I walk into this room
All eyes on me now
But I do not know the people inside
Look straight through me these eyes
Seeking more wisdom
Than I have to give away
Realize realize
What you are
[Chorus:]
What you've become
Just as I have
Are you and I so unalike
Huddled here
You just as I am
Afraid if we dance
We will die
Mock the world
Live safe say why
Don't you know
When you give life
Then you become
What you are
The sea is unsparing
We're all drifting away
Away from you
But I pray for you now
Hoping to god on high
Is like clinging to straws
While drowning oh
[Chorus]
What you are
Is a best in a lover's arms
What you are
Is the devil in a sweet sweet kiss
What you are
Is a puzzle to me
[Chorus]
All eyes on me now
But I do not know the people inside
Look straight through me these eyes
Seeking more wisdom
Than I have to give away
Realize realize
What you are
[Chorus:]
What you've become
Just as I have
Are you and I so unalike
Huddled here
You just as I am
Afraid if we dance
We will die
Mock the world
Live safe say why
Don't you know
When you give life
Then you become
What you are
The sea is unsparing
We're all drifting away
Away from you
But I pray for you now
Hoping to god on high
Is like clinging to straws
While drowning oh
[Chorus]
What you are
Is a best in a lover's arms
What you are
Is the devil in a sweet sweet kiss
What you are
Is a puzzle to me
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
What You Are Lyrics as written by David Matthews Glen Ballard
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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What you are is the beast in a lover's arms
What you are is the devil in the sweet, sweet kiss
What you are is missing a piece
What you are is a puzzle to me
The beginning is almost like as if he is describing walking into her funeral. Like everyone is looking to him for answers...
I walk into this room
Oh, all eyes on me now
But I do not know the people inside
They look straight through me, these eyes
Seeking more wisdom than I have to give away
Realize, realize what you are...
The seas unsparing
We're all drifting away
Away from you, I pray for you now
But hoping to God on high
Is like clinging to straws while drowning, oh
Realize, realize what you are...
He knows that his sister is gone, "drifting away." "I pray for you now... He is an atheist so of course to him, hoping to God that she is at peace is like clinging to straws while drowning...
The first time I heard him play it live and he said get down on your knees mother fucker! I had this eerie feeling that he was talking to his sister's husband, but he was the yelling at him to get down on his knees, like he was about to kill him. It was the first time where I felt a really dark vibe coming from Dave and even the inflection in his voice had a sinister tone.
To me, it represents two people from very different walks of life. The narrator of the song pleads continually with the recipient over this fact: "are you and I so unalike?" The characters in my novels are a serial murderer and investigator who grew up together as kids and were best friends long before the hell of adulthood forced them onto opposite sides of the law.
I think that this song can mean just about anything you want it to; the bottom line is that there is an air of mystery, suspence, and a darker quality. The speaker uses all sorts of intriguing imagery to bring the listener onto his side, to the point of intimidation. "What you've become, just as I have." He's saying you're no different than I am. You think you're so much better, you think you're righteous, (remember the album just before this one, everyone, and some of those themes) you think you could never be in my shoes -- think again. In the immortal words of Robert Ressler, any (profiler) could have taken that different road. Who are we to say that when faced with those circumstances we wouldn't have done the same? We can't. "What you are is the Beast in the lover's arms. What you are is the Devil in the sweet, sweet kiss ..." I think it's a wonderfully powerful song full of intensity. It tells a story, but it also tells MANY stories. Pick one. There's your meaning. It fit so perfectly for my instance that I selected it back in 2003 for the radio drama adaptation of the third book.
One of the reasons I appreciate Dave's talent so much; it's incredibly versatile as well as universal.
Anyhow, just my thoughts.
- Aubigne Spratling
My favorite part is in the live version where he says, "But you pray down on your knees mother F*ckers, you don't say God is on my side." To me, this is a reference to these religious people. They view themsleves as so holy, and they are doing all of the right actions, but there is nothing in their heart to back it up. They look at him and tell him that he's not going to go to heaven because Christianity is like a club to these people. Dave is not in their club. He, however thwarted his actions may be, has a much clearer interpretation of who God really is.
don't trust me
trust you
it's up to you
that is saying, don't listen to what other people tell you to do with your life, it's up to you, trust your own feelings.