Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Fervor & Indifference in the Bicameral Brian” by Everyone Everywhere
‘Fervor & Indifference in the Bicameral Brian’ by Everyone Everywhere is a song that speaks to the inner struggle of the human psyche. The lyrics and music set a tone of duality—the two sentient parts of our brains—fervor and indifference—continually vying for control in a jarringly tumultuous battle.
The first verse of the song gives us a clear image of the bicameral battle, with “Hear the sound of the rose and the thorn / ripping and tearing within me all night long.” The imagery of the rose and the thorn is an effective representation of the passionate and aesthetically pleasing meaning that the fervor side of the mind possess, versus the indomitable indifference of the subconscious.
The chorus paints the picture of an apt representation of this struggle, juxtaposing the contrast between the two poles of emotion—“Pain and rapture/ cold and endeavor/ The dissonance stares us in the face.” The jolting and chaotic endeavor of the two sides, endlessly struggling with each other, is made palpable within the music.
The sentiment is echoed in the second verse of the song—“The marvel and the shame/ don’t know the where or the why/ No way to reconcile the two”—alluding to the human experience of being a spectator of a battle between two curtly opposing forces within oneself, and being helpless as to how to come to terms with the reality of the situation.
The bridge and pre-chorus of the song speaks of optimism, with the characters of the song being offered a “cure”, an answer for “contentment and peace of mind”. This is the resolution to the duality, the ideal solution. The beauty and depth of this song lies within the songwriter’s expression of a common inner conflict, brought to life with an apt musical score and words that describe a situation that resonates with us all on an intimate level.