Am I a monster when I sink my teeth into her
When I don't love her
No, I don't love you
Forgive me darling, but love has nothing to do with this
It has nothing to do with how I can't stop
Until I get what I want from you

This is what real men keep quiet
It doesn't exist if you can hide it behind your teeth
And sleep at night next to your wife
Who you love too much to tell her
You don't love her at all

I just feel as empty as the lungs
Of those waiting in the womb
Do you feel as empty as the lungs of those waiting
To come into this world
Where being beautiful means being used

How long will we blame the devils on our shoulders
And pose like angels on the outside
When all I am is a monster


Lyrics submitted by DarkerShadeofWinter, edited by iluvsagwa

Terrible! How Terrible for the Great City! Lyrics as written by

Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Terrible! How Terrible For The Great City! song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

30 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    that was long but yeah....its really sad that this is how so much of our world is..."where being beautiful means being used" and so many ppl are just conent with that and content with then giving sex for love. well im glad christ died so i dont have to be a monster any more and i wish that if you read this you wont be content in living a life that is not of god. but that you recieve a life that christ died for you to have.....For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him--i cor5:21 be righteous, godbless

    seedplanteron August 10, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I don't think it has anything to do with premarital sex, or sex at all. but, realizing as humans we are incapible of expressing pure love like God does for us.

    Wheresyourhopeon January 31, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    the singer wrote this song about his mom and dad...

    the meaning is that you dont want to be with someone bc u dont love them anymore...but yet you love them and care too much for them to tell them this, so basically you live miserable not wanting to be with that person so they will be happy.

    wheresyourhope hit it on the head...we are just not capable of expressing our emotions in the world. we are too scared to get rejected or hurting someone

    hmmmmuhhhhnoon March 19, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Interpret the song like you're interpreting your... Bible. Not my kind of thing, but it's still an interesting song.

    Does it matter if the singer is "struggling" with pornography? For him it might, but don't let that take away from whatever it is that you are getting out of the lyrics.

    ohpkyleon April 27, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I personally like to interpret both ways, People in this world are inperfect with selfish love, it doesnt mean your not a good person, hmmmuhhnno and play it loud's explanations are completely correct, the selfish person in you induces into pornography, still loving your significant other but I guess not enough to refrain viewing degrading images that could only bring mental damage to the other. There are people in this world that exist spending the rest of their lives physically dedicated to one another only because of the fear they hold to imagine what there partner would do if they knew where there mate was mentally.

    CleverPoetsLastWordon May 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the meaning seems pretty obvious....if anyone knows what no.2(a boy brushed red living in black in white) on the new underoth is about, this seems pretty much the same......about the sin of premartial sex or in this case: following your lusts to use a girl for sex. first 2 lines is obviuos....your a monster when you endulge yourself in her and dont love her....love and lust of the flesh are very opposite things, love is god(1 john4:16) and lust is usually reffered to as lust of the flesh what the nature were born into is...sin becuz sin entered the entire humman race thru adam. "i just feel as empty as the lungs" ----youre pretty much dead becuz were spirits with bodies and when youre in flesh your spirit is weak, or your inner man is weak and dying. "where being beautiful means being used" ----pretty clear that in this world if youre beautiful youre gonna be used for your body......

    last lines to me seem like how so many guys give love to get sex, so they pose like angels on the outside when inside theyre monsters just wanting sex. godblessya'll

    seedplanteron August 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think this song is aimed at Christians, Christian men in prticular. Not aimed at the secular world so much. Check it:

    "how long will WE blame the DEVILS on our shoulders"

    how long will WE blame demonic activity for our lusts and passions

    "and pose like angels on the outside"

    and think that we've got it all together and we're goo Christians, preening and posing, believing the only reason we're failing and falling is becasue satan is attacking us

    "when all i am is a monster"

    whe nin reality we so often do satan's work for him. our flesh, our fallen nature, is a greater threat to us more often than satan in my opinion.

    ukhardcoreon October 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    seedplanter hit it right on the head

    ChristisnotFASHIONon October 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think that this song rocks and you could say that this is more about sexual impurity than anything else especially here: this is what real men keep quiet it doesn't exist if you can hide it behind your teeth and sleep at night next to your wife who you love too much to tell her you don't love her at all

    everglow16on February 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Unfortunately, not to bum you out or anything, but you are all wrong.

    The song is about the writer's struggles with pornography.

    My friend knows them personally, so im 100% sure that's what it's about. Read it and it will make sense.

    playitloud253on April 02, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.