Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Vines” by Senses Fail
Senses Fail’s ‘Vines’ is a reflection of a decaying relationship and the emotional consequences that ensue. The song is lyrically comprehensive, capturing a wide range of feelings, from sorrow and regret to anger and defiance. The intensely personal confession style of the lyrics conveys the turmoil and helplessness felt by an individual bound in an unhealthy relationship despite attempts to break the metaphorical vine ties that bind them together.
The song opens with a metaphor of being “tied down like slipping veins”, foreshadowing an allusion to prescription drugs and revealing the singer’s struggle with self-medicating. Lyrics detail clinging to a relationship for comfort and security, admitting to being “in denial [of] my silence” in the chorus. A plea to “resist the bind” reflects the fight against the addiction to the relationship, which also acts as a veil to suppress personal feelings, fears, and anxieties.
The ensuing verses speak of a gradual acceptance of the self-destructive cycle and eventual dismissal of any need for comfort. With the realization of a repetitive, inevitable outcome, the singer chooses freedom over a fruitless “endless fight” with refusals to “give up space” and “harbor the same rage”. Revealing a sobering clarity, the song concludes with confessions of being “tied down to what’s broken”, a stark contrast to the defenselessness portrayed in the opening bars.
Senses Fail’s ‘Vines’ is filled with raw emotion, detailing the bleak consequences of unhealthy relationship dependency. The wise, emotional lyrics give commentary on a universal issue, showcasing the power of self-reflection and the understanding that sometimes it’s better to break the vines than to remain bound in the same cycle.