Just forget all about fate
While I unlock this gentleman's promise
With flesh like the fire but it lacks a color
And chemical laugh (that) fly around like drama
I know I move like an apparition
In a style thats all ghostwritten
But these are the things I can take apart
These are the things I can take...

You move me like I've got new feet...

"Just don't leave me like this
Because I need wonder..."

My stereo has blown away
So for now your voice can stay
But once they all circle me
I will rip apart this machine
(My stereo has blown away)

I am a prince
With paper parts
Made of spit and paper dolls
A killer's karma has been bound
Uneven seams
A broken bow...
She's got this problem with people flying
One way tickets and a fear of crying
But these are the things she can take apart
These are the things I will take

You move me like I've got new feet...

Just don't leave me like this
Because I need wonder
Just don't leave me like this

My stereo has blown away
So for now your voice can stay
But once they all circle me
I will rip apart
My stereo has blown away
So for now your voice can stay
But once they all circle me
I will rip apart this machine


I cut her up and sent all the parts and
They hung them on all the corners and bars


Lyrics submitted by betterangel

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9 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    well these are horribly wrong.

    "just forget all about fate" "but it lacks the color" "and gimmickal laughs fly around like drama" "i know i move like an apparition in a style thats all ghostwritten" "so for now your voice can stay"

    those could even be wrong but honestly...are you deaf? common sense people.

    betterangelon April 09, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    its not voice im sure of that buddy

    elishacuthbertfanon April 09, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    sorry, maybe i got one wrong as opposed to your 5 or so.

    betterangelon April 12, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    here are the correct lyrics from the website :)

    Just forget all about fate While I unlock this gentlemen’s promise With Flesh like fire but it lacks a color And chemical laughs (that) fly around like drama I know I move like an apparition in a style that’s all ghostwritten but these are the things I can take apart These are the things I can take…

    You move me like I’ve got new feet…

    “Just don’t leave me like this because I need wonder….”

    My stereo has blown away So for now your voice can stay… But once they all circle me…. … I will rip apart this machine…

    I am a prince With paper parts Made of spit and paper dolls A killer’s karma has been bound Uneven seams a broken bow… She’s got this problem with people flying One way tickets and a fear of crying But these are the things she can take apart These are the things I will take….

    I cut her up and sent all the parts and They hung them on all the corners and bars

    brokenchordson April 22, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    northstar is amazing

    AllStarMeon April 26, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This guy has a girlfriend, and she breaks up with him for some other guy and all of his "promises" and nick says he can take all of them apart, and show the real true color of the new guy. northstar owns

    Gloria X Fadeson May 01, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Alright ladies nice job finally getting some lyrics right but still what the hell does it mean lol? Sounds awesome but I want to know what My Stereo Was Blown Away is all about? And say I am Prince real fast and it sounds like immigrants lol

    Blink0on January 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "My stereo is blown away so for now your voice can stay"

    I had this so clear in my head. Here's what I can pull out... she's gone..but he misses her voice..his stereo is off so he can her hear voice in his head? possibly. it's not very deep or detailed..and we very much so need a deep detailed explanation!

    oh and i found amusment in saying I am Prince fast..lol

    iluvmyfender129on May 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    I've been listening to this song so long and playing it, beautiful song by Nick....so I guess after all these years, I should share my input...

    My interpretation of course..

    First verses are, I concur, about taking apart the new guy's true self for what he really is, someone who is not true to her like he was.

    "I know I move like an apparition in a style that’s all ghostwritten"

    My interpretation here is that he maybe wasn't always there emotionally or mentally in the relationship and maybe lacked the communication she wanted but that doesn't stop him from picking apart someone who is using her.

    "My stereo has blown away So for now your voice can stay… But once they all circle me…. … I will rip apart this machine…"

    He wants to hear her voice but it drives her crazy bc it doesn't bring her back, the voices can make him destructive, emotionally or physically.

    "I am a prince With paper parts Made of spit and paper dolls A killer’s karma has been bound Uneven seams a broken bow…"

    He knows he's not the role model boyfriend and is maybe being self deprecating. The karma (referencing a ship porting/taking off) is either his karma (her leaving) or her karma that is coming depending on his state of mind when he wrote this.

    "She’s got this problem with people flying One way tickets and a fear of crying But these are the things she can take apart These are the things I will take…."

    She has a hard time with goodbyes and perhaps and can't take that emotional release with him face to face but she can do it if she really wants, his hope being that she can face him and come back.

    "I cut her up and sent all the parts and They hung them on all the corners and bars"

    He's clearly a serial killer and she should run.

    OR he cuts up her memories into pieces and tries to forget them...maybe on the corners and at the bars he tries to forget.

    Anyway, could be 100% wrong but that's the beauty of art and song writing. It doesn't have to mean exactly what Nick was thinking. What makes the song powerful is how you interpret it

    travis1174on August 26, 2020   Link

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