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Private Hell Lyrics
Closer than close - you see yourself
A mirrored image - of what you wanted to be
As each day goes by - a little more
You can't remember - what it was you wanted anyway
The fingers feel the lines - they prod the space
Your aging face - the face that once was so beautiful
Is still there but unrecognizable -
Private Hell
The man who you once loved - is bald and fat
And seldom in - working late as usual
Your interest has waned - you feel the strain
The bed springs snap - on the occasions he lies upon you
Close your eyes and think of nothing but -
Private Hell
Think of Emma - wonder what she's doing -
Her husband Terry - and your grandchildren
Think of Edward - who's still at college -
You send him letters - which he doesn't acknowledge
Cause he don't care,
They don't care
Cause they're all going through their own - Private Hell
The morning slips away - in a valium haze -
And catalogues - and numerous cups of coffee
In the afternoon - the weekly food -
Is put in bags - as you float off down the high street
The shop windows reflect - play a nameless host to a closet ghost
A picture of your fantasy - A victim of your misery and -
Private Hell
Alone at 6 o'clock - you drop a cup
You see it smash - inside you crack
You can't go on - but you sweep it up
Safe at last inside your Private Hell
Sanity at last inside your Private Hell
A mirrored image - of what you wanted to be
As each day goes by - a little more
You can't remember - what it was you wanted anyway
The fingers feel the lines - they prod the space
Your aging face - the face that once was so beautiful
Is still there but unrecognizable -
Private Hell
The man who you once loved - is bald and fat
And seldom in - working late as usual
Your interest has waned - you feel the strain
The bed springs snap - on the occasions he lies upon you
Close your eyes and think of nothing but -
Private Hell
Think of Emma - wonder what she's doing -
Her husband Terry - and your grandchildren
Think of Edward - who's still at college -
You send him letters - which he doesn't acknowledge
Cause he don't care,
They don't care
Cause they're all going through their own - Private Hell
The morning slips away - in a valium haze -
And catalogues - and numerous cups of coffee
In the afternoon - the weekly food -
Is put in bags - as you float off down the high street
The shop windows reflect - play a nameless host to a closet ghost
A picture of your fantasy - A victim of your misery and -
Private Hell
Alone at 6 o'clock - you drop a cup
You see it smash - inside you crack
You can't go on - but you sweep it up
Safe at last inside your Private Hell
Sanity at last inside your Private Hell
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Middle aged housewife, whose children have flown the nest and are too busy with their new lives, whist her relationship wiht her husband is waning/breaking down while her life is now routine and seems meaningless.
And now she misses her youth.
But thinking a bit more about this song, it seems to describe a sort of slipping into a kind of depression, when you feel you've lost your purpose in life and that any hopes and dreams are slipping away, to give a more general interpretation.
Its definitely about slipping into depression due to all these horrible factors. Until today I had never realized how dark the lyrics were. Amazing song writing
The plight of the ordinary. Read my take on it here: https://bonniecochrane.wordpress.com/2020/02/16/a-house-with-no-love-private-hell-by-the-jam/