I've still got passion, and I've still got guts.
But I no longer give a fuck about what you want.
You say I'm a savior and a saint?
Then let's stop pretending and pull out the war paint.
Or do you refuse to open old wounds,
in fear that you'll actually have to feel?

We try so hard. We try to just pretend
that things didn't change as the honeymoon set.
This house, this ring, the secrets shared in bed
were built on the faith in the foundation.
And I feel the bend...

The fucking more I see who you've become
the more I lose sight of the love
that I once had in your brown eyes.
I used to be afraid that this would end,
now I embrace it.
We are ships passing through the night.

We try so hard. We try to just pretend.
That things didn't change as the honeymoon set.
This house, this ring, the secrets shared in bed
were built on the faith in the foundation.
And I feel the bend...

I see bright lights flicker ahead.
I see stars shining to their death.
I see you.

And I don't know what to do.

Beautiful sunset. Passionate kiss.
These things mean nothing when you cannot come to terms with
the person who you are, and who you're meant to be
are separated by a sea of insecurities.

I've been digging out from underneath
an avalanche that has taken twenty years to see.
Our reality is our own to create,
and the sooner that you realize that
the sooner that you can change.

Or history will just hit repeat
and you will pass your poison down onto your child's feet.
And they will struggle, struggle to breathe,
cowering in shadows that you cast they cannot see.

Beautiful sunset. Passionate kiss.
These things mean nothing when you cannot come to terms with
the person who you are, and who you're meant to be
are separated by a sea of insecurities.

I've been digging out from underneath
an avalanche that has taken twenty years to see.
Our reality is our own to create,
and the sooner that you realize that
the sooner that you can change.

I won't repeat. I won't repeat.
I won't repeat the things that I can change.
I won't repeat. I won't repeat.
I won't repeat the things that I can change.


Lyrics submitted by liquidthoughts18

War Paint song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    To me this song is about one person in a relationship who has changed, and they're pretending everything's okay but the longer the relationship keeps going, their partner is starting to see how much this person has changed and just wants everything to be the way it was before, and is now getting tired of pretending but doesn't know how to deal with it. they just want it to end so that it won't keep happening.

    that1guycxon July 27, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    such an awesome song, so much emotion.

    I think this song is about a significant other misplacing his trust, possibly cheating?

    and the only option he sees is to end it

    n1ghtraid3ron July 08, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    I think this song is about getting in a relationship with someone that is flawed and refuses to confront his/her problems that developed over the course of the relationship because they weren't discussed before, and all the problems that arise from that.

    "You say I'm a savior and a saint? Then let's stop pretending and pull out the war paint. Or do you refuse to open old wounds, in fear that you'll actually have to feel?"

    The person says everything is fine, there no problems, but deep down there are wounds that didn't heal, and couple problems that never are discussed.

    "We try so hard. We try to just pretend that things didn't change as the honeymoon set. This house, this ring, the secrets shared in bed were built on the faith in the foundation."

    If taken literally, the relationship went further. But because there are problems, the relationship's foundation is flawed.

    "The fucking more I see who you've become the more I lose sight of the love that I once had in your brown eyes. I used to be afraid that this would end, now I embrace it. We are ships passing through the night."

    The other person changed and its unbearable to live with him/her.

    "These things mean nothing when you cannot come to terms with the person who you are, and who you're meant to be are separated by a sea of insecurities.

    I've been digging out from underneath an avalanche that has taken twenty years to see. Our reality is our own to create, and the sooner that you realize that the sooner that you can change.

    Or history will just hit repeat and you will pass your poison down onto your child's feet. And they will struggle, struggle to breathe, cowering in shadows that you cast they cannot see."

    The other persons has got problems, and cant deal with life because of the insecurities. It took a lot of time to realize they were there, but they know there is still hope, they can fix them. But if they don't fight against them, they'll scar the kids (they probably will have) emotionally, and condem them to repeat the same mistakes in a never ending cycle.

    TL;DR? Here is my conclusion: The moral of this song is to never start a relationship/family if there are unresolved issues between the couple or with oneself. This is because those issues will not only make the relationship go down, but the kids will inherit them.

    cavpolloon January 02, 2013   Link
  • 0
    Translation

    Translation to Spanish:

    Pintura de Guerra - Senses Fail

    Todavia tengo pasion, y todavia tengo coraje. Pero ya no me importa lo que tu quieres. Dices que soy un salvador y un santo? Entonces dejemos de pretender y saquemos la pintura de guerra. O te rehusas a abrir viejas heridas, con miedo que realmente tengas que sentir?

    Tratamos mucho. Intentamos solo pretender que las cosas no cambiaron conforme la luna de miel llegaba. Esta casa, este anillo, los secretos compartidos en cama se construyeron en la fe en la fundacion. I siento la enfermedad...

    Mientras mas miro en quien te has convertido mas pierdo de vista el amor que una vez tuve en tus ojos cafes. Solia tener miedo de que esto terminara, pero ahora lo acepto. Somos barcos pasando a traves de la noche.

    Tratamos mucho. Intentamos solo pretender que las cosas no cambiaron conforme la luna de miel llegaba. Esta casa, este anillo, los secretos compartidos en cama se construyeron en la fe en la fundacion. Y siento la enfermedad...

    Veo brillantes luces parpadear adelante. Veo estrellas brillar a su muerte. Te veo a ti.

    Y no se que hacer.

    Hermoso atardecer. Beso apacionado. Estas cosas no significan nada si no puedes llegar a un acuerdo con la persona que eres, y quien deberias ser estan separados por un mar de inseguridades.

    He estado excabando por debajo de una avalacha que ha tomado veinte años ver. Nuestra realidad es nuestra para crear, y mientras mas rapido te des cuenta mas rapido podras cambiar.

    O la historia solo se repetira y pasaras el veneno a los pies de tus hijos. Y lucharan, lucharan por respirar, escondiendose en la sombra que haces y no pueden ver.

    Hermoso atardecer. Beso apacionado. Estas cosas no significan nada si no puedes llegar a un acuerdo con la persona que eres, y quien deberias ser estan separados por un mar de inseguridades.

    He estado excabando por debajo de una avalacha que ha tomado veinte años ver. Nuestra realidad es nuestra para crear, y mientras mas rapido te des cuenta mas rapido podras cambiar.

    No lo repetire. No lo repetire. No repetire las cosas las cosas que puedo cambiar. No lo repetire. No lo repetire. No repetire las cosas las cosas que puedo cambiar.

    cavpolloon January 02, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    This song is POWERFUL. For me, this song came out right after my son was born. I was (and still am) struggling with alcoholism. At first glance this song appears to be about a relationship, one where Buddy is ready to walk away and accepted that it's not going to workout. After the second chorus, with
    "I see bright lights flicker ahead. I see stars shining to their death. I see you." This is the last we hear about any other person. The remainder of the song is Buddy addressing what he has learned over the years and how to be a better man. He talks about fixing yourself first, not looking externally for love or pleasure. Finding that within yourself first, because without this everything else is meaningless and you will hate... no matter how much it is like what you always wanted.

    Eris2013on September 19, 2013   Link

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