The tiger waits in the bushes by the lake,
but I'll never tear you apart.
With a love so pure, our knees will shake
and tremble.

There were tracks in the silt where the stream becomes still
...but I'll never rip out your heart.
You're such a gentle a beast-
oh you never got tough,
like I got tough.
Like I got tough.

The faces in the window -
oh, they're just my friends.
I promise I won't let them in.
Oh, they live in the corn,
where they die and they're born -
where the blades go around,
churn up the ground
to open the over-toild soil.
ooooooooo baby.
ooooooooo baby.
ooooooooo babe.

Slashed 'cross the back,
your spine almost snapped.
I put three bullets in its face,
and I hung it from a tree,
for the other ones to see
what happens if
you mess with me.


Lyrics submitted by TrustNo121000

I'll Never Tear You Apart song meanings
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    General Comment

    An astounding song. It floors me every time. The imagery of land, water and beasts - nature, and the total bravery of what's disclosed is stunning. I wouldn't care to guess what Martin's meaning is, but to me, broadly, it seems to be an account of being torn apart by love, with a sort of injured outrageous irony about it.

    kaaton April 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    (There are things trying to keep them apart.) The tiger waits in the bushes by the lake,

    (He's promising that he'll never hurt her or use their love to his own selfish advantage.) but I'll never tear you apart. With a love so pure, our knees will shake and tremble.

    There were tracks in the silt where the stream becomes still ...but I'll never rip out your heart.

    (She hasn't been hurt by the world as much as he has. She hasn't grown cold.) You're such a gentle a beast- oh you never got tough, like I got tough. Like I got tough.

    (The faces in the window are his past ghosts and problems and he's saying that he wont bring them into their current relationship.) The faces in the window - oh, they're just my friends. I promise I won't let them in. Oh, they live in the corn, where they die and they're born - where the blades go around, churn up the ground to open the over-toild soil. ooooooooo baby. ooooooooo baby. ooooooooo babe.

    (Something hurt his lover.) Slashed 'cross the back, your spine almost snapped.

    (So he goes and "takes care" of the issue in a way that will show others that he'll do whatever it takes to keep them together.) I put three bullets in its face, and I hung it from a tree, for the other ones to see what happens if you mess with me.

    But that's just me.

    Invincible500on August 16, 2010   Link

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