Parallel Structure

Craig Finn from the Hold Steady has a lot of lyrical ticks, that is, he often repeats little jokes, images, and ideas song after song.

One of these is the phrase "almost killed me," as in "The eighties almost killed me, let's not recall them quite so fondly" from "Positive Jam," and "Killer parties almost killed me," from "Killer Parties." The phrase describes things we've lived through, in other words—things we've lived through but just barely.

There's nostalgia in this phrase, as well as wisdom and not a little bitterness. As it happens, it also shows up in the title of the band's first album, The Hold Steady Almost Killed Me. Why? Because one day we'll look back at that album and realize that along with all the other stuff, we lived through the Hold Steady. It's a prediction of sorts. I for one would bet on it.