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Film Noir Lyrics
I'm all washed out by the side of the road
Broken bones, Matilda left a note and a rose
Saying, "Baby, honey child, I love you so long
But you deserve much better than me"
So I'm just burning all around
All the miles on the road
And I'm never going back
And I'm never going home
I've been gone too long
I've been less right than wrong
I've lost so much blood in the falling out
And I lit a fire that wouldn't go out
Until it consumed the walls and roof of this house
Until all I remember was burning away
And all I remember, you burnt it away
See for ten long years I've been hustling around
Trying to wash the sins and sweat from my brow
Just trying to find a better life for me and my own
Just some rest for these tired working fingers
But nobody's ever going to tell you the way
You got to figure it out boys
It's all for the rain, and the fools in the night, and the heat in the day
When all you ever really wanted was someone to understand
And I lit a fire that wouldn't go out
Until it consumed the walls and roof of this house
Until all I remember was burning away
And all I remember, you burnt it away
Well, don't you take it so hard and, baby, don't you cry
Cross your hard heart and hope to die
Don't you tell me no more lies, you lied all the time
Don't you tell me no more lies, you lied every night
And you're sugar and spice, and everything nice
You got Monroe hips, your poison lips and knives
And you're sugar and spice, and everything nice
You got open wounds in a young boy's pride
And you're sugar and spice, and everything nice
You got Monroe hips, your poison lips and knives
And you're sugar and spice, and everything nice
Open wounds in a young boy's pride
And I lit a fire that wouldn't go out
Until it consumed the walls and roof of this house
Until all I remember was burning away
And all that you left me, you burnt it away
Well, don't you take it so hard and, baby, don't you cry
Cross your hard heart and hope to die
Don't you tell me no more lies, you lied all the time
Don't you tell me no more lies, you lied every night
Time, time ticking away
Time, time ticking away
(All over your face)
Time, time ticking away
(All over your face)
Time, time ticking away
Broken bones, Matilda left a note and a rose
Saying, "Baby, honey child, I love you so long
But you deserve much better than me"
All the miles on the road
And I'm never going back
And I'm never going home
I've been gone too long
I've been less right than wrong
I've lost so much blood in the falling out
Until it consumed the walls and roof of this house
Until all I remember was burning away
And all I remember, you burnt it away
Trying to wash the sins and sweat from my brow
Just trying to find a better life for me and my own
Just some rest for these tired working fingers
You got to figure it out boys
It's all for the rain, and the fools in the night, and the heat in the day
When all you ever really wanted was someone to understand
Until it consumed the walls and roof of this house
Until all I remember was burning away
And all I remember, you burnt it away
Well, don't you take it so hard and, baby, don't you cry
Cross your hard heart and hope to die
Don't you tell me no more lies, you lied all the time
Don't you tell me no more lies, you lied every night
You got Monroe hips, your poison lips and knives
And you're sugar and spice, and everything nice
You got open wounds in a young boy's pride
You got Monroe hips, your poison lips and knives
And you're sugar and spice, and everything nice
Open wounds in a young boy's pride
Until it consumed the walls and roof of this house
Until all I remember was burning away
And all that you left me, you burnt it away
Well, don't you take it so hard and, baby, don't you cry
Cross your hard heart and hope to die
Don't you tell me no more lies, you lied all the time
Don't you tell me no more lies, you lied every night
Time, time ticking away
(All over your face)
Time, time ticking away
(All over your face)
Time, time ticking away
Song Info
Submitted by
lowapr On Jun 25, 2008
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It is definitely falling out.
Nah I think its "I lost so much blood in the bowling isle"
I think it's "I lost so much blood in the falling out" or "I lost so much blood in the fire"
pretty sure he says "i lost so much blood in the fire, and i...," leading into the chorus, "i lit a fire that wouldn't go out, etc." he might say something a little bit different, but it's definitely a one syllable word
pretty sure he says "i lost so much blood in the fire, and i...," leading into the chorus, "i lit a fire that wouldn't go out, etc." he might say something a little bit different, but it's definitely a one syllable word
It's "I lost so much blood in the falling out."
