I know that it's bad
That it's the kind that they can't operate on
And I know it's real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
Styrofoam coffee cups
And bagged drugs that never work enough
And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow

When we were young
And hit like hammers
I'd write the nails in your hands
But when 99% of us is failure
There's no going back

And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow

Blackbird come the break of dawn
The TV's on, I turn it off
Walk outside, get in the car
Stare at the wheel then fall apart

I get it all the time
Bright eyes to bat and hide behind
But I know they're just for show, honey
Painful and just for show
Black rooms to babysit
White halls to pace and wait for it
And I know it's too slow, honey
Painful and real slow

When we were young
And hit like hammers
I'd write the nails in your hands
When 99% of us is failure
There's no coming back

And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow

Blackbird come the break of day
You swallow the shit that people say
Walk outside look at the sky
Ask it to fall or tell you why


Lyrics submitted by Scrabble_

99% of Us Is Failure Lyrics as written by Matthew Good

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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99% of Us Is Failure song meanings
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    General Comment

    At the risk of sounding too obvious i really have to assume it's about someone he knew with inoperable cancer suffering a long and painful death and the feeling of powerlessness to do anything about it.

    "Styrofoam coffee cups and bagged drugs that never work"

    styrofoam cups like the ones people drink endless amounts of coffee from in hospital waiting rooms while their loved ones get fed piles of drugs that in the end don't do much at all.

    "Blackbird come the break of dawn The TVs on, I turn it off Walk outside, get in the car Stare at the wheel and fall apart"

    that's the most devastating line, the blackbird is death and it's the morning and the is Tvs still on from last night and the finality of shutting it off and leaving that now empty hospital room, trying to hold it together and then just breaking down by the time you walk out to the parking lot and get in your car...wow.

    i really love this album

    allmymutedmorningson August 28, 2007   Link

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