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,
Take a good look at agony
Forced, dead, pass down
Time release
I'm inspired to find the lie
Blackless x on the back
Of a soulful man
I've got way's you understand
Look left, look right, but I'm
Behind you
I never noticed, until I focused
On everything you did, you said,
You lit the fuse inside my head
[Chorus]
Thank you for reminding me
Of why I'm sick inside
Thank you for the venom, did
You think it would paralyze?
These scars I scratch, I tear
Are there under my skin
Where you've always been
Thank you for reminding me
The sin with a grin
Hey, men
Hangman on a twisted 2x4
Built your house, but forgot
To lock the door
I'm inside with two black eyes
I have not one shred of sympathy
I have no use for apologies
I'm inspired to find the lie
I never noticed, until I focused
On everything you did, you said
You lit the fuse inside my head
[Chorus: x4]
Forced, dead, pass down
Time release
I'm inspired to find the lie
Blackless x on the back
Of a soulful man
I've got way's you understand
Look left, look right, but I'm
Behind you
I never noticed, until I focused
On everything you did, you said,
You lit the fuse inside my head
[Chorus]
Thank you for reminding me
Of why I'm sick inside
Thank you for the venom, did
You think it would paralyze?
These scars I scratch, I tear
Are there under my skin
Where you've always been
Thank you for reminding me
The sin with a grin
Hey, men
Hangman on a twisted 2x4
Built your house, but forgot
To lock the door
I'm inside with two black eyes
I have not one shred of sympathy
I have no use for apologies
I'm inspired to find the lie
I never noticed, until I focused
On everything you did, you said
You lit the fuse inside my head
[Chorus: x4]
Lyrics submitted by animated lies
Sin with a Grin Lyrics as written by Brent Smith Dave Bassett
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Having been force-fed religion growing up by a hostile church, I can say--read the lyrics again with that in mind.
"I never noticed, until I focused On everything you did, you said, You lit the fuse inside my head
Thank you for reminding me Of why I'm sick inside Thank you for the venom, did You think it would paralyze? These scars I scratch, I tear Are there under my skin Where you've always been Thank you for reminding me, To sin with a grin"
Eventually their psychological tricks and attempts to control no longer work on you, despite the scars they left on your mind. But there's always that lingering ghost. To transgress against their rules deliberately is both a pleasure and a form of therapy. It helps you become an adult instead of a brainwashed child. "Sin with a grin."
I'm not against faith or even religion. But I am powerfully against organized religion, and indoctrination from birth. It's not wrong to teach a child your beliefs, but it is wrong to make acceptance within the social circle conditional upon accepting those beliefs. Pressuring a child's fragile mind like that is simply wrong.