I killed a snake with a bible
I was living a Johnny Cash song
I'm afraid for this I may be liable
So its best I be moving - moving along

Just a temporary remedy
Running through my veins

Summer lasted through November
Funny when its gone you miss cold
Words can be spoken for a lifetime
We can never hear until we're told

Just a temporary remedy
Running through my veins

They tell me nothing is perfect
Then tell me why is it a word
Yesterday's news is tomorrow's blues
Now they're perfectly blurred

Just a temporary remedy
Running through my veins


Lyrics submitted by Stardust29

Temporary Remedy Lyrics as written by Ben C Harper

Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Temporary Remedy song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

3 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    @Journey & Mattc867

    It doesn't appear that random to me. Seems pretty obviously about getting over heroin addiction, and then lapsing back into it.

    Temporary Remedy: Heroin

    I killed a snake with a bible: Found Jesus, killed a devil in his life I was living a Johnny Cash song: Johnny Cash famously was addicted to heroin I'm afraid for this I may be liable: Is there going to be any lingering effects from my heroin addiction?

    Just [Heroin] running through my veins

    Second verse I think is about not seeing the problem with it, even though he heard everyone else saying it, until he was told for certain by the lord, when he reaped what he sowed.

    Third verse is about having doubts about quitting. It appears like the reason they invented the word perfect. Whatever happened yesterday, he doesn't have to worry about until tomorrow.

    I could be wrong, but yeah, I think the randomness you hear is the dynamism of heroin pumping through his veins as simulated in guitar play.

    AaronTheApeon April 18, 2012   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.