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Coughing Colors Lyrics
She homed with thieves, kicked up dirty leaves
She was a maniac, no one's heart attack
She got around, slept on the bad side of town
She was cooler than you, way cooler than me
She was true, all blinded and bruised
She didn't give a fuck, no, she had given up
She was alive
She was caught on fire
She was everything
She was all of this
She opened up and laid it all right there
She said: "No, I don't mind, no, no, I don't care
I'll help you shovel out my shallow hole
And I know, I know they're threatening
But at least we're not the ones carrying
Such heavy, heavy, heavy stoning stones
And yeah, I know they'll get you down
They'll do you in and they'll drag it out
'Cause me and you, we are one of a kind,"
She liked to lose, never wore Sunday shoes
She found her luck in wells and corner stores and jails
She was crazy, a downtown kind of baby
Always dangerous, she got me down on my knees
She made it rain, she called the wind and then it came
Oh, with the wave of her hand, she brought the sunshine right in
She was the sky, beyond steeple and the choir
Oh, the preacher's amen, her hallelujah child
She opened up and laid it all right there
She said, "No, I don't mind, no, no, I don't care
I'll help you shovel out my shallow hole
And I know, I know they're threatening
But at least we're not the ones carrying
Such heavy, heavy, heavy stoning stones
So when your bones are broke and you're all alone
And the fog's so thick you can't see up close
Just know that I will end up strangled too
And when the floods, they come all rushing in
And the boat is full and you can't get in
Oh, it's okay if you don't want to swim
And when you're swallowed up, oh, don't you cry
Just give right in, don't try to fight
'Cause baby, I wouldn't pay no mind
There's nothing you can do
They'll have you coughing up your colors
They'll have you coughing up your colors,"
She sang the blues, out of time and out of tune
Spoke no silver spoon, only simple truths
She was a friend, stabbed backs and broke plans
She would give you her coat or put nails through her hand
She was wise, full of magic and life
Oh, you could see it in her eyes
Oh yeah, I saw it in her eyes
She was more than this
Oh, way more than this
She was everything
She was all of this
She was a maniac, no one's heart attack
She got around, slept on the bad side of town
She was cooler than you, way cooler than me
She was true, all blinded and bruised
She didn't give a fuck, no, she had given up
She was caught on fire
She was everything
She was all of this
She said: "No, I don't mind, no, no, I don't care
I'll help you shovel out my shallow hole
And I know, I know they're threatening
But at least we're not the ones carrying
Such heavy, heavy, heavy stoning stones
And yeah, I know they'll get you down
They'll do you in and they'll drag it out
'Cause me and you, we are one of a kind,"
She found her luck in wells and corner stores and jails
She was crazy, a downtown kind of baby
Always dangerous, she got me down on my knees
She made it rain, she called the wind and then it came
Oh, with the wave of her hand, she brought the sunshine right in
She was the sky, beyond steeple and the choir
Oh, the preacher's amen, her hallelujah child
She said, "No, I don't mind, no, no, I don't care
I'll help you shovel out my shallow hole
And I know, I know they're threatening
But at least we're not the ones carrying
Such heavy, heavy, heavy stoning stones
So when your bones are broke and you're all alone
And the fog's so thick you can't see up close
Just know that I will end up strangled too
And when the floods, they come all rushing in
And the boat is full and you can't get in
Oh, it's okay if you don't want to swim
And when you're swallowed up, oh, don't you cry
Just give right in, don't try to fight
'Cause baby, I wouldn't pay no mind
There's nothing you can do
They'll have you coughing up your colors
They'll have you coughing up your colors,"
Spoke no silver spoon, only simple truths
She was a friend, stabbed backs and broke plans
She would give you her coat or put nails through her hand
Oh, you could see it in her eyes
Oh yeah, I saw it in her eyes
She was more than this
Oh, way more than this
She was all of this
Song Info
Submitted by
delial On Apr 09, 2006
More Tilly and the Wall
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Rainbows in the Dark
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Yesssss it's about time some lyrics from the new CD were up here, I know it's been leaked out on the internet for a while now.
Except all the "he"s should be "she"s...
and change the "his"s to "her"s...
This is one of the most gorgeous and sad love songs I've ever heard.
Aside from my personal interpretation, I would like to know what this song is specifically supposed to be about... anyone?
I think a lot of it has to do with society breaking somoene down, and how to get past that.
"at least we're not the ones carrying such heavy heavy heavy stoning stones."
Even though they live such "terrible" lives in accordance to society, at least they don't have that hate in them that they just have to throw on someone else.
I think it is wonderful and so sad.
Because if you choose to live a life like you want to, well, they'll have you coughing up your colors.
i agree with blue.
as a society we tend to cast stones upon those who don't exactly fit into our models of society. i think that the song portrays those who are looked down upon as a saint--showing a new side of life that could've otherwise not been discovered.
it gives me a religous feel..with the angellic vocals in the background. sort of reminds me of grisabella from cats.
but i think everyone can relate to this song in one way or another, and it took me quite a few listens to get the impact of it. it's become one of my favorites on the album.
it feels like the ultimate tragedy to me. someone so idealistic, intelligent, wild, and zealous getting pushed down by social lines.
"and when the floods they come all rushing in and the boat is full and you can't get in oh, it's okay if you don't want to swim and when you're swallowed up, oh, don't you cry just give right in, don't try to fight 'cause baby i wouldn't pay no mind there's nothing you can do"
i personally see this as her talking about why she has to leave, to where, its up to the listener. she chooses freedom of the mind over living an un-full under what is socially accepted.
How perfect..........
I hated this song when I first listened to it. Now when I hear it starting, I get all happy inside. (and sad at the same time)
oh my god this song makes me cry! yeh, i agree, it's about someone who doesn't fit with the norms of society, and gets their dreams crushed and breaks down because of it. it's a love story, told by the guy (or girl, i guess, though it's a guy singing) who loves her, and maybe isn't as much as a rebel or watever, like the lines "she was cooler than you/way cooler than me" might suggest, but gets put in kind of the same position because of their connection to this person.