☝️ Key Points
- The song is about confusion and insecurity in a relationship.
- The person is unsure if they are capable of fulfilling the other person's needs.
- It describes how the person tries to adapt and meet the expectations of the other, but ultimately fails.
- The song reflects the internal struggles and the question of whether the person deserves to be loved.
- The insecurity prevents the person from fully investing in the relationship.
Interpretation
"The Ascent of Man" by
R.E.M. is a song about confusion and uncertainty. The lyrics describe a person who is in a relationship but is unsure if they are able to fulfill the needs of the other.
The song starts with the lines "So hesitation pulled me back, I'm stronger when I don't attract" and describes how the uncertainty prevents the person from fully committing to the relationship. They feel weak and lost.
The lyrics also include the line "I'm a cactus trying to be a canoe", which illustrates that the person is trying to change and meet the expectations of the other, even though it goes against their nature.
In the chorus of the song, the singer says "I could never imagine a place so beautiful, I could never steal your gold away", which means that the person recognizes the beauty and worth of the other, but is unsure if they truly deserve that love.
The song's lyrics also use metaphors like "I try to walk like a big wham bam, I came across like a battering ram" and "I try to float like a telegram sam" to show that the person is trying to adapt and meet the expectations of the other, but ultimately fails.
The song ends with the lines "So hesitation pulled me back, I'm so in love I don't attract, And with my hands tied I won't crack", which means that the uncertainty prevents the person from fully investing in the relationship, but they are determined not to give up.
Overall, "The Ascent of Man" describes the inner struggles and uncertainties of a person in a relationship who is trying to meet the expectations of the other, but wonders if they deserve to be loved.