There’s a break-up song on Chvrch’s debuted album called Tether. One line, frequently repeated, goes “I’m feeling capable of… seeing the end.” A fine lyric, very breakup, much hopeful.
Except, I can’t tell when listening that she isn’t saying “I feel incapable of…” I don’t know if it’s intentional but I think the ambiguity really elevates the song from semi-empowering breakup song to powerfully-relatable song about the chaos of seeing a relationship end; simultaneously believing you can get through it while also having no idea how you’ll ever get through it.
It’s just fun wordplay too: feeling capable/feel incapable. Makes me want to use that structure more in my own writing.
There’s a break-up song on Chvrch’s debuted album called Tether. One line, frequently repeated, goes “I’m feeling capable of… seeing the end.” A fine lyric, very breakup, much hopeful.
Except, I can’t tell when listening that she isn’t saying “I feel incapable of…” I don’t know if it’s intentional but I think the ambiguity really elevates the song from semi-empowering breakup song to powerfully-relatable song about the chaos of seeing a relationship end; simultaneously believing you can get through it while also having no idea how you’ll ever get through it.
It’s just fun wordplay too: feeling capable/feel incapable. Makes me want to use that structure more in my own writing.
The ambiguity might be intentional too! It would allow different ways of reading into the emotions
That reminds me of Night Sky, which has “I will ne’er be free” but it sounds a lot like “I will now be free”