PJ Harvey – Pocket Knife

Please don't make my wedding dress
I'm too young to marry yet
Can you see my pocket knife?
You can't make me be a wife
How the world just turns & turns
How does anybody learn?

Mummy, put your needle down
How did you feel when you were young?
'cause I feel like I've just been born
Even though I'm getting on
How the world slips by so fast

How does anybody last?
As the world keeps coming
And the bees keep humming
And I'll keep running

Flowers I can do without
I don't wanna be tied down
White material will stain
My pocket knife's gotta shiny blade
I'm not trying to cause a fuss
I just wanna make my own fuck-ups
I'm not trying to break your heart
I'm just trying not to fall apart


Lyrics submitted by hardcor_toonz

"The Pocket Knife" as written by Polly Jean Harvey

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Pocket Knife song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentThe more I listen to the song the more I feel as though the main character is begging her mother not to make her get married, and telling us that if she has to wed, she will kill herself.
    Spideryon September 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is about the fears of growing up. The lyrics are very profound and metaphorical. I love it.
    ApplesInMonoon March 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI don't understand how the symbolism of a blade comes into the song, has anyone got any ideas?
    *Amy*on March 31, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThe line "White material will stain" then "My pocket knife's gotta shiny blade" makes me think that she is anticipating using the pocket knife. I assumed that she is about to kill her future husband in order to get away, because as the song says, she just wants to make her own fuck-ups.
    Spideryon June 02, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentShe is basically saying she is violently opposed to marriage, because she sees it as a sign on forfeiting her youth. She has too much left to accomplish in life to settle down now.
    blueskymindon July 19, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment*amy* - i think the relevance of the knife might b summit to do with wat i read in her biography....wen she was involved with nick drake, they dueted with a song about a woman who murdered her husband with a pocket knife and threw him down awell, although i may have dreamed that last bit. but this would tie together both the wedding dress theme and knife....maybe its an extension of this song?
    asktheangelson August 02, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti think you mean nick cave
    googoogooon January 31, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti think you mean nick cave
    googoogooon January 31, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentHuzzah for being single.
    _ellieon May 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti think its about more than just staying single...its about the shock of suddenly having responsibility, but still having people telling you what you should be doing. Shes freaking out about the people telling her what to do and saying that if shes going to fuck up, it should be from her own mistake. Or maybe its just about her wanting to be single...and im just describing my own situation...
    Drewb18c1on October 12, 2006   Link

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