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The Bed Song Lyrics
exhibit a
we are friends in a sleeping bag
splitting the heat
we have one filthy pillow to share
and your lips are in my hair
someone upstairs
has a rat that we laughed at
and people are drinking
and singing van halen and slayer
on a ukulele tear
exhibit b
well we found an apartment
it’s not much to look at a
futon on a floor
torn off desktop for a door
all the decor’s
made of milk crates
and duct tape
and if we have sex
they can hear us
through the floor
but we don’t do that anymore
and i lay there wondering
what is the matter
is this a matter
of worse or of better
you took the blanket
so i took the bed sheet
but i would have held you
if you’d only
let me
exhibit c
look how quaint
and how quiet and private
our paychecks have bought
us a condo in town
it’s the nicest flat around
you picked a mattress
and had it delivered
and i walked upstairs
and the sight of it
made my heart pound
and i wrapped my arms around me
and i stood there wondering
what is the matter
is this a matter
of worse or of better?
you walked right past me
and straightened the covers
but i would still love you
if you wanted a lover
and you said
all the money in the world
won’t buy a bed
so big and wide
to guarantee that you won’t
accidentally touch me
in the night
exhibit d
now we’re both
mostly paralyzed
don’t know how long
we’ve been lying here in fear
too afraid to even feel
i find my glasses
and you turn the light out
roll off on your side
like you’ve rolled away for years
holding back those
king-size tears
and i still don’t ask you
what is the matter
is this a matter
of worse or of better
you take the heart failure
i’ll take the cancer
i’ve long stopped wondering why
you don’t answer
exhibit e
you can certainly see
how fulfilling a life
from the cost and size of stone
of our final resting home
we got some nice ones right under
a cherry tree
you and me lying
the only way we know
side by side and still and cold
and i finally ask you
what was the matter
was it a matter
of worse or of better
you stretch your arms out
and finally face me
you say
i would have told you
if you’d only asked me
if you’d only asked me
if you’d only asked me
we are friends in a sleeping bag
splitting the heat
we have one filthy pillow to share
and your lips are in my hair
someone upstairs
has a rat that we laughed at
and people are drinking
and singing van halen and slayer
on a ukulele tear
well we found an apartment
it’s not much to look at a
futon on a floor
torn off desktop for a door
all the decor’s
made of milk crates
and duct tape
and if we have sex
they can hear us
through the floor
but we don’t do that anymore
what is the matter
is this a matter
of worse or of better
you took the blanket
so i took the bed sheet
but i would have held you
if you’d only
look how quaint
and how quiet and private
our paychecks have bought
us a condo in town
it’s the nicest flat around
you picked a mattress
and had it delivered
and i walked upstairs
and the sight of it
made my heart pound
and i wrapped my arms around me
what is the matter
is this a matter
of worse or of better?
you walked right past me
and straightened the covers
but i would still love you
if you wanted a lover
and you said
all the money in the world
won’t buy a bed
so big and wide
to guarantee that you won’t
accidentally touch me
in the night
now we’re both
mostly paralyzed
don’t know how long
we’ve been lying here in fear
too afraid to even feel
i find my glasses
and you turn the light out
roll off on your side
like you’ve rolled away for years
holding back those
king-size tears
what is the matter
is this a matter
of worse or of better
you take the heart failure
i’ll take the cancer
i’ve long stopped wondering why
you don’t answer
you can certainly see
how fulfilling a life
from the cost and size of stone
of our final resting home
we got some nice ones right under
a cherry tree
you and me lying
the only way we know
side by side and still and cold
what was the matter
was it a matter
of worse or of better
you stretch your arms out
and finally face me
you say
i would have told you
if you’d only asked me
Song Info
Submitted by
melismatan On Sep 17, 2012
More Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra
The Killing Type
Melody Dean
Massachusetts Avenue
Berlin
Smile (Pictures or it Didn't Happen)
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I love "we got some nice ones right under a cherry tree, you and me lying the only way we know: side by side and still and cold" and it wasn't until recently that I had an epiphany that Amanda may be alluding to the story of George Washington cutting down the cherry tree.
I love this song how it presents romance and love like an museum exhibit defining important things in (her?) life.
It's about how people in relationships gradually drift apart, and stop communicating, and how terrible this can be emotionally. There's nothing about materialism. The point she's making is how, when you're in your twenties, etc, all you really have is each other, but gradually life pulls you apart until you have everything except each other.