Many people tell you that they're your friend
You believe them
You need them
For what's round the river bend
Make sure that you're receiving the signals they send
'Cause brother, you've only got two hands to lend

Maybe there's someone who makes you weep
And some nights loom up ahead
When you're asleep
Some days there's things on your mind you should keep
Sometimes, it's tougher to look than to leap

(Ooh-ooh) better watch out for the skin deep
(Ooh-ooh) better watch out for the skin deep
(Brother, watch out) watch out for the skin deep
(Brother, watch out) watch out for the skin deep
Better watch out for the skin deep

One day, the track that you're climbing gets steep
Your emotions are frayed
And your nerves are starting to creep
Just remember the days
As long as the time that you keep
Brother, you better watch out for the skin deep

(Ooh-ooh) better watch out for the skin deep
(Ooh-ooh) better watch out for the skin deep
(Brother, watch out) watch out for the skin deep
(Brother, watch out) watch out for the skin deep
Better watch out for the skin deep

(Brother, watch out) watch out for the skin deep
(Brother, watch out) watch out for the skin deep
Better watch out for the skin deep


Lyrics submitted by honestfi

Skin Deep Lyrics as written by Hugh Alan Cornwell Jean Jacques Burnel

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Skin Deep song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    I think it speaks to friendship and how some friendships are just skin deep. You have to make sure you know which ones are only skin deep so you know who you can rely on in time of crisis.

    lighthumoron March 03, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I always thought, as a kid that they were singing "better watch out for the skindee"... Wtf a skindee is i'll never know... but that's what I thought..

    Tricky1979on October 17, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this is a very profound song. We all suffer disappointment sometime in life when we find we're let down by someone we thought we could trust.

    To me, this song is a caution, but at the same it's quite optimistic - recognises that sometimes we'll all feel low, sometimes we all need other people and human companionship, and that's good - just be careful that the friends and people we draw close to us are genuine.

    HTUKon December 05, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Watch out for the shallow, superficial so-called sophisticates trying to monopolize your valuable time. Stand up to the machine, don,t let it roll over you.

    Markomatic3000on March 27, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The lyrics are not quite right. These are the correct lyrics:

    Many people tell you that they're your friend You believe them You need them For what's round the river bend Make sure that you're receiving the signals they send Cos brother, you've only got two hands to lend

    Maybe there's someone who makes you weep And some nights loom up ahead When you're asleep Some days, there's things on your mind you should keep Sometimes, it's tougher to look than to leap

    Better watch out for the skin deep Better watch out for the skin deep (Brother watch out) Watch out for the skin deep (Brother watch out) Watch out for the skin deep Better watch out for the skin deep

    One day the track that you're climbing gets steep Your emotions are frayed And your nerves starting to creep Just remember the day's As long as the time that you keep Brother, you better watch out for the skin deep

    Better watch out for the skin deep Better watch out for the skin deep (Brother watch out) Watch out for the skin deep (Brother watch out) Watch out for the skin deep Better watch out for the skin deep

    (Brother watch out) Watch out for the skin deep (Brother watch out) Watch out for the skin deep Better watch out for the skin deep

    DD

    DongDingon May 01, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I thought he was saying better watch out for the scooby. I wasn't even close

    gravethief13on September 19, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I always thought it was “better watch out for the schoolys (school-ease)”

    Plarockson November 24, 2018   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is aimed at Morrissey because he wrote Meat Is Murder

    exobscuraon November 23, 2021   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I just came here because I thought he sang: \'Better watch out for the Scooby\

    GoingThroughMyon March 03, 2022   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The song’s lyrics are about narcissistic abuse. Narcissists are incapable of love in the way that empathetic people love. Empaths love deeply. Narcissists are incapable of real love. Their empathy is cognitive acting, not real from any depth in emotion. They fool empaths. Narcissists have a false and fake self. Their mask falls off like the skin of a snake. This song contains the best advice ever. Listen and beware of people who repeatedly lie…trust your gut instinct and intuition..and never absorb lies. True friends will always want the best for the best part of you. Negative people attack truth. Understand empathy is not toxic. Sympathy is not empathy. Sympathy without empathy is toxic.

    1080149592on October 31, 2023   Link

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