Plastic Soldiers

Portugal The Man's 'Plastic Soldiers' delves into the complexities of existential struggle and the weight of life's monotony. The lyrics repeatedly emphasize that 'everything carries weight' and 'everything is the same,' suggesting a sense of uniformity and burden that permeates existence. This sameness and weight are not just external but internal, affecting the collective human experience. The repetition of these lines underscores the inescapable nature of these feelings, creating a sense of shared struggle and unity in facing life's challenges.

The song's protagonist expresses a deep sense of disorientation and fatigue, unable to 'keep my head up' or 'find my way.' This imagery of drowning and treading water serves as a powerful metaphor for feeling overwhelmed and stuck in life's currents. The mention of getting 'lost in the summer' could symbolize a time of carefree abandon that has now led to a sense of being adrift. Despite knowing that 'it's over,' the protagonist and others are still 'treading water,' unable to move forward or find solid ground. This state of limbo is further emphasized by the desire to 'swim deeper in' but being unable to 'find the water,' highlighting a yearning for depth and meaning that remains unfulfilled.

The closing lines introduce the metaphor of 'plastic soldiers,' representing the inevitability of aging and the mechanical, unfeeling march of time. Unlike the protagonist, who is struggling to stay afloat, 'the rest of us will live and die like plastic soldiers,' suggesting a resigned acceptance of life's predetermined path. This contrast between the protagonist's struggle and the passive existence of 'plastic soldiers' adds a layer of poignancy to the song, reflecting on the human condition and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent world.