Favourite line: "Your sugar and spice, and everything nice. You got Monroe hips, your poison lips, and knives. Open wounds and a young boy's pride."
Can't go wrong evoking some Marilyn Monroe imagery.
What are the background vocals saying at the end? It sounds like "Saw time ticking away, all over your face," but "saw" in particular is very uncertain.
It's "nobody's never gonna tell you the way"
and "I lost so much blood in the falling out" like everyone else said.
Also, "and you're sugar and spice and everything nice / got open wounds in a young boy's pride."
I thought the questionable line was "I lost so much blood in the fall, and I / I lit a fire that wouldn't go out..." I also thought it was "you gotta figure it out boys / and suffer the rain / and the fools in the night / and the heat of the day" I think the background lyrics go "time time ticking away... all over your face"?
Moving on to what it means - the definition of Film Noir from Wikipedia is "Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations". I think that pretty much describes the song!
"You're sugar and spice, and everything nice." could be based on that nursery rhyme "What Are Little Boys Made Of?", or possibly James Brown's "I Feel Good".
"Monroe hips" may be just referencing Marylin Monroe, but most likely is inspired by the song "Hold On" by Tom Waits which goes, "With charcoal eyes and Monroe hips, she took that California trip".
"Young boy's pride" possibly a ref to Ben E King's song "Young boy blues"? "I let my pride be my guide and then I keep those tears inside".
"Don't you tell me no more lies, you lied all the time" strikes a chord with me as echoing Springsteen's eternal theme of dreams that aren't realised being lies (as seen in The River, A Promised Land, etc). This is just my interpretation though. These are all guesses and assumptions. Brian never talks about song meanings!
Forgot to say that the first few lines remind me of Mary Lou by Springsteen. “Mary Lou” was about a girl who’s mesmerized by movie stars and transfers that fascination to her real life by dating guys who are only out for good times that last about as long as your average motion picture.
Forgot to say that the first few lines remind me of Mary Lou by Springsteen. “Mary Lou” was about a girl who’s mesmerized by movie stars and transfers that fascination to her real life by dating guys who are only out for good times that last about as long as your average motion picture.
Regarding the vocals in the end:
They played the song in Berlin yesterday, and the lyrics were clearly understandable:
Time, time ticking away. Time, time ticking away. (All over your face) Time, time ticking away. (All over my face) Time, time ticking away.
If you listen to it again, you'll hear it ;)
The girl's name, Matilda, is probably a reference to "Waltzing Matilda," an old Australian song about a homeless man. The reference ties into the image of him being alone and out on his own with nowhere to go back to.
Just a little foot note. Matilda is also mentioned in "I Could Have Been a Contender". It says "We used to drive all night, all over town. Go Waltzing Matilda, when Matilda came around" I agree with oftehdeepend, I'm pretty sure Brian is talking about "Waltzing Matilda" in this song.
Just a little foot note. Matilda is also mentioned in "I Could Have Been a Contender". It says "We used to drive all night, all over town. Go Waltzing Matilda, when Matilda came around" I agree with oftehdeepend, I'm pretty sure Brian is talking about "Waltzing Matilda" in this song.
You got open wounds in a young boy's pride
Can someone explain this a little? I feel its key to understanding the whole song.
Who left who in this song? Can anyone explain the song, instead of arguing over lyrics and just pointing at references. Though I like the references.
"Young boy's pride" possibly a ref to Ben E King's song "Young boy blues"? "I let my pride be my guide and then I keep those tears inside". You can thank Irb85 below :)
"Young boy's pride" possibly a ref to Ben E King's song "Young boy blues"? "I let my pride be my guide and then I keep those tears inside". You can thank Irb85 below :)