Ah

Oh, Lilian
Look what you've done
You've stripped my heart
Ripped it apart
In the name of fun

Oh, Lilian
I'm a poor man's son
And precious jewels
Weren't found in schools
Where I came from

Pain and misery always hit the spot
Knowing you can't lose what you haven't got

Oh, Lilian
I should have run
I should have known
Each dress you own
Is a loaded gun

Oh, Lilian

Ah
Ah
Ah

Oh, Lilian
I need protection
I hear your voice
And any choice I had is gone

Oh, Lilian
Once I begun
I couldn't stop 'til every drop
Of blood was sung

Pain and misery always hit the spot
Knowing you can't lose what you haven't got

Oh, Lilian
Look what you've done
You stripped my heart
Ripped it apart
In the name of fun

Oh, Lilian
Ah
Oh, Lilian
Ah
Oh, Lilian
Ah
Oh, Lilian
Ah


Lyrics submitted by saturnine

Lilian Lyrics as written by Martin Gore

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Lilian song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

11 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    that girl rocks because she has the best name

    lilian_hafon June 22, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    ah... the unattainable high maintenance lilian. love this song

    pilgr1mon July 20, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song reminds me of a character from Atlas Shrugged Lillian Rearden who uses her looks, lust, and guilt to entrap and destroy men. Is it possible that DM is referencing this character?

    PCS153on September 04, 2007   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I used to think that this was about some new girl Martin was fascinated by after his divorce but then the idea popped in to my head that this is actually him pining for his wife. These are the lyrics that made me consider this:

    "Oh, Lilian Once I begun I couldn't stop Till every drop Of blood was sung Pain and misery Always hit the spot Knowing you can't lose What you haven't got"

    Martin has been singing about his wife all these years and once he started he couldn't stop until the last drop of blood from their ruined relationship was sung. And then there is the pain and misery of knowing that he has lost her and he can't lose her again because he no longer has her.

    Carinapiron February 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    To me this is the greatest song on Playing the Angel. Love the beat and feel :)

    HateSaikoon January 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song as well, I think its about a girl that took advantage of him.

    "You stripped my heart Ripped it apart In the name of fun"

    ThoR294on June 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yes this is my favourite song from Playing the Angel. Ah its so great! I think its about this guy who is terribly in love with this girl, and shes just messing with him. And i think we all are in that spot at one point or another... are hearts take control an feel too much, and we get hurt in the end. Like MapMistress said, the girl in this song is in control, because her feelings arent as strong, and when your so in love with someone, they dont love you back - ultimately they can manipulate the relationship and hurt you. Its shitty overall, and it hurts like hell. i think its a great song to tell somone who hurt you "look at what youve done, stripped my heart, ripped it apart, in the name of fun."

    lemona9on December 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    It is strange how one can interpret DM lyrics both applied to sex and drug addiction. This one surely "hits that spot"

    SwartKaton April 03, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I just assumed it was a biblical reference to Lilith - who apparently left Adam, they had some irreconcilable differences that even being the only two people on earth could not resolve.

    silvercordson December 15, 2017   Link
  • -2
    General Comment

    I ask two questions. #1- why is a man in his 40s singing about a woman wearing fancy dresses and expensive jewelry in a classroom setting? #2-why is he singing blood?

    Since the only way #1 could be possible is if he's in a classroom setting LOOKING AT a woman wearing fancy dresses and expensive jewelry to compare it to his upbringing IS IF he's in the classroom section of a dungeon. Well, then I'd have to say this is another BDSM song by DM. And if he's singing blood (Question #2), then he's probably getting a serious whipping in the classroom by Lilian.

    But not to worry, he says, "Pain and misery Always hit the spot." And it was ONLY "In the name of fun".

    And if he hears her voice and has no choice, well, then I guess Lilian would be in complete control. And if he leaves the classroom dungeon, and can't get her voice out of his head, well, that's the type of session that songs are written about.

    MapMistresson July 04, 2008   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
Techno Ted
Audioslave
Techno Ted may be a person who caused Chris incredible emotional pain & trepidation as well as moments of peace & happiness but now is removed and awaiting his fate. Darling may be a different person who is also free of him and can live her life free of Ted's tyranny. "In between all the laughing, and daydreams ... lies: a desert of truth" Lies are like a desert or the omission of Truth: Where there were Lies then Truth was absent. The song, "Techno Ted", may be a cathartic celebration of the downfall of this person.
Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.