s just lip service, and as a way to keep him as her crutch. As he tells her, he has to go and she has to be by herself for a while, she asks him why he feels that way. He’s taken aback by her reaction and tells her goodbye.
In the chorus, he says he’s under a lot stress by being with her. He isn’t sure if she even likes him or not. At this point, he thinks he cannot let himself be brought down. He cannot afford to ruin himself and aspirations in the long-run.
In the second verse, his friends are inquiring into his bleak mood. It’s unusual for him to be downhearted and cynical. When he met her, he was an optimistic person and ready for whatever life gave him. Now, he questions life and won’t take risks. He sees her and feels nothing but heartache. He can’t please her nor can he understand her. He can’t justify staying with her anymore. She’s the one who turned him into a shapeless shadow. He wonders if he will feel vibrant ever again.
The second chorus is sung. In it, he adds that he’s second-guessing himself and thinks perhaps being hasty.
In the bridge, he’s realized he won’t be able to know her. Her wayward emotions slash him, leaving him baffled and hurt. He waits for her to return home after a couple hours, believing he may have said something to upset her. He implores her to hold onto him just once.
The second chorus is sung again.
The first two lyrics are sung again. He realizes it’s a nonstop cycle that won’t stop moving.
He thought he could handle dating a girl with emotional problems. However, it’s taken him over and he no longer knows who he is anymore. She has dried his own throbbing heart and made it rough. He doesn’t like the person he is when he is with her. Although he wants to help her, it’s beyond him and he has to get out.
Sheik’s rueful, weary vocals are cut off. He’s had to turn his emotions off in order to make a clean break. With a tear, he could fall back into her world again. The apathy and readiness to rid himself of her is callous. He’s a jerk who makes a decent case but fails to win once it’s known that he’s a hypocrite. He doesn’t know whether to be with her or not. At the end, he’s gone. Ultimately, he is protagonist that chose to give up than put in any effort to the relationship.
The logical arrangement mulls and reasons with itself until a decision is reached.
The severe “Barely Breathing” has lack of feeling that’s as hard and harsh as a winter storm.
Album: Duncan Sheik
Year: 1996
Duncan Sheik cannot deal with his girlfriend’s emotional problems in the mopey “Barely Breathing.”
Cold guitars open the single, setting a final tone. In the first verse, he says he has her pegged. She is a girl who has frozen her emotions and can’t really feel for anyone. She told him they had a future and would get married someday. However, they only time he felt her say anything with meaning, it was when she was sobbing. She lives inside her problems and would rather sustain herself on her pain, than actually reach out to someone. She has said she didn’t know if she wanted a long-term relationship and if she was capable. However, she loved him and didn’t want to lose him. But he thinks it’s just lip service, and as a way to keep him as her crutch. As he tells her, he has to go and she has to be by herself for a while, she asks him why he feels that way. He’s taken aback by her reaction and tells her goodbye.
“I know what you're doing I see it all too clear/I only taste the saline when I kiss away your tears/You really had me going wishing on a star/But the black holes that surround you are heavier by far/I believed in your confusion you were so completely torn/Well it must have been that yesterday was the day that I was born/There's not much to examine there's nothing left to hide/You really can't be serious if you have to ask me why/I say goodbye.”
In the chorus, he says he’s under a lot stress by being with her. He isn’t sure if she even likes him or not. At this point, he thinks he cannot let himself be brought down. He cannot afford to ruin himself and aspirations in the long-run.
“'Cause I am barely breathing/And I can't find the air/I don't know who I'm kidding/Imagining you care/And I could stand here waiting/A fool for another day/But I don't suppose it's worth the price worth the price/The price that I would pay.”
In the second verse, his friends are inquiring into his bleak mood. It’s unusual for him to be downhearted and cynical. When he met her, he was an optimistic person and ready for whatever life gave him. Now, he questions life and won’t take risks. He sees her and feels nothing but heartache. He can’t please her nor can he understand her. He can’t justify staying with her anymore. She’s the one who turned him into a shapeless shadow. He wonders if he will feel vibrant ever again.
“Everyone keeps asking what's it all about/I used to be so certain and now I can't figure out/What is this attraction I only feel the pain/There's nothing left to reason and only you to blame/Will it ever change.”
The second chorus is sung. In it, he adds that he’s second-guessing himself and thinks perhaps being hasty.
“'Cause I am barely breathing…The price that I would pay/But I'm thinking it over anyway/I’m thinking it over anyway, yeah, yeah.”
In the bridge, he’s realized he won’t be able to know her. Her wayward emotions slash him, leaving him baffled and hurt. He waits for her to return home after a couple hours, believing he may have said something to upset her. He implores her to hold onto him just once.
“ I've come to find/I may never know/Your changing mind/Is it friend or foe/I rise above/Or sink below/With every time/You come and go/Please don't come and go.”
The second chorus is sung again.
The first two lyrics are sung again. He realizes it’s a nonstop cycle that won’t stop moving.
“I know what you're doing/I see it all too clear.”
He thought he could handle dating a girl with emotional problems. However, it’s taken him over and he no longer knows who he is anymore. She has dried his own throbbing heart and made it rough. He doesn’t like the person he is when he is with her. Although he wants to help her, it’s beyond him and he has to get out.
Sheik’s rueful, weary vocals are cut off. He’s had to turn his emotions off in order to make a clean break. With a tear, he could fall back into her world again. The apathy and readiness to rid himself of her is callous. He’s a jerk who makes a decent case but fails to win once it’s known that he’s a hypocrite. He doesn’t know whether to be with her or not. At the end, he’s gone. Ultimately, he is protagonist that chose to give up than put in any effort to the relationship.
The logical arrangement mulls and reasons with itself until a decision is reached.
The severe “Barely Breathing” has lack of feeling that’s as hard and harsh as a winter storm.