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Bad Boys and Painkillers Lyrics

Bad boys and painkillers
Together like peas in a pod
Look at me just sticking around
The oxygen draining through my blood

Body crunched up and tight
Pounding and kicking me blind
Failing my body design
Digging trenches, looking for mines

CHORUS:
(Bad boys and) Looking for a new way out
(Painkillers) Swollen hands looking for love
(Bad boys and) Safe from harm is all I ask
(Painkillers)

Bad boys and painkillers
Drags me down so I’m miserable
Buy some time, I’m coming unstuck
Leave me here, I’ll crawl my way back

Cold as statues with such grace
My head imprinted with your face
I long for longing in this place
It’s no so hard with some patience

CHORUS:
(Bad boys and) Shaking like there’s no way out
(Painkillers) Swollen hands looking for love
(Bad boys and) Safe from harm is all I ask
(Painkillers)

Never complain or explain
Never felt lucky or shame
Microclimates and acid baths
Epic human achievement at last

CHORUS:
(Bad boys and) Still shaking still shaking
(Painkillers) Swollen hands looking for love
(Bad boys and) Safe from harm is all I ask
(Painkillers)
3 Meanings

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Cover art for Bad Boys and Painkillers lyrics by James Dean Bradfield

This is the best rrack on the cd! Are the "Swollen hands looking for love" a result of self abuse?

Cover art for Bad Boys and Painkillers lyrics by James Dean Bradfield

James Dean Bradfield has the best voice I ever heard. I love the way he packs so much emotion in. He always has, since the earliest Manics days. I think it's especially evident in this song. He can sound ferocious, and tender too.

Cover art for Bad Boys and Painkillers lyrics by James Dean Bradfield

'Swollen hands looking for love'

Overdosing on most types of painkillers leads to your hands and feet swelling up, due to kidney problems.

'(Bad boys and) Shaking like there’s no way out (Painkillers) Swollen hands looking for love (Bad boys and) Safe from harm is all I ask (Painkillers)'

When you've taken too many painkillers (in particular, codeine), you shake. Then swelling as mentioned. And you do it because you don't want to feel the pain of people telling you that they've let you down but all you wanted was to escape the disappointment of other people.

'Never complain or explain Never felt lucky or shame'

You never talk to anybody about your problems; you'd rather deal with them in 'your own special way' (by overdosing on painkillers, (Nurofen Plus in most cases). And you never felt 'lucky or shame' because you never gleaned anything from other people's treatment of you; you always thought that, if you explained what you did to them, they'd see you as some sort of psycho.

Thats's about it.

Source: personal experience.

 
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