Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: funk
Song Meaning of “Circles” by Incubus
Circles by Incubus is an anthem for life’s struggles and finding hope and meaning within them. On the surface, the song talks about a never-ending cycle of sadness and pain, while laying out an almost spiritual path to finding understanding and moving forward.
The lyrics explore a sadness so deep that it “spills over” its boundaries, encompassing the whole world like a “gigantic circle.” This line conveys that sadness and struggle are part of the universal experience, even though we all experience those moments in uniquely individual ways. From there, the song follows a kind of narrative arc, as described in the chorus: “One size fits all of us/The stronger we all must come/We finally find our way through/The circles of our lives.”
The idea here is that no matter how far we fall down into our own despair, by uniting and gaining strength from being a part of something larger we are able to find our way. This is further emphasized by lines like “Spread your wings, and learn to fly” and “Put your troubles on the shelf”. Circles is about looking beyond ourselves and recognizing the commonality of our struggles, and that it is in the caring and sharing of these struggles, and the sharing of knowledge and experience, that we eventually find our way through. Ultimately, it is a powerful and inspiring message of communal growth and resilience.