The Never-Ending Why (Placebo lyrics, explanations and press quotes)

The atom will implode
The fragile kingdom fold
The tremor becomes a quake
And there’s a body in the lake
And as the two of us rebel
And damn you all to Hell
I wonder: is this all there is?

Time will help you through
But it doesn’t have the time
To give you all the answers
To the never-ending why

As the sound of silence grows
As the spiders kiss is laid
The tumour becomes malign
But the kids are doing fine
And as the two of us rebel
And damn you all to Hell
I wonder: is this all there is?

Time will help you through
But it doesn’t have the time
To give you all the answers
To the never-ending why
Time will help you through
But it doesn’t have the time
To give you all the answers
To the never-ending why

Time will help you through
But it doesn’t have the time
To give you all the answers
To the never-ending why

Time will help you through
But it doesn’t have the time
To give you all the answers
To the never-ending why

Time will help you through
But it doesn’t have the time
To give you all the answers
To the never-ending why

Press Quotes

(Translation, quote in French here)

Nagui: The Never Ending Why, the endless question, the question that comes back steadily. Then of course there is a positive side, but we must fight to get this light and something positive, so it's not as simple as that.

Brian: I would say that maybe the battle is the most important thing and to have the desire to fight.

Nagui: So what is this song about? Some chaos? A sort of knight who is fighting with his mate just to get through and uh ...

Brian: No I think this song is about... we all want answers, but if we spend our whole lives seeking answers, you don't live your life and it's perhaps better to not seek all the answers, because there are questions that will never be answered.

Nagui: What is important for you, to get something, ie get the happiness or the road to happiness?

Brian: The road, the experience, it's the journey, the journey itself is more important because it's where we learn most, as soon as you arrive, well...pof you're there, I don't know, you go to the pub (laughs), but it's the road wich is ...

Nagui: the road to happiness rather than happiness right?

Brian: I hope.

"Brian Molko", interview Taratata (French TV show), 05th June 2009 (read the interview )

Source: France 4

Molko also revealed that the next Placebo single will be 'The Never Ending Why', which will be released on September 7. "It's a very spiritual song," he explains. "It's kind of Eastern in its philososphy. It's about the questions that will never be answered. Anyone who has an interest in the meaning of life will come up against a brick wall, but you must accept the fact that there will be no answers and try and get the best out of now."

"Brian Molko", xfm.co.uk, 14th July 2009

(Translation, quote in Polish here)

Is the new line-up the only thing that made the difference on BFTS?

Not only. For example, The Never Ending Why was composed by Brian and I wrote the lyrics. [...]

"Stefan Olsdal", Teraz Rock, July 2009

(Translation, quote in French here)

I like the track "The Never Ending Why". Who is the author?

Brian: This is one of Stefan's babies.

Stefan: The idea is that you can't change the world in which we live. Even in a democracy you can't do anything, there will be shit around you, time goes on and you can't do anything, nothing can stop it. So it's about finding a glimmer of hope in all this mess, finding the bright side of things.

Another fairly positive note ...

Stefan: Yes, it is somewhat inspired by the book "Les Particules Elémentaires" by Michel Houellebecq, not the the most optimistic book in the world though (laughs). My lyrics were inspired by it at first, then Brian helped me to give them a meaning and give them a touch of hope. Basically, yes there is shit, but you can choose to go ahead and live your life anyway. You have the choice.

"Stefan Olsdal", Elegy, March / June 2009

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