Finite

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Details

Written by:	Greg Graffin
Released in:	2010
BPM:	81

Lyrics

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In a quantity of light, you can search for all of your life
but it's finite.
From a sudden burst of sound, the recoil may never be found
but it is finite (finite but incalculable).

On and on, on and on, but impervious to calculation, on and on.
It's impervious to calculation.
Woah, just how far it goes, nobody knows.

In the peaceful warm embrace, the intention shows on your face,
but it's finite.
From the hate that spurs us on, to the meek and gullible pawn,
it is finite (finite but incalculable).

On and on, on and on, but impervious to calculation, on and on.
It's impervious to calculation. Woah just how far it goes...

Where the lightning sparked a flash, when precisely did it pass?
All delusions went away, as with all the shades of gray.
Now I'm left with faulty tools and a hazy set of rules
and a brand new day.

In the turbulent conscious stream,
the unbearable lightness of being, and it's finite.
From the universal mass constant matters coming to pass,
but it's finite.

On and on, on and on, but impervious to calculation, on and on.
It's impervious to calculation.
woah, just how far it goes, nobody knows.
No one knows, woah, no one knows, no one knows.

Versions

Version	Release	Catalog ID	Country	Format	Year
Album version
	The Dissent of Man	n/a	United States	DL	2010
	The Dissent of Man	EICP-1415-6	Japan	CD	2010
	The Dissent of Man	EICP 1417	Japan	CD	2010
	The Dissent of Man	EDCI-80433	Japan	CD	2010

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Song interpretations (4)

frod79 Generator Frod Almighty Location: OlivGardenState Status: Offline Posts: 3207	Quote i am in the noob camp with the interpretation of this song (a very wonderful song it is) The song presents instances of, as kari pointed out, events or examples of things that may be 'Finite but incalculable' First line: in a quantity of light, you can search for all of your life" - I took this as a double meaning, whereas Greg is pointing out that science, too, has its limitations. Light travels at 670616629 mph. incalculable in our limited grasp of speed &distance, but finite. the other meaning to me had a bit of a religious undertone about searching for the meaning of life. 2nd: From a sudden burst of sound, the recoil may never be found. I interpreted this as the sound of a bullet coming out of a gun. Incalculable to predict when you will face one, but within a finite but incalculable measurement of time. 3rd: In the peaceful warm embrace, the intention shows on your face, but it's finite. - Love is measured as finite (finite but incalculable) here as well. on and on, on and on, this interpretation is impervious to calculation :) 01/06/2011 at 22:34 i am in the noob camp with the interpretation of this song (a very wonderful song it is) The song presents instances of, as kari pointed out, events or examples of things that may be 'Finite but incalculable' First line: in a quantity of light, you can search for all of your life" - I took this as a double meaning, whereas Greg is pointing out that science, too, has its limitations. Light travels at 670616629 mph. incalculable in our limited grasp of speed &distance, but finite. the other meaning to me had a bit of a religious undertone about searching for the meaning of life. 2nd: From a sudden burst of sound, the recoil may never be found. I interpreted this as the sound of a bullet coming out of a gun. Incalculable to predict when you will face one, but within a finite but incalculable measurement of time. 3rd: In the peaceful warm embrace, the intention shows on your face, but it's finite. - Love is measured as finite (finite but incalculable) here as well. on and on, on and on, this interpretation is impervious to calculation :)
kariscene Man With A Mission Ultimate Brett Fangirl Location: Impure Michigan Status: Offline Posts: 712	Quote "The oldest evidence for life on earth comes from fossils that are 3.4 billion years old, plus or minus 100 million years. An incalculable chain of events leads from those earliest fossils to each of us, so each of us belongs to this process. 'Finite but incalculable' is how I describe sequences of events in evolution." - Greg Graffin, Anarchy Evolution, p.131 09/29/2010 at 15:54 "The oldest evidence for life on earth comes from fossils that are 3.4 billion years old, plus or minus 100 million years. An incalculable chain of events leads from those earliest fossils to each of us, so each of us belongs to this process. 'Finite but incalculable' is how I describe sequences of events in evolution." - Greg Graffin, Anarchy Evolution, p.131
Dylamite Blenderhead Location: Austin, TX Status: Offline Posts: 39	Quote Mathematics and the sciences pride themselves on understanding the logical underpinnings of reality. As inquisitive minds, we hope to gain understanding and tackle the unknown and make it known. But the fact of the matter is that our finite lives will always limit how much we can understanding anything. Everything we do in our lives is part of a fundamental finite experience. We are finite and ephemeral. Concepts like nature and infinity are such abstract and paradoxical constructs that they can never be fully known. As the song says, they are impervious to calculations. How far can we go in our quest for knowledge? No one knows. We are all on this journey of understanding that we call our lives, but can only experience a finite portion of it. 09/24/2010 at 11:27 Mathematics and the sciences pride themselves on understanding the logical underpinnings of reality. As inquisitive minds, we hope to gain understanding and tackle the unknown and make it known. But the fact of the matter is that our finite lives will always limit how much we can understanding anything. Everything we do in our lives is part of a fundamental finite experience. We are finite and ephemeral. Concepts like nature and infinity are such abstract and paradoxical constructs that they can never be fully known. As the song says, they are impervious to calculations. How far can we go in our quest for knowledge? No one knows. We are all on this journey of understanding that we call our lives, but can only experience a finite portion of it.
n1ckb0n3z Universal Cynic Bass boss but still a n00b Location: Austin, TX Status: Offline Posts: 5074	Quote I think this song is saying how anything and everything can or will end at any moment in time. 09/24/2010 at 08:28 I think this song is saying how anything and everything can or will end at any moment in time.