Its cos your out of sight
shit, this makes no sense
she wants to tell me real bad
she drove her home
though you'll never know
you'll never know
she wants an explanation
she wants to tell you that
didnt know what had made me run for
dont think there is one
she wants an explanation
she wants to know what went wrong
didnt know what had made me run for
really dont think there is one
she wants an explanation
didnt know what had made me run for
she wants an explanation
wonder if i'll try to remember
i hope this makes you cry
i hope this makes you sad
this whiskey's just as dry as i am
she'd look more beautiful if she'd cried
i just want to lie down
how would i know she would break down
if i get a map and follow down
and alphabet written on the manhole
smiling there it means i finally
hold you head high
slip into the mood of our lie
i finally hold your head high
so we'll just give up
and we'll keep on going over
learn to keep your mouth shut
regret if we find the enemy hands
never fights with me
but all these ghosts never leave me alone
give everyone a call
tell them we hope to see them soon
give everyone who's dead a call
tell them you think you'll be home soon
try not to sleep and scare these self affirming notions
try not to think and scare these self affirming thoughts


Lyrics submitted by mikestpierre

Alphabet on the Manhole song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    Sounds like the jumbled thoughts of a drunk person after breaking up with their lover, perhaps in a selfish or unceremonious way that the person regrets ("She wants an explanation, didn't know what I ran for", "I hope this makes you cry, I hope this makes you sad"). At the same time, he also still sounds like he's trying to justify it in his mind and relieve his guilt, as seen in the last few lines.

    josephpsfon August 26, 2018   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    As I've listened to this song more I've realized that, while my original comment pertains, I actually think it's from the perspective of two people in a mutually toxic, suffocating, and unhealthy relationship. The whole song frames the vocalists against each other, they don't sing with each other in a duet but in a series of jumbled, probably drunk and angry thoughts at one another ("I hope this makes you sad", "she'd look more beautiful if she cried", "learn to keep your mouth shut", etc). This seems to be the argument that causes their breakup, as at the end the male leaves, mumbling drunkenly to himself about the unceremonious breakup and the impending regrets, but also still holding on to his anger ("try not to sleep and scare these self affirming notions") It could be just about any relationship that ends in a tragically angry way, but I think the song seems to frame it in a way that's not necessarily abusive but in a way that it is clear these two people have been sucking away at each others' happiness and healthiness for a long time, and in the end, through all their trials and errors, they still failed as they remained in a state of anger and hatred in each other.

    It's a sad truth that many breakups end up like this, as much as we sometimes wish it could always be amicable - it's rarely that simple.

    josephpsfon December 10, 2018   Link

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