Degausser

Brand New's 'Degausser' takes listeners through a vivid emotional odyssey marked by despair, self-reflection, and a yearning for resolution. As the song opens with 'Goodbye to sleep,' the lead singer Jesse Lacey embodies a person struggling against their own thoughts, seemingly trapped in a cycle of insomnia fueled by cognitive tumult. The repetition of 'take apart your head' further emphasizes a desperate attempt at introspection and the dismantling of one's thought processes, looking for answers within the chaos of the mind.

The chorus introduces a sense of fatalistic acceptance, acknowledging that despite moments of brightness, everything eventually fades, symbolizing an inevitable decline in enthusiasm or hope. The use of 'I fell asleep in the incline' suggests that the protagonist has succumbed to weariness, potentially both literal and metaphorical, failing to ascend beyond their troubles.

As the song progresses, the narrative deepens, unveiling layers of guilt, denial, and a sincere confrontation with the concept of judgment. The lyrics 'Goodbye, you liar' starkly accuse oneself or another of deceit, pushing the protagonist into a space where they grapple with accountability and the looming presence of a divine reckoning, personified by the imagery of God waiting and 'pacing around his throne.'

The resolve to find solace by reuniting with a loved one, despite recognizing their own imperfection and the inevitable 'storm' of consequences, underscores a deeply human conflict. The repeated phrase 'I've been degaussed' echoes like a mantra, a vocal surrender to the need to neutralize emotional turmoil, echoing the sentiment of someone who has felt too much and seeks peace through emotional numbness.