| Barenaked Ladies – Break Your Heart Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Though the reliability of the narrative isn't clear, especially at the end, I agree with frogamybeth that the man ends up with a broken heart himself. Once she is gone, his cowardice continues, but lying to himself instead of her ("It's not 'cause I'll be missing you / That makes me fall apart"). After all, her reaction was not nearly as bad as he had feared ("My heart will be fine / Just stop wasting my time") -- or perhaps even wanted. The sadness in his voice is not only from breaking her heart, but also A) from guilt that despite his protestations, breaking her heart *is* what he wanted to do; and B) from realizing his true feelings only after it was too late. |
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| The Prom Kings – Bleeding Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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This is a stalker song, similar to "Every Breath You Take" by the Police, and "Two Steps Behind" by Def Leppard, but scarier than either. At best, it is about a guy who cannot let go of someone after being rejected. At worst, it is about rape or murder. >You cannot hide >From me >I will be there >You say that we’re nothing >I say you’re scared Initial establishment of the stalker theme. The victim has denied interest ("You say that we're nothing"), but the stalker has rationalized an alternative explanation ("you're scared") and is committed to keeping tabs on the victim ("You cannot hide from me; I will be there"). >Do you know what I know? >Do you even care? >Can you see what’s coming, baby >It’s so crystal clear The stalker is not 100% confident in his rationalization ("Do you even care?") but has a clear vision of the future ("Can you see what's coming, baby; it's so crystal clear"). Whether this vision is of a specific event is less clear, but I postulate that the stalker is planning a crime (see below). >Don’t you know >This has me more than bleeding >Don’t you know >I cannot fight this feeling >Don’t you go >Can you not hear me screaming no, no The stalker expresses frustration that the victim does not return his interest. >You say that you fear me >Why do you lie? (Why do you lie, lie, lie) >I say that you love me >Must you deny (deny, deny, deny) More rationalization and denials from the stalker. >Do you know what I know (why do you) >Do you even care? (you don’t care) >Can you see me coming, baby >It’s so crystal clear The line "Can you see what's coming" is changed to the more forceful "Can you see me coming," foreshadowing the stalker's future physical assault. >And I want you with me right now (right now, right now) >And I want you to feel me somehow (somehow, somehow) >And I want to taste what you don’t (you don’t, you don’t) >And I want you to want me too >And I want you to want me The stalker's frustration boils over and he confronts the victim, confused but likely intending to force the victim to reciprocate one way or another. >And don’t you know >This has me more than bleeding >Don’t you know >I cannot fight this feeling >Don’t you go >Can you not hear me screaming no, no The chorus becomes even more sinister here, as the stalker's emotional screaming "no, no" could at some level be an emotional response to his own horrific actions. >Shut up, you wanted me >Shut up, you needed me >Shut up, you wanted me >Shut up, you do At the end, anger and denial take over again, either during or shortly after the assault. The stalker needs to quell his intense guilt by asserting that "you wanted me." So think twice before you pick this one as "our song," lovers. ;-) |
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