Diamonds on the Inside Lyrics
the first time i ever heard this song, it brought tears to my eyes. simply because it hit so close to home.
this interpretation could be totally off, here goes;
"I knew a girl, Her name was truth. She was a horrible liar" --being a bad liar usually signifies that you're a good person, that at some point you may feel obligated to say what people wanna hear but it pains you to do so &&because of this, you're easily given away.
"She couldn't spend one day alone, But she couldn't be satisfied" --to me this line means she's got much to offer, and longs to share this insane amount of love. but she settles for less because she has yet to find someone worthy.
"When you have everything, You have everything to lose" --this line is about materialism, it's about having everything you could ever ask for, [the american dream, if you will] but not having a damn thing to keep you warm at night.
"She made herself a bed of nails, And she's planning on putting it to use" --this line is saying that she creates her own struggles. it means she won't allow herself to be happy because perhaps she doesn't think/know she deserves to be.
"But she had diamonds on the inside.." --this line [also the title], is the simplest yet most significant. diamonds are considered the most beautiful of minerals. it is often times a gift given to express love. to have diamonds on the inside means her true beauty lies beneath. it means that anyone willing to dig, will find it rewarding.
"A candle throws its light into the darkness, In a nasty world so shines a good deed" --this line means that the tiniest of good deeds can bring warmth to a cold world.
"Make sure the fortune that you seek, Is the fortune that you need" --fortune can mean either wealth or good luck. so this line, to me, is saying to pursue happiness &&take every opportunity you're given to get you what you really want in life.
"Tell me why the first to ask, Is the last to give every time" --this line is about selfishness. it's about always wanting but never giving.
"What you say and do not mean, Follows you close behind" --this lines means is a continuation of the whole 'terrible liar' quote, it's about regretting to say the words that are really on your mind
"Like the soldier long standing under fire, Any change comes as a relief" --this line is about struggle, it's about being sticking it out and hoping for the best.
"Let the giver's name remain unspoken, She is just a generous thief" --this line is about giving, while expecting nothing in return. it's saying that she's willing to give it all, if she can steal the right man's heart.
she had diamonds on the inside.. this song is me, hands down.
This is about a girl and even tho she is all the things he said, shes beautiful on the inside. Its a love song
here goes my interpretation of this song
her name was truth but she was a horrible liar. society gives names opposite to the reallity usually only connected to the outter and most superficial appearence forgetting about the essence. Those who have those names think of themselves being that way even if they're not. that takes them to make things and ask for things that aren't what they need, as so they will never be satisfied. They can´t reach what they need maybe because they don´t know what that is.
she has everything she asks for (mostly things she doesn't need) and, that can be lost easly. it makes no sense trying to achieve everytinhg if in that sarch we lose it all.
she made herself a bed of nails, and she's planning on putting it to use. i thnk that is like the consequence of what's behind, the only way of survivng in this environment is becoming nails... i don't know if that meens shallow and superficial or if that means meen and angry, maybe both. she plans on using it to survive but i think BH gives the idea that she can't because she has diamonds in the inside , she is superior. to me diamonds are only related to the beauty, i can't include the meaning of a hard rock. i think this song is all about the inner beauty contrasting with what society can makes your outter appearence into, even if you're good on th inside.
A candle throws its light into the darkness In a nasty world so shines a good deed Make sure the fortune that you seek Is the fortune that you need Tell me why the first to ask Is the last to give every time What you say and do not mean Follows you close behind
it is showing the same ideas. a little shine (diamonds on the inside) in a nasty world is a great thing. but now he is trying to give us the solutions to not fall in th things that she would have if she hadn't diamonds on th inside: we must search only for what we need; we should think of giving even if we don't think of asking, the so called giving without expecting something in return (its a proverb here in portugal =P);we must say what we feel, and what we are, don't hide anything don't lie about anything.
