.png)
Introduction: Life, Death, and the Price We Pay
In their track “Coffin Change,” Wallows channel existential musings into a reflective indie-rock sound. The lyrics grapple with age-old questions—how we spend our time, what we gain or lose in the process, and the ever-elusive nature of the afterlife. By blending a captivating melody with questions about mortality and money, “Coffin Change” captures the push-pull between living in the moment and preparing for an inevitable end.
Verse 1: The Weight of Time and Purpose
“There’s more to life than living
More to life than this
Time, I used to waste all mine
Now time, time wastes me”
The opening verse frames time as both a precious resource and a looming burden. Once carefree, the narrator now feels overwhelmed, as though time itself has flipped the script—no longer an unlimited asset, it’s become a force that outpaces and overshadows them. The line “there’s more to life than living” hints at a desire for greater depth and meaning, setting the stage for the song’s deeper existential questions.
Chorus: Paying the Ultimate Price
“If there’s a price to pay, maybe I’ll find it in my pocket
Pinching all my pennies ’til they shove me in my coffin
Up, up and away
…
Heaven doesn’t change
Heaven doesn’t change”
The chorus draws a parallel between financial cost and existential cost. Saving pennies “’til they shove me in my coffin” suggests a lifetime of hoarding or preparing for an end that arrives regardless of one’s wealth or caution. Meanwhile, the repeated lines—“Up, up and away” and “Heaven doesn’t change”—underscore the narrator’s uncertainty about what lies beyond life’s boundaries. Heaven here becomes a question mark: a place that, if it exists, might remain static, unchanged, or even unreachable, regardless of human efforts.
Refrain: “It’s an Unrealistic Thought”
Nestled between sections of the track, this refrain comes as a stark moment of realization. The “unrealistic thought” could refer to our illusions about control over death or the afterlife. By punctuating each chorus with these words, Wallows ground the track in a collective doubt—a reminder that our grand speculations about “heaven” may simply be a comforting but uncertain idea.
Instrumental Break: A Brief Respite
Following each refrain, the instrumental break offers a sonic pause—a moment for listeners to soak in the existential musings. It mirrors the mental breath we often take when grappling with life-and-death questions, underscoring the space between introspection and acceptance.
Verse 2: Reflecting on Death’s Mirror
“Is there more, more to death than dying?
More, more than life to live?
If time, time will outrun me
Then why do I still run?”
In this second verse, Wallows flip the narrative—just as there’s “more to life than living,” could there also be “more to death than dying?” This parallel suggests a mirrored perspective on existence. The line “then why do I still run?” is especially poignant, pointing to humanity’s tendency to persist—even with the knowledge that death might be inevitable and time unstoppable.
Conclusion: Grappling with the Cost of Existence
In “Coffin Change,” Wallows invite us to question how we spend our fleeting time and whether any saving—monetary or otherwise—can truly prepare us for the inevitable. By pairing candid lyrics about money, mortality, and the murky concept of heaven, the band paints a vivid picture of life’s paradox: we plan and preserve, all while racing against an unstoppable clock.
Whether you’re drawn to the raw alt-rock energy or the philosophical undercurrents, “Coffin Change” stands as a testament to Wallows’ ability to merge catchy hooks with big, existential questions. It’s a song that pushes us to hold space for the tension between living fully and acknowledging that life—like a penny—can slip through our fingers before we know it.
