I've been talking to the wall and it's been answering me
Oh darling how I miss you
I'm just the mere shadow of my former selfishness
I crave the silhouette of your kiss
With only the blue light of the TV on
Lip reading threats and false alarms
There's a boy somewhere holding hands with himself
And a girl in a window on the Reeperbarn
Whenever I put my foot in my mouth and you begin to doubt
That it's you that I'm dreaming about
Do I have to draw you a diagram?
All I ever want is just to fall into your human hands

With the kings and queens of the dance hall craze
Checkmate in three moves in your heyday
But the girls don't listen to your line anymore
Now you're part of someone else

On the factory floor and you still say "where's the action?"
Now you manufacture happiness
And get sold on the cheap for someone's satisfaction

(Chorus)
All you toy soldiers and scaremongers
Are you living in this world sometimes I wonder
In between saying you've seen too much and saying you've seen it all before

Tighter and tighter I hold you tightly
You know I love you more than slightly
Although I've never said it like this before

(Chorus)


Lyrics submitted by elleon

Human Hands Lyrics as written by Elvis Costello

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Human Hands song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

6 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is great (and from Dan in Real Life). This is basically a song about reassuring someone that, yes, they still like them. It's sort of a feel good song about that awkward phase of "I like you, you like me, but we aren't together-- yet. I hope we will be..."

    You know?

    hotexcelsioron April 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    hey,hotexcelsior, you are now no longer lonely

    i like makin folk happy.

    I LIKE PIE

    wee yinon April 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Hahah, I wanna join too! And I prefer cake.

    Love this song, btw.

    lonebyon August 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    For the last five years Elliott Smith has been the sole source of incredible, heart-breaking, thouht-provoking music. At long last he has a challenger in Sondre Lerche. While both of them have profoundly meaningful lyrics, touching sentiments and remarkable vocals, Sondre is a much more positive artists in that his hope appear to be justified - it really is just a matter of time before he finds the love he's looking for. With Smith each song is a painful journey into self-doubt and near-obsession, but one that is often worth taking if for no other reason than to find solace in shared sorrows. Sondre comes across as the more empassioned artists as a result of this difference, but both of them are telling the same incredible stories in their songs, albeit in very different ways.

    I wonder if any of you have noticed this odd parrallel between Smith and Lerche?

    MClairmonton November 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    great song. sondre lerche does a fab job, but you know it's an elvis costello song right?

    jessieagogoon February 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    couple corrections here:

    i crave the celluloid of your kiss

    ...and a girl in the window on the Reaperbahn

    checkmate in three moves and you're hated

    YouKnowStuffon May 27, 2010   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.