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Bleeding Out Lyrics

I'm bleeding out
So if the last thing that I do
Is bring you down
I'll bleed out for you
So I bare my skin
And I count my sins
And I close my eyes
And I take it in
I'm bleeding out
I'm bleeding out for you (for you)

When the day has come
That I've lost my way around
And the seasons stop
And hide beneath the ground
When the sky turns gray
And everything is screaming
I will reach inside
Just to find my heart is beating

You tell me to hold on
Oh you tell me to hold on
But innocence is gone
And what was right is wrong

'Cause I'm bleeding out
So if the last thing that I do
Is bring you down
I'll bleed out for you
So I bare my skin
And I count my sins
And I close my eyes
And I take it in
I'm bleeding out
I'm bleeding out for you (for you)

When the hour is nigh
And hopelessness is sinking in
And the wolves all cry
To fill the night with hollering
When your eyes are red
And emptiness is all you know
With the darkness fed
I will be your scarecrow

You tell me to hold on
Oh you tell me to hold on
But innocence is gone
And what was right is wrong

'Cause I'm bleeding out
So if the last thing that I do
Is to bring you down
I'll bleed out for you
So I bare my skin
And I count my sins
And I close my eyes
And I take it in
And I'm bleeding out
I'm bleeding out for you (for you)

I'm bleeding out for you (for you)
I'm bleeding out for you (for you)
I'm bleeding out for you (for you)
I'm bleeding out for you

'Cause I'm bleeding out
So if the last thing that I do
Is bring you down
I'll bleed out for you
So I bare my skin
And I count my sins
And I close my eyes
And I take it in
And I'm bleeding out
I'm bleeding out for you (for you)
Song Info
Submitted by
bethanyrose On Sep 05, 2012
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50 Meanings

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Cover art for Bleeding Out lyrics by Imagine Dragons

I get the impression that the singer is trying to "repair" the burned bridges between himself and someone he cares deeply about. He is willing to sacrifice everything to make things right again. "So I bare my skin and I count my sins" give me the image of someone removing their shirt to receive lashes, and each lash represents one crime against the other person. He is showing repentance for his sins. "So I close my eyes and I take it in" represents trying to forgive himself so that they can move on. Of course, I connect with that interpretation so that could be why I chose that approach.

Cover art for Bleeding Out lyrics by Imagine Dragons

To me, this song is him singing to someone he loves who is going through pain. I don't think he literally means bleed when he says "bleeding out".

He loves this person so much, he is saying, I will take your pain. I will give everything (bare my skin), and I'll own up to everything I've done (count my sins) and I'll feel your pain for you, so you don't have to feel it anymore.

I don't think this song is about self-harm, mostly because of the line "I will be your scarecrow". He's saying there that he will chase away all of the darkness that's coming into that person's life.

Just how I hear it!

My Interpretation
Cover art for Bleeding Out lyrics by Imagine Dragons

I love this song! Most people feel that it's coming from depression and a will to harm others by your personal pain. I however feel that this is something much more encouraging and uplifting! He's singing of self sacrifice for someone or others he cares about. He knows that if he's going to bring someone down even to the last breath, he'd rather die. He is putting his life out there, willing to live, to the last drop of blood, for the life of the other. When he says "Innocence is gone and what was right is wrong", he realises that his wrongdoings and misunderstandings of what is right in life have been shown for the falsehood in which they live. How can he live with his nature if his nature is so twisted? Another thought is that he sees himself as the "one who knows" and the "right thing" (looking the other way, or "just living" regardless of the internal destruction to others) is now the "wrong thing".

I have so much more I could pick out of this song, but I'd need a lot more space... ;)

My Interpretation

I totally agree with you. I also noticed that "When your eyes are red and emptiness is all you know" could mean two things. The obvious one is that the person he is talking about is evil and has red eyes, or they have been crying and their eyes are red. I just thought that was kind of cool.

