You know you need a fix when you fall down
You know you need to find a way
To get you through another day
Let me be the one to numb you out
Let me be the one to hold you
Never gonna let you get away

The shoulder you cry on
The dose that you die on

I, I can be your painkiller, killer, killer
You'll love me 'til it's all over, over
'Cause I'm the shoulder you cry on
The dose that you die on
I, I can be your painkiller, killer, killer

I know what you want so desperately
You know I'll give you one for free
Forever you're coming back to me
Now, I'm gonna give you what you need
'Cause I know what you fiend on and what you lean on
And what you lean on

The shoulder you cry on
The dose that you die on

I, I can be your painkiller, killer, killer
You'll love me 'til it's all over, over
'Cause I'm the shoulder you cry on
The dose that you die on
I, I can be your painkiller, killer, killer

Did you find another cure?
Did you find another cure?

I, I can be your painkiller, killer, killer
You'll love me 'til it's all over, over
'Cause I'm the shoulder you cry on
The dose that you die on
I, I can be your painkiller, killer, killer
Painkiller


Lyrics submitted by MusicFREAK20, edited by raveman001, AdamArtz, GrTTC

Painkiller Lyrics as written by Brad Walst Neil Sanderson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, HYVETOWN MUSIC INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Painkiller song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +2
    My Opinion

    This song talks about how painkillers can take away a person's pain, but it can also kill said person. The tone of this song can be interpreted as either despairing or as a way of showing comfort. The speaker tells the audience that he "can be [their] painkiller,". This can be interpreted in two ways: one way that this can be interpreted is that he actually refers to himself as a painkiller; another way that this can be interpreted is that the speaker is actually saying that he can comfort the audience, therefore, taking away their pain. He also states that he wants to "be the one to hold [them]," and that he is "never gonna let [them] get away,". This could imply that the mean that the speaker wants to comfort them and protect them from harm by never letting go of them. Of course, another way this could be seen is that he is referred to as a drug, which can be addictive and may never "let [them] get away" from it.

    The tone can also be a little sadistic when the speaker tells the audience that he'll be "the shoulder [they] cry on," and "the dose that [they] die on,". This may be one of the only parts of the song where the speaker is portrayed as a painkiller. He allows the audience to use him as a way to "cry on" him until they die. However, it is also implied that the speaker cares for the victim. Towards the end of the song, he asks the victim if he has found "another cure,".

    Throughout the song, the speaker may also be seen as a symbol of temptation for the audience. He tells them that he can give them "what [they] want so desperately," because he knows "what [they] fiend on,". On a side note, he chose to use the word "fiend" in this line instead of a word such as addicted. This is because the word can describe a person who is addicted to something.

    John Ton May 28, 2015   Link
  • +2
    My Opinion

    Obviously about drug addiction, but since I have absolutely no experience with it, I don't relate to it that way, I personify the drug. Like a relationship. One person is like a drug to another. The one being the drug is mostly sadistic, they numb the other person out, the other person craves them, but the drug will never let them get away. The drug is both the painkiller and something that will ''kill'' the other person eventually. Codependent and toxic relationship.

    Kimmy8on April 05, 2016   Link
  • +1
    My Opinion

    We'll since Adam left three days grace just copy songs

    Eshelon April 02, 2014   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    OK, does this sound like a giant screw you to 3DG fans or what? The overt meaning is obviously drugs, but the lyrics can definitely be interpreted to mean music too. People were hooked on 3DGs old sound. I was. It was like an addiction. But with Adam gone and Transit of Venus kinda sucking, people are obviously upset. Matt steps in and says, "Don't worry, I'm here to pick up the slack. I'll make the hurt of losing Adam go away." He becomes the next best thing, and therefore the shoulder we cry on. Apparently we're going to love him until it's over, meaning he's here to stay so get used to it.

    Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Maybe it's exactly as shallow as it seems. But frankly, their last great album was One-X, and the commercially biggest song off the album was Pain. Now Matt is saying he's going to be the Pain-killer. To me, this song says, "This is who we are now. It's all you've got, so you can like it or go with nothing."

    Act 20on April 11, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is kind of what @Act 20 said but this is my version: The greatest songs TDG made was 'Pain', 'Animal I've Become' and 'Never Too Late' Well, they could be saying: ' Adam's gone, and we've changed our style and our main singer, so don't expect us to go back to our old, stuff..' I do like the song, it's just not as good as Adam.

    Near01on May 10, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I don't think this song has anything to do with the Adam leaving Three Days Grace thing at all. If it has anything to do with the old 3DG I'd just say it's a mirror to One-X. Where that album discussed escaping drugs and conquering the vice, this one is from the drug's perspective and how people give in to them. Drugs are a painkiller. And it calls to people in pain claiming to be the shoulder they cry on. When it's also the dose they will die on

    tsettleson September 16, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song speaks on the topic of addiction and depression. Basically it says everyone is addicted to something, not necessarily just drugs. Anything that makes us happy, the speaker is the thing that we are addicted to constantly taunting us that he won't let us leave him. He is the shoulder we cry on and in some cases the dose that we die on. He knows we will come back to him where we are sad or craving more because he is our painkiller.

    DoughBoiion October 08, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Not to be some kind of genius , this will be my first ever post on this site.. but when he referse to he can be a painkiller, (sure it can be the obvious drugs buut...) dont u think he might just be a girl's rebound and he has this weird benefits relationship that he is the one inlove maybe but he will always be second best...filling her pain for a while..but killing her , giving her a love that should fill her void left by hubby or whom ever and but he is the drug that should make her feel better but like all drugs , his love for her and hers for someone else just kills..

    1NS0MN14Con May 11, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Adam Gontier couldn't have done a song like this because he was to worried about what people thought of him and his lifestyle. I hated Three days Grace when Adam was lead singer but I now love there songs and am going to do everything I can to go see them in concert hopefully this year. Matt Walst has done that band so much good.

    JoJo47on September 05, 2023   Link

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