I am the key to the lock in your house
That keeps your toys in the basement
And if you get too far inside
You'll only see my reflection

It's always best when the covers up
I am the pick in the ice
Do not cry out or hit the alarm
You know we're friends till we die

And either way you turn
I'll be there
Open up your skull
I'll be there
Climbing up the walls

It's always best when the light is off
It's always better on the outside
Fifteen blows to the back of your head
Fifteen blows to your mind

So lock the kids up safe tonight
Shut the eyes in the cupboard
I've got the smell of a local man
Who's got the loneliest feeling

That either way he turns
I'll be there
Open up your skull
I'll be there

Climbing up the walls
Climbing up the walls
Climbing up the walls


Lyrics submitted by piesupreme

Climbing Up the Walls Lyrics as written by Colin Charles Greenwood Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Climbing Up the Walls song meanings
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  • +9
    General Comment

    Agreed with some others. I think it's about someone with a mental disorder.

    I am the key to the lock in your house That keeps your toys in the basement And if you get too far inside You'll only see my reflection

    The "house" could represent the mind, and the "key" could mean that the person feels that the disorder controls their life. Also worth to note is that it's spoken in first-person, so the person believes the disorder is alive. "Keeps the toys in the basement" could be an allusion to childhood, and how the disorder has effected the person throughout their life. The person is afraid to dwell too much on their mind, however, as they're not sure where the person ends and the illness begins: "and if you get too far inside/You'll only see my reflection". The person is possibly delusional.

    It's always best with the covers up

    The person is hiding under their bed sheets, or possibly closing the blinds; maybe both. Paranoia is another symptom. Alternatively, the cover could by their mental shields against the world to avoid getting hurt.

    I am the pick in the ice

    The person tried to live normally, but the stress of life gets to them, and the disorder only serves to make the crack longer.

    Do not cry out or hit the alarm

    The person feels that nothing can be done to stop the illness. Perhaps they have tried before with negative results.

    You know we're friends until we die

    The person has accepted that the disorder is a part of them forever.

    And either way you turn, I'll be there

    Either way could mean a variety of things, but since the song has a feeling of desperation to escape, I think the two choices are:

    a) Get help, but I'll still be there. b) Don't get help, but I'll still be there.

    Open up your skull, I'll be there

    The person has tried therapy or learned about and recognized the disorder within themselves. A step away from delusion.

    Climbing up the walls

    The person feels backed into a corner with no escape.

    It's always best when the light is off

    A step back. The person decides to just let the problem be (or "turn a blind eye" to the situation).

    It's always better on the outside

    The external world will take the person away from the pain for a moment (i.e. TV, junk food, games, sex)

    Fifteen blows to the back of your head

    A fear of unsafe psychiatric procedures is enhanced by the person's paranoia.

    Fifteen blows to your mind

    The person is finding it increasingly difficult to go on as they are.

    So lock the kids up safe tonight

    Paranoia again, or possibly OCD symptom of fear of harming others. Constant rechecking on kids.

    Shut the eyes in the cupboard

    Another line about ignoring the problem .

    I've got the smile of a local man

    The disorder has been with the person so long that they feel it is close to them.

    Who's got the loneliest feeling

    The closeness, however, is not good. The disorder prevents the person from fulfilling life to the full standard, leaving the person with a feeling of lonely emptiness.

    Just my interpretation, of course.

    LoopyLadyon May 10, 2011   Link

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