Fire on the porch on a summer's night
All of my things are there inside
Black smoke rise up, burn on burn higher
I smell leaves and burning tires
Dogs in the meadows barking wild
Blackbird rise up, tell me what have you done

I'm not drunk and I'm not sad
There's nothing inside that I want back
Let me touch your lips, let me see where you're at
Do you wonder how I am tonight
Then don't lose time looking in my eyes
Not every tear means you're gonna cry

From the bottom of my heart
Comes a cold dark feeling
There is nothing but dust
In the layers I'm peeling

From the bottom of my heart
Beats a rattling drum
Marching back up the steps
Into the rays of the sun

Under crushing skies of grays
Paralyzed with phantom pains
Before this room became just a place
Where I just sleep through endless days
Spinning webs and carving names
Where thoughts break up, exploding in space

But I once crossed a quarter mile
Through black pools of razor wire
And cut through steel
With the edge of a file
While singing rhapsodies in stride
Hellbent and dignified
Now my time has come
Who you fooling and why?

From the bottom of my heart
Comes a cold dark feeling
There is eminent death
To the promise I'm keeping

From the bottom of my heart
Comes an army of one
Marching back up the steps
Into the rays of the sun

Pale-faced and hollowed eyes
Buried under ruptured skies
Not every smile
Means I'm laughing inside
Two-faced and compromised
I've enraptured you with lies
Everything means nothing
And tonight everything is mine

From the bottom of my heart
Comes a cold dark feeling
I have buried so much
In the layers I'm peeling

From the bottom of my heart
A battle will come
Coming up from the depths
Into the rays of the sun

From the bottom of my heart
Comes a cold dark feeling
Wrapped around tight
With no sign of leaving

From the bottom of my heart
A ballad is sung
Through a whisper she comes
Into the rays of the sun


Lyrics submitted by planetearth

From the Bottom of My Heart Lyrics as written by Jakob Dylan

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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From the Bottom Of My Heart song meanings
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8 Comments

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  • 0
    General CommentThis is my favorite Wallflowers song. It always makes me think, especially the line:

    "Not every smile means I'm laughing inside"

    Simply put, this song is really melodic and pretty. I'm surprised no one's commented; this song is obviously one of the best on Rebel, Sweetheart. Jakob Dylan is a genius. :)
    Dance With Me Loison December 19, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSounds to me like he loves a girl but is dissatisfied with the relationship and is depressed by it. sounds like he is thinking about leaving (although he knows he won't) or like he once thought about leaving but can't.

    ...the curse of all of us who are messed up--none of our relationships can be completely satisfying.
    Hraesvelgon February 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSounds to me like he loves a girl but is dissatisfied with the relationship and is depressed by it. sounds like he is thinking about leaving (although he knows he won't) or like he once thought about leaving but can't.

    ...the curse of all of us who are messed up--none of our relationships can be completely satisfying.
    Hraesvelgon February 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment...sorry
    Hraesvelgon February 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis is my absolute favorite song by (the)Wallflowers. It's perfect, in every sense.

    My favorite lines are:

    'I'm not drunk and I'm not sad
    There's nothing inside that I want back.'

    and

    'Under crushing skies of grays
    Paralyzed with phantom pains
    Before this room became just a place
    Where I just sleep through endless days
    Spinning webs and carving names
    Where thoughts break up, exploding in space

    But I once crossed a quarter mile
    Through black pools of razor wire
    And cut through steel
    With the edge of a file
    While singing rhaphsodies in stride
    Hellbent and dignified
    Now my time has come
    Who you fooling and why?'

    I think that it might be about being strong and developing a more positive outlook on life.

    Whatever it's about, I effin' love it... to death.
    xmakesherflyxon May 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis song is great.
    its about life, really, and how the writer feels about it and himself
    more_to_mee37on September 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI'm having a rough time figuring this song out but Ill tell you this much

    "I'm not drunk and I'm not sad"

    goes hand in hand with

    "Not every tear means you're gonna cry"

    my interpretation is that of a person who shows like he/she is sad but may not actually be and they are not aware of it (imo because of a lack of experience, immaturity) they may be sad at the moment but can easily move on. Just like when we teenagers or late teen adults break up
    unflip16on October 02, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General CommentTo be honest, it seems to me like the song is about Dylan's inner rage with a former lover.
    The phrases "From the bottom of my heart comes a cold dark feeling, I have buried so much in the layers I'm peeling" and "Not every smile means I'm laughing inside" explains how this rage has pent up for so long, and is now just starting to seep out through a layer of falsities.
    limecrayonon May 26, 2011   Link

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