You Will Leave A Mark

This song has such few lyrics but from what i can tell it's about white guilt. Western Europeans are responsible for some of the worst crimes against humanity thanks to their imperialism among other atrocities.(the British in particular) I think he is saying that has left a mark on them. Some shame they have to live with even if they were not directly involved with the actions of their ancestors or even just countrymen(of no relation) that have long since passed. Perhaps this song is saying the blame or guilt is undeserved or wanting to change the attitude. I feel... Countries and whole societies are still recovering from the aftermath of the Western European imperialism. If they still have to live with this stain why shouldn't the descendants of the imperialists feel some small token in return, guilt?

I am so ashamed I am so ashamed of all the trouble I have caused and I am so ashamed of all these unopened doors I am so ashamed of what I have become

That oh, my heart is bursting again I dont need this But your eyes are turning away Ooooooohh, aaaaaaaahh

I am of the west I am fair skinned I deserve a bullet in my chest If I have no religion and no reason to be scared If I am going to hell then I just dont care

That oh, my heart is bursting again I dont need this But your eyes are turning away Ooooooohh, aaaaaaaahh (2x)

That oh, my heart is bursting again I dont need this But your eyes are turning away Ooooooohh, aaaaaaaahh (2x)

The way he sings:

"I am of the west I am fair skinned I deserve a bullet in my chest "

is just beautiful.

I think it's more of a reflection of secular European culture. White guilt, apathy towards spiritual matters, not making good decisions (unopened doors).

Clever and satirical. And catchy. I love it.

Suicide.

i think the first part is about regret for being a coward or for causing someone they love trouble because of this person's own personal failings. the second part i read as this person saying they feel so much emotion that their heart is "bursting" and that whoever they have wronged is so important to them that they will "leave a mark" and they can already feel this person's disprovable or disappointment. the third part i think is is about they're failings as a person again. this part seems very self-deprecating and seems to be about them recognizing all these terrible things that they are and basically coming to terms with it because they cant help who they are.

"I am of the west, I am fair skinned I deserve a bullet in my chest If I have no religion I've no reason to be scared I am going to hell but I just don't care"

it seems to me like they are talking about the terrorists here

"I am so ashamed of all the trouble I have caused, I am so ashamed of all these unopened doors I am so ashamed of what I have become." I think he is talking about Europe. How Europe is guilted into shame from their own acts of prejudice in the past, how they previously left the doors unopened to immigrants and non-Europeans, and are trying to make up for that by allowing them into their countries today.

"I am so ashamed of what I have become." European countries have become giant wussies, they have let their defenses down.

"Oh, my heart is bursting again Don't leave this mark Your eyes are turning away" Europe and the Western countries have a "mark" left on them due to their own mistakes in the past. Their heart is "bursting" at the regret they feel for their past actions, but the rest of the world's eyes are still turning away because they are disgusted or shamed at them. Nothing they do will earn their respect back.

"I am of the west, I am fair skinned I deserve a bullet in my chest" The hatred that the rest of the world has towards the West has turned into personal guilt on Westerners themselves. They are guilted they deserve a bullet in their chest for being fair skinned, or part of a race who's ancestors commited crimes.

"If I have no religion I've no reason to be scared I am going to hell but I just don't care." Europe has become secular and non-religious lately, but that has been changing. Religious extremist groups are growing. With the lack of policies, there is no safety anymore. An uprising of violence or conflict is inevitable, and the writer doesn't care if they go to hell when trouble breaks lose or they are killed, because they don't believe in hell anyway.

That's just my take on it.

If you ever ask Robert Stevenson about what "You Will Leave A Mark" means, he will tell you he didnt really intend it to have any meaning, but he will try to explain it as best as he can.

If you ever ask Robert Stevenson about what "You Will Leave A Mark" means, he will tell you he didnt really intend it to have any meaning, but he will try to explain it as best as he can.