The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Continental Shelf" by the artist "Viet Cong"

The song "Continental Shelf" by Viet Cong is a meditative reflection on feelings of detachment, apathy, and an inability to cope with reality. The lyrical hero is in a state of numbness, unwilling to face a hostile, "suffocating" world.

The first verse describes an existential impasse: life is reduced to a meaningless existence ("You stay here until you're gone") with a feeling of emptiness and indifference ("Frozen, empty eyes"). "Illegal trade" can be a metaphor for the compromises and moral concessions one has to make in life. The unwillingness to face the world is emphasized by the repetition of the word "suffocates," conveying a sense of suffocation and hopelessness.

The chorus introduces the image of "liquid gold", which can be interpreted in two ways: as a symbol of something valuable and desirable, but unattainable, or as a metaphor for drug intoxication, allowing one to escape from reality. The "wall of ice" and the "collapsing sky" create an oppressive atmosphere of hopelessness and impending disaster. The image of "water running off the continental shelf" symbolizes a loss of support, the collapse of the familiar world, and immersion in chaos.

The second verse calls for a struggle against apathy ("Confront your anxiety: there's no need to suffer in silence"). However, the suppressed state ("Suppressed spasm vibration") does not allow the hero to break free from this stupor. The repetition of the phrase "can't remember" emphasizes the hero's inability to reflect on and analyze his own state.

The repetition of the chorus reinforces the feeling of hopelessness and the inability to change anything. The lyrical hero remains trapped in his own mind, unable to resist the approaching darkness.