The world beat you for something nice
You worked hard, died poor
You mined what you died for
Diamonds, di-di-di-di-di, ah

You can whistle my name
It's the mines in Africa
That are to blame
You can scoop out my brain
Shape it into an ear and then tell me your pain

I've been awake from the first day
Stayed awake, stayed awake
The rabbit was removed under the whole moon
Longer, short road

Dig deep but don't dig too deep
When it's late you'll see the hole is empty and oh so deadly
They want me raw and smooth like glass
They want it fast but they don't want flaws
I'm a girl's best friend
Can you cut, I can cut, 'cause I'm a rough gem

Who lives in those lights in the distance?
Watered down, the rain will help you out
I had a dream, it was all a dream
But it was ruined by the sun shining through me


Lyrics submitted by DarkArchon, edited by kaylore, alphys

Rough Gem Lyrics as written by Nicholas Shanahan Thorburn

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Rough Gem song meanings
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45 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Gooood song that grows on you.

    Uh, about being a diamond.

    Yrtlzmoon January 12, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Corrections, from liner notes:

    a. the world beat you for something nice you worked hard, died poor

    b. held death at bay from the first day ... the rabbit was removed under the whole moon long bird, short road

    c. they want me raw but* smooth like glass

    d. but it was ruined by the sun shining through me

    Airdogon May 02, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i think it's funny that people take this song seriously. Islands/Unicorns always have a bitterly ironic, absurdist vein running through every song. Diamond miners in Africa? Maybe superficially. Give me a break. The (chosen) last name of the lead singer is Diamonds. This song is ridiculousa-- one of the best on the new album. I love when he says "can you cut? I can cut, cuz I'm a rough gem!" Makes me laugh every time.

    scienceon May 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love this song, so far, the best out of all the islands songs i've heard. but maybe that's beause it was originally a Unicorns song?

    InsectsAndAngelson February 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love this song, so far, the best out of all the islands songs i've heard. but maybe that's beause it was originally a Unicorns song?

    InsectsAndAngelson February 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think that this song is more than just being a diamond, i get the whole vibe that it's sort of going political in the sense that it brings up the workers being hurt in the diamond mines in africa losing limbs and such, which i agree should stop. diamonds are not worth it, i think thats what the songs saying.

    ThePoetYouNeverWereon March 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    lost post: w3rd.

    Mr.Meon March 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    these lyrics aren't correct. like, i don't know them all, but i know that the second line is "you worked hard, died poor".

    rhapsodicalxon March 23, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think that one line says like "the rabbit was a victim of the whole moon".

    I don't really know why, but that's just what it sounds like.

    Arabellaon April 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song..and I loved it more live with the whole clapping and dancing from the guys..is so cute

    bulboon May 02, 2006   Link

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