Like the soldier long standing under fire Any change comes as a relief Let the giver's name remain unspoken She is just a generous thief
now he is talking about his own expectations: he is under this fire (the influences of the society) for a long time and he sees everyone being sucked into this machine. as so, a small change is a relief. let the giver's name remain unspoken once he is not expecting anytinhg, he is just a generous thief. I agree as this being an oximeron and i think it resumes the whole song.we must be generous, giving without expecting even if the society directs us to being thiefs(asking for everytinhg even if we don't deserve it, even if we don't need it, giving nothing in return)
é engraçado! comecei a ler o teu post e pensei mesmo (juro!): que interpretação mais portuguesa, tou a curtir! interpretaste como eu interpretaria, n deve ser por sermos de Portugal, mas achei msm piada....pq realmente pensei nisso! E qd li a informação extra "(its a proverb here in portugal =P)" fiquei parva! Foi grande cena, pensei e confirmei! :D
é engraçado! comecei a ler o teu post e pensei mesmo (juro!): que interpretação mais portuguesa, tou a curtir! interpretaste como eu interpretaria, n deve ser por sermos de Portugal, mas achei msm piada....pq realmente pensei nisso! E qd li a informação extra "(its a proverb here in portugal =P)" fiquei parva! Foi grande cena, pensei e confirmei! :D
This is about a girl and even tho she is all the things he said, shes beautiful on the inside. Its a love song
to me this song has multiple meanings one being the obvious that it is a girl who literally can't be without her man at any time but also isn't happy with anything he does. the other being what mkfanatic said about maybe its a generalization about society itself and how self-centered and materialistic it has become, how no one does anything for others anymore because their own agendas seem more important than the greater good. as far as the "she's made herself a bed of nails, and she's planning on putting it to use" line i think its a continuation of the start of the song and the one girl who is seeming to hurt herself on purpose or perhaps even of society hurting itself.
A candle throws its light into the darkness In a nasty world so shines a good deed Make sure the fortune that you seek Is the fortune that you need
i love that part...
i reckon this song is about how some girls pretend to be all tough and bitchy and shit...(like goths) but deep down they are beautifl ppl..."she's got diamonds on the inside"
i dont know...i hope thats what it means...i love that meening!...lol
I like jewels91's interpretation :) this song is so beautiful
thanks
thanks
I think it's about a girl that seems to be quite materialistic but it turns out that she has a beautiful soul this is my favourite Ben Harper song I love t video of it to every time I see it it makes me want to move to the north coast of NSW where it was shot and surf every day
First of all, let it be know that I would "do" Ben Harper in a heartbeat. I know I am not alone.
I think this song is having to do with someone who has "good energy". This is a quality that radiates from within- just like a face is a "window to the soul". It is entirely evident when someone feels happy and good about life and herself. Diamonds on the inside means that she is "sparkling" and can't hide the fact that she loves life and people. She made herself "a bed of nails" and she put it to use. She was willing to hurt herself to let someone know how much she cared about them. She put herself through pain in order to let him be aware of her love FOR HIM. Isn't that beautiful?
I love this song.
Why has no-one commented on this song?!
I think it is about his girlfriend who fails to see her own inner beauty and is on the wrong path. She may have even been unfaithful, seeking fulfillment from sources that could never provide it, as the secret to her own fulfillment lies within her. Thus she is doing some things, and saying some things, that she should not be doing or saying, and getting the results.... a bed of nails, perhaps a double entendre for karma and for being in bed with the wrong person, creating more pain. But all the while, he sees and is...
I think it is about his girlfriend who fails to see her own inner beauty and is on the wrong path. She may have even been unfaithful, seeking fulfillment from sources that could never provide it, as the secret to her own fulfillment lies within her. Thus she is doing some things, and saying some things, that she should not be doing or saying, and getting the results.... a bed of nails, perhaps a double entendre for karma and for being in bed with the wrong person, creating more pain. But all the while, he sees and is wrenched by the conflict between her outward behavior and the inner beauty, wishing that she too could see herself as he does. Its a beautiful song, about both his and her pain.