You told me that you want to die
I said I've been there myself more than a few times
And I go back every once in a while
You called me lucky, you.. you called me lucky

You said tonight is a wonderful night to die
I asked you how you could tell
You told me to look at the sky
Look at all those stars
Look at how goddamn ugly the stars are

It's one or another
Between a rope and a bottle
I can tell you're having trouble breathing

'Cause you'll never be okay
You'll never be okay
(You'll always be in pain)
You'll always feel this way
'Cause things they never work out right
(the wrong way the lonely way)
You'll always be in pain

You told me that the daylight burned you
And that the sunrise was enough to kill you
I said maybe you're a vampire
You said it's quite possible I feel truly dead inside

'Cause you'll never be okay
You'll never be okay
(You'll always be in pain)
You'll always feel this way
'Cause things they never work out right
(the wrong way the lonely way)
You'll always be in pain

Don't forget to let your life rot you inside out
Don't forget to let your life rot you inside out
Don't forget to let your life rot you inside out


Lyrics submitted by oofus

Trouble Breathing Lyrics as written by Derek R. Grant Daniel Michael Andriano

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Trouble Breathing song meanings
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84 Comments

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  • +1
    General Commentyeh its is about suicide but i think it might be almost an anti-suicide song, like in the first verse he sounds really disbelieving that his friend would consider him lucky to still be alive (you... you called me...). also, i dont know about you but the verse about the stars sounds really pitiful, if someone said that to me, id imagine that they were really feeling sorry for themselves and a bit self centered prehaps. skiba also ends with 'dont let your life rot you inside out', wanring you to make the most of your life maybe, but i dont think hes sympathising much
    NihilisticFerreton April 17, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment"Cuz things they never work out right "- that part is so freakin true. I mean, I think most people can relate to it, cause when we feel like crap, we don't think that things can work out. Once again, Alk3 rocks
    emofanon May 02, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment^ Yes. Yes, it is. Very good.

    I love this song. It's amazing. I can relate to.
    The daylight burns me and the sunrise was enough to kill me. Maybe I'm a vampire.
    MissNeuroticon June 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti love alkaline trio...this song is almost exactly how i feel right now...can u tell ive had a bad day?? haha or year
    punkassprincesson February 23, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti hear ya, punkassprincess... I feel this song so much. I just love the line "Look at how goddamn ugly the stars are..." and so many others... this is definitely my fav alkaline trio song
    suzannej27on March 07, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt's about suicide.

    "It's one or another
    Between a rope and a bottle
    I can tell you're having trouble breathing"

    Rope=Hanging yourself
    Bottle=Alcohol (everyone in the Alkaline Trio is an alcoholic coke-head)
    FacebookLoginIsBrokenon March 08, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt's pretty sad that you both want to kill yourselves, I hope both of you are still alive and have found happiness.

    Rope=Hanging yourself
    Bottle=Alcohol (everyone in the Alkaline Trio is an alcoholic coke-head)
    FacebookLoginIsBrokenon March 08, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis song contains my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE alk3 lyric which i quote like a fiend... "look at all those stars... look at how god damn ugly the stars are." genius.
    alk3girlon April 26, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis song is just......its amazing....it is just the way it feels when some poser tells you they're depressed....and the way it says "you'll never be ok" its right once it hurts you never really are ok again completely it just really speaks to me....one of the best alkaline trio songs in my opinion.
    sKeMo_kidon May 01, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI love this song. It is so beautiful. That's a weird word to describe it, but it is beautiful. I think he's talking to this person and they're telling him how completely miserable they are...how they can't go on. He cares for this person so much and it tears him up inside to hear this person thing about suicide. He doesn't know how to help them...he wants to, but it isn't within him. Even though he wants to rescue the person he tells them that they are going to have to get through this themselves. They have to be strong. He tells his friend not to destroy him or herself. He says this in a sarcastic manner when he says:(Don't forget to let your life rot you inside out). This is a great song. I like the line:You told me that the daylight burned you and that the sunrise was enough to kill you./I said maybe you're a vampire/you said it's quite possible I feel truly dead inside. That might be my favorite lyric from a song ever. So beautiful. The line is so desperate...I can understand the feeling behind it. Reaching out and grabbing nothing, always so close, but never close enough.
    Sweetygal16on May 04, 2002   Link

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