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.
If you say I'm alive I guess I'm living
Why should I guess your size, a choice I've been given
Tell me everything's fine and peace is coming
I won't listen to the heartache I'm numbing
When the world casts me down and says I've changed
I'll survive on all the promises you made to me
Guess there's no one to blame
When all you're living on is bread of shame
Bread of shame
When the world says I've changed
Bread of shame
Just promise me fame I'll survive on the bread of shame
As long as you say I'm free
Then keep these chains off me
Tell me down is up
I'll let you fill this broken cup
When the world fall down
Let them fall on me
Cause no one's around who believe me
When the world casts me down and says I've changed
I'll survive on all the promises you made to me
Guess there's no one to blame
When all you're living on is bread of shame
Bread of shame
When the world says I've changed
Bread of shame
Just promise me fame I'll survive on the bread of shame
Tell me where I sign my name
Inside I find no peace of mind to hide behind
Only bread of shame
Tell me where I sign my name
Inside I have no peace of mind
Only bread of shame
Bread of shame
When the world says I've changed
Bread of shame
Just promise me fame I'll survive on the bread of shame
Why should I guess your size, a choice I've been given
Tell me everything's fine and peace is coming
I won't listen to the heartache I'm numbing
When the world casts me down and says I've changed
I'll survive on all the promises you made to me
Guess there's no one to blame
When all you're living on is bread of shame
Bread of shame
When the world says I've changed
Bread of shame
Just promise me fame I'll survive on the bread of shame
As long as you say I'm free
Then keep these chains off me
Tell me down is up
I'll let you fill this broken cup
When the world fall down
Let them fall on me
Cause no one's around who believe me
When the world casts me down and says I've changed
I'll survive on all the promises you made to me
Guess there's no one to blame
When all you're living on is bread of shame
Bread of shame
When the world says I've changed
Bread of shame
Just promise me fame I'll survive on the bread of shame
Tell me where I sign my name
Inside I find no peace of mind to hide behind
Only bread of shame
Tell me where I sign my name
Inside I have no peace of mind
Only bread of shame
Bread of shame
When the world says I've changed
Bread of shame
Just promise me fame I'll survive on the bread of shame
Lyrics submitted by MusicFREAK20
Bread of Shame Lyrics as written by Scott Stapp Mark Tremonti
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think Scott is singing about how everyone mocked him about his drinking problems before CREED broke up. And he has been givin the "Bread" (sometimes known as a symbol of shame) and says he can go on with people mocking him for what he does.
Hmm. Interesting. I always kinda saw it as being about people essentially selling their souls to the industry for fame, and that they'll go to any length to be famous. "Just promise me fame, I survive on the bread of shame."
hhmm that does sound more Sophisticated than me reason<br /> And its a rly good one too
Agreed with Fausch...great song by the way. They really need to do more of these hard rock tunes and less "Higher" type songs.
well, I think their recent reunion has helped them realize some things, like the fact that every part of the band is important, not just Scott's voice. I'd expect more songs like this in the future. by the way, I really like the guitar intro
I think some changes need to be made here:
"I know I'm in" should be "I'm numbing"
the second verse is: "As long as you say I'm free then keep these chains on me | Tell me down is up, I'll let you fill this broken cup | When the walls fall down let them fall on me | Because no one's around who believes me!"
and the bridge is: "Tell me where I sign my name (echo)| Each time I find no peace of mind...You left behind only bread of shame | Tell me where I sign my name (echo)| I have no peace of mind only bread of shame."
I got these right from the album's lyric sheet (minus the echoes)
I always thought it meant that the world has told him lies, and the lyrics when it says "tell me everything's fine and peace is coming" is something people have said to him, and then after the lyrics say "when the world says I've changed, I'll survive on the promises you made to me" so I personally think this whole song goes off of the world saying lies to him. ALSO, another lyric being "as long as you say I'm free then keep these chains off me" I think he's talking about the government, and how he says that they lie to him on everyone being free but in reality no one really is.