When was it that you lost your youth or traded
It for something more for them to use so jaded
Why is it that you never said
I love you more than just a friend

I pray this gridlock never ends
And when we get there just depends
I found out recently that you are leaving
For good I hope I softly tell me ceiling

It's better now to be alive
Sleeping is my nine to five
I'm having nightmares all the time
Of running out of words that rhyme

Everything that you could never say
Would never matter anyway
I took a hammer and two nails to my eardrums long ago
Before that steak knife took my eyes

I looked up to the sky
For the last thing I would ever see
For the last time I'd cry
When was it that you sold your life or wasted

Every bite of that small slice you never tasted
I guess I should be one to talk
There's nights that I can't even walk
There's days I couldn't give a fuck

And in between is where i'm stuck
From blocks away I heard somebody screaming
That small child inside of you that you left bleeding
You stabbed him up not once but twice

Cubicles will now suffice
Some say it's the roll of the dice
I think they're wrong I know I'm right
Every breath that I could barely breathe

Could barely make it past my teeth
I took a blowtorch to both of my lungs a long, long time ago
Every step that I could take
Every one more difficult to make

Mr. Chainsaw came and took my legs a long, long time ago
In case you're wondering I'm singing about growing up and giving in
In case you're wondering we're singing about growing up
About giving up and giving in


Lyrics submitted by oofus

Mr. Chainsaw Lyrics as written by Matthew Thomas Skiba Daniel Michael Andriano

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Mr. Chainsaw song meanings
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61 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    This song is about not conforming to the general idea of what society says we should do. It's about chasing after your dreams and never never giving up and he's singing to a friend who gave up and fell among the others. He comments on how people think it's just luck so you shouldn't even try because it's like winning the lottery. "Some say it's the roll of a dice, I think they're wrong I know I'm right." He talks about how even though he lost his lungs and can't breathe anymore he never stopped going for it and he refused to conform. It's a very inspiring song

    ~DAn was here

    kingbillison January 16, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song to me describes growing up... the love, the loss, the killing of dreams, and getting over all the pain thats been caused.

    alk3girlon February 17, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    doesn't he say/sing at the end of the song it's about growing up and crap? iono..

    nonpunkon June 30, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "why is is it that you never said, I love you more than just a freind?"... a good question

    JstforgotUwerethereon July 04, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yea, nonpunk.. at the end of the song he sais "in case you're wondering, we're singing, about growing up. about growing up and giving in." so he pretti much sais the meaning of this song, in the song :)

    EmoAshlion July 05, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is my fav alkaline trio song...i cant wait till i see them at warped tour!

    chisox142on July 05, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i finally saw them at warped tour two weeks ago and they were so awesome and even better i met all three of them and they are very nice guys, anyone who has a chance seriously go see them, they rock.

    tryandlive1203on July 06, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i just love how he describes the pain he feels..even though it's so ..graphic..it's genuine.

    Every breath that I could barely breathe Could barely make it past my teeth I took a blowtorch to both of my lungs a long long time ago And every step that i could take Each one more difficult to make Mr. Chainsaw came and took my legs a long, long time ago

    better halfon July 13, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the graphic images are almost std-ish. This is a truly awesome song, probably my favorite on "from here to infirmary". The lyrics are so powerful and there are parts I think everyone can relate to.

    finchguyon July 19, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Definitely my favorite alk3 song

    finchguyon July 24, 2002   Link

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