In between

In Between

By Willow Scott and Randy Dumalig

Just feel like I’m wastin’ time

I can’t seem to clear my mind

And I know there’s a pause on life right now

Wonderin’ if it’s by design

Showed up but forgot the line

Nothin’s even close to right for now

Four clouds in an empty sky

Lone tree reachin’ for a light

Findin’ something in between the lines

They say there’s no end in sight

But I’m searching for a sign

Unseen but we're gonna be alright

But who’s to blame

Now I’m torn apart ‘cause

It’s not the same

Wakin’ up to life in

This waiting game

Sick of tryna find light

In the mundane (oh)

They say there’s no end in sight

But I’m searching for a sign

Unseen but we're gonna be alright

No one to blame

But I’m torn apart ‘cause

Things aren’t the same

Wakin’ up to life in

This waiting game

Sick of tryna find light

In the mundane (oh)

Lyrical Analysis

The first verse of “In Between” addresses the stress, monotony, and pointlessness that have affected us during shelter in place. The fourth line—“Wonderin’ if it’s by design”—is a nod to the Manichaean understanding of God. While God was an important figure, they did not view him as all-powerful. As the song moves into the first chorus, the lyrical themes center on one of the foundational tenets of Manichaean belief: the separation of the good from the bad. “But who’s to blame” is a question that embodies the common criticism of Manichaeism as too “black and white”—the speaker is searching for a clear explanation that does not exist. The closing couplet of the chorus—“Sick of tryna find light / In the mundane”—has two meanings. Initially, the lines reflect the struggle to maintain sanity and positivity during quarantine; however, the lines also signify the exasperation that comes with the Manichaean’s efforts to purify a world of darkness.

The second verse is intended to be much more metaphorical than the first. It ties together the experience of seeking positivity and engagement in isolation with the Manichaean search for meaning in the physical world. The first line begins with an image that captures the essence of this search, “Four clouds in an empty sky” is a reference to the Manichaean tradition of completing four prayers a day, and captures the cyclic nature of Manichaean elects' everyday lives. The verse then moves into a direct reference to the the unending search for meaning—an inherent feature of Manichaeism—in the line “findin’ something in between the lines. Finally, “Unseen but I think we’ll be alright” adds some positivity to our current situation. While we cannot physically see the coronavirus, we recognize that this “pause” is temporary—things will get better.