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Can't See (Useless) Lyrics
We were both cast forth from the same pale hands
And we both moved freely in the shadowlands
And we both were sculpted by the same cold wind
And we both had armor that was made from tin
And I tried to find you, but it's useless
And I tried to speak, but it's useless
And I feel so bad and didn't know why
And it didn't get better as time went by
And I tried to be there when you turned away
And I tried to find you, but you turned away
And I tried to find you, but it's useless
And I tried to speak, but it's useless
And I tried to find you, but it's useless
And you're so close, but I can't see you
And you're right there, but I can't see you
And I feel so dumb and I don't know what to do
And you're right there but I can't see you
And I realize that it's useless
And I feel I'm right, but it's useless
And I see you there, but it's useless
And you're everywhere, but it's useless
And I tried to say it, but my tongue got tied
And I tried to say it, but I'm numb inside
And I can't see you anymore
And my peace of mind has gone through the door
And I realize that it's useless
And I thought I was right, but it's useless
And I see you there, but it's useless
And you're everywhere, but it's useless
And I can't see now in front of my nose
And I know you're there, and I know you're close
And you're fading away and disappear
And I try to focus, but I can't see clear
And I don't know why I feel this way
And I can't control myself anyway
And I don't know why I feel this way
And I can't control myself anyway
And I feel so bad, now it's useless
And I feel so bad, but it's useless
And I feel so bad, but it's useless
And I can't see...in front of my face
And we both moved freely in the shadowlands
And we both were sculpted by the same cold wind
And we both had armor that was made from tin
And I tried to find you, but it's useless
And I tried to speak, but it's useless
And I feel so bad and didn't know why
And it didn't get better as time went by
And I tried to be there when you turned away
And I tried to find you, but you turned away
And I tried to find you, but it's useless
And I tried to speak, but it's useless
And I tried to find you, but it's useless
And you're right there, but I can't see you
And I feel so dumb and I don't know what to do
And you're right there but I can't see you
And I realize that it's useless
And I feel I'm right, but it's useless
And I see you there, but it's useless
And you're everywhere, but it's useless
And I tried to say it, but my tongue got tied
And I tried to say it, but I'm numb inside
And I can't see you anymore
And my peace of mind has gone through the door
And I realize that it's useless
And I thought I was right, but it's useless
And I see you there, but it's useless
And you're everywhere, but it's useless
And I know you're there, and I know you're close
And you're fading away and disappear
And I try to focus, but I can't see clear
And I don't know why I feel this way
And I can't control myself anyway
And I don't know why I feel this way
And I can't control myself anyway
And I feel so bad, now it's useless
And I feel so bad, but it's useless
And I feel so bad, but it's useless
And I can't see...in front of my face
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This is actually a really beautiful song, personally I think this is the best off their last album.
The song, I think, has a couple of interpretations.
It could mean losing someone that the person telling the story was madly in love with, but she left him for whatever reason, and she's moved on and is with someone else. She just doesn't acknowledge the him anymore or his feelings he still has for her. He struggles with this reality, as his feelings seem to be eating him alive at this point.
It could also be about a family member, or just a family in general. They used to have been close once, but at some point drifted away and no longer have that close relationship. I think its possible that the person had become so eaten up with drugs that his family has basically shunned him (much like in Mary, which is also on the album). No matter how hard he tries to clean up his life, his family still rejects him, either out of embarrassment or disgust. The rejection clearly hurts him, as he simply wants to be loved and have their acceptance.
Either way, the end I think possibly denotes him possibly taking his own life, unable to live with the rejection any longer. If he can't live with them and have their love, then he has no point in living.
I don't know why this same song is listed twice... anyway, something that struck me was that around the time the album was released/being composed, was the same time that Elfman and Burton had their falling out (that caused Ed Wood to be the only Tim Burton film which was not scored by Danny Elfman) which was so bad they weren't even on speaking terms anymore. While the song seems like a bit much for a fight with a friend, love songs do sell better than friend songs, and phrases like "You're everywhere" and "You're right there but I can't...
I don't know why this same song is listed twice... anyway, something that struck me was that around the time the album was released/being composed, was the same time that Elfman and Burton had their falling out (that caused Ed Wood to be the only Tim Burton film which was not scored by Danny Elfman) which was so bad they weren't even on speaking terms anymore. While the song seems like a bit much for a fight with a friend, love songs do sell better than friend songs, and phrases like "You're everywhere" and "You're right there but I can't see you" could maybe imply something like a celebrity whose name/image is turning up all over and in a sense is visible, but on a personal level is disconnected. Admittedly Elfman probably has lots of celebrity friends beyond Burton to whom this could apply -- and interviews with him have indicated that (by his own acknowledgement) it's not that uncommon for him to lose his temper and swear he'll never speak to a person again ("I thought I was right, but it's useless"), so it could be all kinds of people the song is about; it may even be put together from a composite of experiences in his life.
Got to say though, most of why this song really works is the screamingly weeping tone in which Danny delivers it. He could have overtly written the song about a lost sock and it would still work on an emotional level, delivered that way.
Losing someone he loves, or otherwise feels a bond with. Shoulda seen the signs , but he'd been so lost in the moment that it all comes as a suprise.
I quite agree with Polecat above. I've lately been in a similar situation and recognized it at once. All I have to add it that he also seems to have tried to remedy the situation once s/he left, but, now, realizes it's useless -- he efforts to talk it out went badly, as far as he's concerned entirely on his part, and possibly he's even starting to feel that the version of her that he knew and loved is fading away from his sight now, cementing his sensation that there is no point in trying anymore to salvage things.
Who posted the lyrics to this song? I made a bunch of corrections here. Such a gut wrenching song. Very painful song. It pretty much states the obvious, no need to explain. Such a deeply sad song for OB.
We were both cast forth from the same pale hand And we both moved freely in the shadowlands And we both were sculpted by the same cold wind And we both had armour that was made from tin And I tried to find you, but it's useless And I tried to speak, but it's useless And I feel so bad and didn't know why And it didn't get better as time went by And I tried to be there, when you turned away And I tried to find you, but you turned away And I tried to find you, but it's useless And I tried to speak, but it's useless And I tried to find you, but it's useless
And you're so close, but I can't see you And you're right there, but I can't see you And I feel so dumb and I don't know what to do And you're right there but I can't see you And I realize that it's useless And I feel out right, but it's useless And I see you there, but it's useless And you're everywhere, but it's useless And I tried to say it, but my tongue got tied And I tried to say it, but I'm numb inside And I can't see you anymore And my peace of mind has gone through the door And I realize that it's useless And I thought I was right, but it's useless And I see you there, but it's useless And you're everywhere, but it's useless
And I can't see now in front of my nose And I know you're there, and I know you're close And you're fading away - and you disappear And I try to focus, but I can't see clear And I don't know why I feel this way And I can't control myself anyway And I don't know why I feel this way And I can't control myself anyway
And I feel so bad, now it's useless And I feel so bad, but it's useless And I feel so bad, but it's useless And I can't see...in front of my face.
At the time this song was written, Danny and his wife Marie were going through a lot of marital problems. (I think they divorced around this time, but I'm not sure.) He realizes that things are on the rocks and his marriage might be ending.