The Fear

Album: Heartworms (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Over a steady beat and romantic strings, James Mercer sings about the pointless fears and anxieties that can ruin a relationship. Mercer told NME he's been battling anxiety since childhood.

    "When I was a kid, I would have waves of it that lasted months and I didn't know what the hell was going on," he explained. "Back then you just got told to shut up. It faded into this depression that lasted a while, and I haven't had that for a long while. Sometimes anxieties come in, just from knowing that I have kids and I have to be there. It comes at weird moments in life, too. Like we went for this big meal the other night because The Shins are releasing a new record, and then I realized that it's just me in The Shins so all those people were there for me."

    Mercer added: "It was weird. It was friendly, but I was so anxious. 'The Fear', the song, is about someone who realizes that he missed an opportunity with a relationship and he's sad about it. The door has closed and he's sad about it."

Comments: 1

  • Steph499 from .Yes, I agree. Looking more in depth I see a person who is fearful of relationships because he realizes he truly wants to be with his family ( and Ex wife) Just too proud to admit it. My parents have always said people come and go, but don’t overlook the one who’s always been there, the one who truly loves you because lust and fortune can cause you to go astray and you lose everything. Only to realize too late. And that is so true. Why do people realize too late? You can’t replace your family or the years earned!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

The Evolution of "Ophelia"

The Evolution of "Ophelia"Song Writing

How five songs portray Shakespeare's character Ophelia.

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song TitlesMusic Quiz

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have some rather unusual song titles - see if you can spot the real ones.

Butch Vig

Butch VigSongwriter Interviews

The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.