Rise Against, an amazing band with 4 members, I won't go into much details but you are either familiar with their work or maybe you have never listened to them before, but one thing is certain they don't sing for awards or to gain over-fame, but rather they create an insightful meaning to life through the essence of their songs.
"When enough is enough that's when you know you're halfway there"
-Rise Against
This small yet ambiguous lyric, taken from their song Halfway There, means so much that after hearing the song over and over, I came up with a different interpretation every time. This is not the only lyric that stood out, but it's the one that had the strongest point. Though it's the chorus of the song, obviously being repeated throughout, it does not have that annoying effect one gets after hearing a song(plus chorus) on the radio every 15 minutes.
To me this lyric has a purpose, to motivate and spark that flame in our brain that ignites our willpower.
If getting halfway there is when enough is enough, then what gets us fully there? Where is this place that we are heading to anyways? Everyone has the ability to achieve greater, the ability to carry on through our own limitations. Just when you are about to quit with lost hopes of accomplishment or think that you have finished with unprecedented effort , it's at that point that is considered halfway there. To not give up and swim further, going beyond the repelling tides, is to finally pass through to the other side. The final attainment, which is only acquired by those who will make the biggest impact in this world. A fulfillment that can be expected to have a compromising and accomplished future.
Another way to look at this song lyric is if you consider dividing into halves, whereas the first half is inquiring questions, not having the assurance to answer them since having questions is already enough undertaking for some individuals, and only portraying an "enough is enough" disposition. To then at some point finally realizing a restrained growth the second half is pursued. The second half being the action in which the more indulging individuals will try to seek answers to those questions, stepping further and further into their true self-worth acknowledgement.
In the end, both interpretations convey the meaning of not giving up!
The song overall, sends a deeper message to the listener and only when heard can someone feel the real attraction to these words.
Hi, Mary! I really liked when you said, "Everyone has the ability to achieve greater, the ability to carry on through our own limitations." I think this is very true because there are people that have all sorts of dissabilities or things that hold them back and are still able to be successful human beings. If there's something I hate in this world, it has to be people that make excuses for themselves and do nothing to change their situation. People need to man (or woman)-up and change their own lives. No one will do it for them.
ReplyDeleteI like your interpretation of the quote by rise against. The quote represents to never give up and have the determination to keep going. Like you said, it represents the half way line which means that you're almost there so don't give up. Its sort of like giving you encouragement to reach your goal, giving it your best and succeed.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your interpretation of the chorus. I liked how you used getting to the other side includes going through the repelling tides, being our struggles. I also believe that people have the ability to achieve greater but we don't do so because we have had "enough". But at this point where we have had enough only means that we can not bear to go on any further in whatever it is that we are trying to achieve. If we strive for what we want, then we are able to surpass this other half and succeed.
ReplyDeleteMary, I really enjoyed the topic you chose to write about "Not Giving Up." This song, as you've stated, does motivate people in a different way than just by reading the simple quote. I also agree that giving up should not be an option because there is not anyone that is unable to do whatever they put their mind to.
ReplyDeleteGreat quote to pick. I can relate to the meaning of not giving up at the point where it is getting the hardest. You explained the first interpretation well but the second way was difficult for me to understand. Everything seemed cluttered and not easily understandable. Other than that, great blog!
ReplyDeleteI really liked your quote because when things get really hard we always want to give up but we have to keep on going to prove to ourselves how strong we really are. I really liked how you quoted the song which like you said motivates people and we all need some motivation in our lives.
ReplyDeleteI loved your quote mary. It was really inspiring! I got this whole feeling just from this post. I get that feeling of half way when you want to give up and stay where you are but the real courageous person is one who goes on to achieve what they have already started.
ReplyDelete