What Is Life

The song presents life as a question without a clear answer. The speaker moves between hope and discouragement: life can feel bleak, difficult, and unfair, yet it can also mean unity, blessing, or even a treat. Repeated questions suggest an ongoing search for understanding rather than a settled conclusion. The mood is troubled but not entirely hopeless.

The lyrics describe people controlling the “treasure” and “pleasure” of others’ birthright, suggesting that access to what should belong to everyone is restricted. The phrase “struggle and fight” expresses the effort needed to survive under these conditions. The image of an exploited vineyard may suggest that a community’s resources or work are being used without fair reward. The appeal to an African woman to hold the speaker close conveys a desire for comfort and connection amid hardship.

These images support a reading about inequality and the need for solidarity, but the lyrics also leave room for a more personal, spiritual interpretation. Life is called a “spell,” “test,” and “dream,” words that can imply mystery, difficulty, or unreality; they do not resolve into one simple definition. The changing descriptions may reflect how life feels different from one moment to another, rather than a contradiction the song expects listeners to settle.