Cover art for Bleeding Out lyrics by Imagine Dragons

The line is "So I bear my skin," not "So I peel my skin"

Lyric Correction

@greendayaw Amazon Prime Music has that problem.

Cover art for Bleeding Out lyrics by Imagine Dragons

Amazing music and great band!

Cover art for Bleeding Out lyrics by Imagine Dragons

I think the song is talking about self-harm and suicide. I think he wants to commit suicide because he feels like he is ruining someones life. He thinks he is the reason everything is going wrong in their life. "If the last thing that I do is bring you down I'll bleed out for you" sounds like its saying "if I ruin anything else for you, I will just get rid of myself because I ruin everything" Its a very good song...but it does seem like a very depressing one.

Thats just what I think! =}

"If the last thing that I do is bring you down I'll bleed out for you"- i think that line is actually referring to how he will rather self harm and cope with pain that way rather than committing suicide because he cant die on his loved ones. He doesnt want to cause any pain to his friends and family from commiting suicide. "I will reach inside Just to find my heart is beating"- saying he will do anything to keep himself alive

Cover art for Bleeding Out lyrics by Imagine Dragons

I'm obsessed with this song after hearing it the first time yesterday. Maybe I'm weird, but I find the lyrics both to be beautiful and tragic. The lyrics "But innocence is gone and what was right is wrong," seems like you do something you realize is bad but it's too late too turn back. I just feel like this song is a transformation from innocence to 'corruptness,' whether it's cheating, your first drug or something small.

Either way you interpret it, it's an amazing song.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Bleeding Out lyrics by Imagine Dragons

I love this song for a lot of reasons. And one is that- to me anyways- this song has some anger to it and I love how that mixes with all the other aspects of this song

Cover art for Bleeding Out lyrics by Imagine Dragons

I think this song is basically about someone going through self harm who has a person close to them that is trying to help them but they fail constantly (they self harm). Or just about someone who is going through self harm because of certain pain someone has given to them.

This is how I see it: I'm bleeding out Said if the last thing that I do Is to bring you down I'll bleed out for you So I bare my skin And I count my sins And I close my eyes And I take it in And I'm bleeding out I'm bleeding out for you (for you) --> may also be a ritual for someone who self harms. "So I take the blade, remember everything I've ever done wrong, close my eyes and take the blade into my skin (cut), and I bleed" and then "I bleed because you caused me so much pain" (maybe)

When the day has come But I've lost my way around And the seasons stop and hide beneath the ground When the sky turns gray And everything is screaming I will reach inside Just to find my heart is beating ---> Everything is going downhill in his life and he feels numb (reach inside just to find my heart it beating). Self harm is also an escape for numbness, just to feel something.

You tell me to hold on Oh you tell me to hold on But innocence is gone And what was right is wrong ---> He holds on to someones words, but he can't stop.

'Cause I'm bleeding out Said if the last thing that I do Is to bring you down I'll bleed out for you So I peel my skin And I count my sins And I close my eyes And I take it in And I'm bleeding out I'm bleeding out for you (for you)

When the hour is nigh And hopelessness is sinking in And the wolves all cry To feel they're not worth hollering When your eyes are red And emptiness is all you know With the darkness fed I will be your scarecrow --> It happens mostly at night. And this is a nice explanation for anyone who wants to understand what goes through a depressed person's mind. "When your eyes are red" - Crying "And emptiness is all you know" - You're empty, numb, unable to feel or be happy "With the darkness fed" - Depression makes you do "sick stuff"

Just my personal opinion, as someone who used to self harm and went through depression i find this song relatable, anyways, beautiful song.

My Interpretation

love this interpretation

My Opinion

Amazing Interpretation

It is amazing how relatable this song is.. which i guess probably isn't a good thing...

My Opinion
Cover art for Bleeding Out lyrics by Imagine Dragons

This is one of my favorite songs! IT makes me feel so happy!

My Opinion