3 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A

Swallow Tattoo Lyrics

Give me a good film noir and a bottle of gin
I'll be happy just to stay inside,
I didn't want to get too involved
But I like how hard you tried.

To my horror,
A former lover told me you've always had a swallow tattoo
Now you tell me it's a sign of devotion
But devotion to who?

Don't think I'm a martyr to the cause
She's got her reasons putting cats amongst the pigeons
But I'd rather just stay indoors.

An antique emblem set in ink
It didn't mean a thing to you,
Now I've been wronged by proxy
Goodbye, happiness, I hardly knew ya.

To my horror,
A former lover told me you've always had a swallow tattoo
Now you tell me it's a sign of devotion
But devotion to who?

You fill me, you fill me
You fill me with inertia
You fill me with inertia
I still want, I still want to jump
I want to jump your bones.

Don't tell her, tell her anything
Because I'm bound to see her later today
And if she can't keep a straight face
Then I'll know.
To my horror,
A former lover told me you've always had a swallow tattoo
Now you tell me it's a sign of devotion
But devotion to who?

I'd rather just stay indoors.
3 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Add your thoughts...
Cover art for Swallow Tattoo lyrics by Long Blondes, The
Cover art for Swallow Tattoo lyrics by Long Blondes, The

I read somewhere that both Dorian (guitarist and main lyricist) and Emma (keyboardist and guitarist) have tattoos of swallows. I also heard they were together.

Cover art for Swallow Tattoo lyrics by Long Blondes, The

It seems to me that the singer is seeing someone. The boy's ex-girlfriend (rather bitchily) tells her that he has a swallow tattoo to remind him of her. When the singer asks him about it he just says "it's a sign of devotion." She is pretty gutted and doesn't want the hassle and pain of seeing him even though she still likes him.