This feeling haunts me
Behind these eyes the shell seems so empty
Though I wonder if anything lives inside?
I want to live, I wish I was dead
My heart aches to bleed
I'm cheated from what I see
Freedom holds a double edge for me
I look in your eyes and see
I want to live, I wish I was dead
I don't want to think
I'm stuck here and I know it
I don't want to see
Make me close my eyes
I want to live, I wish I was dead

Life's cold.
And it reaches inside
I need to feel, and turn my mind off
The desperation begins
From the start I see the end
Not right, I'm not right, you're not right
I've got to close my eyes

I look in your eyes
And I see it's always this way
Live the lie and take a dive
Just to make it die

I want to live, I wish I was dead
I've just got to close my eyes
I've got to close my eyes
I've got to close my eyes


Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death, edited by janeaparis1

What I See Lyrics as written by Charles Dukowski

Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing

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What I See song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    to me, this song is a struggle with how depressing it is to be alive at times. when one is so receptive, it is impossible to see all the crap you have to wade through on a daily basis. "I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK I'M STUCK HERE AND I KNOW IT I DON'T WANT TO SEE MAKE ME CLOSE MY EYES" pretty much means that they could kill themselves, but they don't really want to, but it hurts tremendously to be alive in this day-in-age. that's my take, not unlike a keith morris song.

    Penny Dreadfulon November 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    no comments? well . .. this is an increadible song. does anyone think it is sarcastic or anything? or is it supposed to be taken at face value?

    brain.damageon August 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    definetely not sarcastic. awesome bass line, especially for a punk song. i think it's about suburban opression and never living for anything bigger than your existence.

    will5on July 09, 2007   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    First of all, there are lots of lyrics missing here. That aside, to me this song is about cheating on a spouse/girlfriend and the accompanying guilt of getting away with it.

    This is my favorite Black Flag song.

    captnsotoon November 01, 2007   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    Another Black Flag song that I can relate to, heh.

    asgjaslgljaon June 29, 2013   Link

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