I wanna help you
I sense you're riding pretty low
I got the feeling
When your hair hits the ceiling
Something, babe, you oughta know

I won't cry if you walk by
But if we both kind of stumble
Maybe I'll say hi that's my best
I never try that much
'Cause I'm scared of feeling
That appealing touch

You gotta get through
My maze and pass every test
'Cause I'm choosin' one love
Tattooed across my chest

Know the time has come
I ain't gonna fester no more
Let the world be free of my disease
I never knew a rubber doll
Would be so hard to please

Now I'm preachin' out
One last burst before I retract
No one will know
'Til I finally let go of the one thing
I ain't never going to give back

I want to help you, baby, can't you see
You're better than my pillow?
'Cause you don't stain so easily
You know it's hard just to finally let go

And leave all the pictures behind
Hope I brought you some happiness
I believe I just had to get on
'Cause just wasn't a world
I wished to need to find



Lyrics submitted by ShiverForMe, edited by Iamwarthog

Severed Lips Lyrics as written by Joseph Donald Mascis Jr

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

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Severed Lips song meanings
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    General Comment

    Tom Maginnis @ allmusic.com made a good observation about the song, saying that, "Mascis, realizing the personal nature of the lyrics, backed away from such painfully reveling sentiments by making the object of his desire an artificial doll and thereby downgrading the song's wounded beauty to a mere adolescent sex joke."

    I agree. The song starts off very mellow, talking about how he's afraid of healing contact (that line, by the way, should be, "healing," not, "appealing"). Then the rubber doll comment rolls around, and J basically dismantles any emotional momentum he had, before one more lyric bit, and then a beautiful solo. A song that jerks you around emotionally, indeed.

    Joe Mattresson February 06, 2008   Link

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