I smoke on the front porch
The french fries burn inside
I wait for Ricki Lake, I think she's on at 3:00
And smoke is everywhere
It's everything
And keeps me from being seen
And I'll hide at the end of the couch
As the TV screams
"Some sad boy has been suffocating!"
And everyone thinks that he's guilty of something
And we don't know what
As they point their fingers at his heartstrings unwinding
They lay on the floor, explode under their feet
His blood cakes the walls, explodes on the wood paneling
The blood of ex-lovers: goodbye, Calcutta

Smoke is soaking in the blood
On the walls that are closing in on me

So light up your incense, smoke up your cigarettes

The blue light of the TV screen
Needles through the haze
The light is piercing me, it pierces everything
This house can never go to sleep
And when cars go by, they peek inside
And see the TV scream
They know what it's like to be lonely
Or what it's like to be guilty of something
They don't know what
But their fingers point at their memories, dead dreams
As the smoke pulls away the blood clots in their veins
Count down to explode
Prepare to unload the bombs of ex-lovers
Goodbye, Calcutta

Your walls are closing in on me
Your walls are closing in on me


Lyrics submitted by helsabot

Goodbye Calcutta song meanings
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2 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    no comments... this song is amazing

    i think its about a boy being blamed for something he didnt do which led to a breakup.. the boy then picks up smoking which start to affect his health so everyone starts to worry about him and at the end he finally gives up hope.

    just my opinion though i didnt want to comment just saying that the song was amazing though it really is

    $sDon March 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i forgot to add he wanted to cut himself off from everyone..

    i dont think i can edit my post...

    $sDon March 22, 2007   Link

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