about a million hours from now
we're gonna find what life's about
we're gonna wrap our heads around
what no one could figure out
to find just one broken stare
a space and time to share
we're gonna start these lives of ours
about a hundred million hours

you'll learn
what really matters
you'll know
what really counts
you'll hear the chitter-chatter
they say, when you're living hand-to-mouth

and if it takes a million years
to lift a single stone
we'll have to face a million fears
just to find we're all alone

to find just one broken stare
to just a single one who cares
is that all it's about
these little lives of ours

you'll learn what really matters
you'll know what really counts
you'll hear the chitter-chatter
they say, when you're living hand-to-mouth

it's all you'll ever be
it's all you'll ever be

you'll learn what really matters
you'll know what really counts
you'll hear the chitter-chatter
they say, when you're living hand-to-mouth
they say, when you're living hand-to-mouth
you'll learn what really matters'
you'll know what really counts
you'll hear the chitter-chatter
they say, when you're living hand-to-mouth
they say, when you're living hand-to-mouth
you'll learn what really matters
you'll know what really counts
you'll hear the chitter-chatter
they say, when you're living hand-to-mouth
they say, living hand-to-mouth
they say, when you're living hand-to-mouth
you'll learn what really matters
you'll learn what really counts
you'll hear the chitter chatter
they say, when you're living hand-to-mouth
they say, when you're living hand-to-mouth
they say, when you're living hand-to-mouth


Lyrics submitted by Phalloustots

Hand To Mouth song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    the phrase hand to mouth refers to a sense of "just barely surviving" - the idea that whatever you get you need it to live, you don't have extravagances or extras.

    in this song, i think they are giving an excellent illustration of how the barest existence and survival gives you an idea of what life is really about. it isn't about "the chitter chatter" - the media, the celebrities, the meaningless talk.

    it also has an existential side - humans are simply temporary, and it kinda questions what the purpose of our life is besides surviving it.

    wildernesson November 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    In the context of the album, I think it's a pretty bleak song. The narrator seems to be saying that eventually you realize you're alone and can only count on yourself to do the little things it takes to get by every day.

    JeremyB1on December 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah, it's a fairly depressing conclusion. i mean, i suppose you could say that it's "inspirational" because the narrator seems to be finally escaping the situation by focusing on himself, but i don't think it's meant to be interpreted that way. sad end to a sad story.

    impon April 29, 2010   Link

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