Late night, brakes lock, hear the tires squeal
Red light, can't stop, so I spin the wheel
My world goes black before I
Feel an angel lift me up

And I open bloodshot eyes
Into fluorescent white
They flip the siren, hit the lights
Close the doors, and I am gone

Now I lay here owing my life
To a stranger, and I realize
That empty words are not enough
I'm left here with the question of just

What have I to show except
The promises I never kept?
I lie here shaking on this bed
Under the weight of my regrets

I hope, that I will never let you down
I know, that this can be more than just
Flashing lights and sounds

Look around and you'll see that at times
It feels like no one really cares
It gets me down, but I'm still gonna try to
Do what's right, I know that there's a

Difference between sleight of hand
And giving everything you have
There's a line drawn in the sand
I'm working up the will to cross it

And I hope, that I will never let you down
I know, that this can be more than just
Flashing lights and sounds

Rhetoric can't raise the dead, I'm sick of always talking
When there's no change
Rhetoric can't raise the dead, I'm sick of empty words
Let's lead, and not follow

Late night, brakes lock, hear the tires squeal
Red light, can't stop, so I spin the wheel
My world goes black before I
Feel an angel steal me from the

Greedy jaws of death and chance
And pull me in with steady hands
They've given me a second chance
The artist in the ambulance

I hope, that I will never let you down
I know, that this can be more than just
Flashing lights and sounds

Can we pick you off the ground?
More than flashing lights and sounds


Lyrics submitted by ruben

The Artist in the Ambulance Lyrics as written by Edward Carrington Breckenridge Dustin Michael Kensrue

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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The Artist in the Ambulance song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    This song was inspired by Al Burian's book "The Burn Collector." I think song is about how Thrice hopes they can be more than just a band. (more than flashing lights and sound). They want to inspire and motivate people (can we pick you off the ground) to make the world a better place for everyone to live in.

    A paramedic physically helps people who are hurt and wounded. They are literally picking people up off the ground. It's easy to see, how everyday they are out making society a better place for us all.

    It's a little different for an Artist. An artist has to figure out a way to abstractly pick people off the ground and help them. Quite a daunting task for any Musician or Artist. But, this song is Thrice's way of telling their fans they will take on this challenge with everything thing they have. They are the artist in the ambulance and they will do their best to pick us off the ground.

    I hope this makes sense to someone.

    breakingstringson January 08, 2006   Link

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