In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I'm a kid in a candy store
I'm a bull in a china shop
I'm a tired old metaphor
For everything you can't afford
And everything you can't afford to be
I'm a public embarrassment
I'm a bottle of diet poison
I'm a walking advertisement
For everything I never meant
And everything I never meant to be
I can't hear a thing
'Cause I've stopped listening
I'm the reason I don't go out
I'm afraid I might tell me something
I'm the shadow of every doubt
I'm the product the song's about
And I'm the product the song's about to be
I can't hear a thing
'Cause I've stopped listening
I can't hear a thing
'Cause I've stopped listening
Every morning
Since I was born
It's been hard to look in the mirror
And see my face for the horns
All the fun that the law allows
All the fun but with half the meaning
Come on over, I'll show you how
If you lived here, you'd be home by now
If you still lived here, you'd be home now with me
I can't hear a thing
'Cause I've stopped listening
I can?t hear a thing
'Cause I've stopped listening
I'm a bull in a china shop
I'm a tired old metaphor
For everything you can't afford
And everything you can't afford to be
I'm a public embarrassment
I'm a bottle of diet poison
I'm a walking advertisement
For everything I never meant
And everything I never meant to be
I can't hear a thing
'Cause I've stopped listening
I'm the reason I don't go out
I'm afraid I might tell me something
I'm the shadow of every doubt
I'm the product the song's about
And I'm the product the song's about to be
I can't hear a thing
'Cause I've stopped listening
I can't hear a thing
'Cause I've stopped listening
Every morning
Since I was born
It's been hard to look in the mirror
And see my face for the horns
All the fun that the law allows
All the fun but with half the meaning
Come on over, I'll show you how
If you lived here, you'd be home by now
If you still lived here, you'd be home now with me
I can't hear a thing
'Cause I've stopped listening
I can?t hear a thing
'Cause I've stopped listening
Lyrics submitted by CharlatanSin
Bull in a China Shop Lyrics as written by Steven Page Ed Robertson
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Love it. I hear it's going to be on the new album!
Such a good song. Only problem with this is that it's "I'm afraid I might SELL me something"
It's about someone who is a stereotypical maniac. He's been this way forever and he knows his behavior is bad, and that others consider him embarrassing. He does things for the heck of it, and he can't change and he won't listen to any criticism.
Check out all the allusions to advertising, commercials, buying and selling stuff (because Lukasa is right about that line), etc. I think it's about commercialism.
And maybe about having to sell yourself, ie, to market your album/concert tour/t-shirts/cruise: "I'm the product this song's about, and I'm the product this song's about to be."
And--this one's a stretch--maybe there's a little bit of regret about having sold rights to so many BnL songs for commercials. (Everyone I know knows $1,000,000, but about 4 of them know that it was a BnL song before it was that NY Lottery jingle. And I've told 3 of those 4 myself.)
I agree with gravity defiant. I also think it is about selling out to "the man". I get this from the lines:
"I’m a walking advertisement For everything I never meant And everything I never meant to be"
I am not saying that BNL necessarily has done that, I just think that is what this song is about.
There is also a great fan video for this song, if you go to You Tube and search "Drill Team Are Men". It is four guys dancing to this song. Kinda like "Ok Go" style.
"One Week" was in a (Mitsubishi ?) car commercial.
See Occams_Harmony, with a stipulation. This song is about the typical maniac personality, but it sounds to me like it's sung by the manic aspects of himself, to the "well adjusted" or "normal" aspect of himself. "I'm the reason I can't go out"...
I really like the chorus of this song. I aways get the idea of not letting insults and bad things being said about you get to you from it. Kind of "You're saying all this bad things about me but I'm not going to listen nor feel bad" For example, at camp, whenever this complete jerk in my cabin started messing around with me, I just started humming this song and ignored him.
I agree with the "sellout" interp, but i also think this applies on a more personal level, like he has ended up somewhere in a relationship or job or whatever where he never intended to be. Like he's been living a lie, as they say.