before, it showed, the treads tore up
before, it slipped, it gasped, it burned up
then it swept us right back in, worse than it’d ever been
burned our palms to teach the hands they were moving
opened the store, called the poor-mans' guard

now that these pieces all fit
i’m turning myself in with it
now that your telling me this
i listen but
those lies are harder in the flesh
white madam younger than all this
what moves inside you at the time
you say i can’t see from your side
it might come, in time, that might come
well let’s, not wager on our kinds

it’s the only time we get, it’s the only time we get
don’t get too wound up on your new kick
we’ve already made up our minds again
it’s the only time we get, it’s the only time we get
everyone else is such a bore
white madam how can’t you see us
what moves inside you when it’s time
what stands beside you in your mind
when what’s revealed, was never, fully concealed
when you know we lost us to ourselves


Lyrics submitted by downhillracer

White Madam song meanings
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    General Comment

    Chorus has me listening to this song alot, I can't even take a stab in the dark as to the general meaning of this one, I don't know the band well enough.

    IwantSamsonon February 03, 2008   Link

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