When you're calling ain't calling back to you
I'll be side stage, mouthing lines for you
Humiliated by age, terrified of youth
I got hope but my hope isn't helping you

Spitting out guts from their gears
Draining our spleen over years
Found my severed crossed fingers in the rubble there

Wake up puddle eyed, sleeping in the suit
The truth is ugly, well I feel ugly too
We'll be heroes on every bar stool
Seeing double beats not seeing one of you

Spitting out guts from their gears
Draining our spleen over years
Found myself with crossed fingers in the rubble there
Well you stole the heart right out my chest
Changed the words that I know best
Found my severed crossed fingers in the rubble there

Spitting out guts from their gears
Draining our spleen over years
Found my severed crossed fingers in the rubble there
Well you stole the heart right out my chest
Changed the words that I know best
Found my severed crossed fingers in the rubble there


Lyrics submitted by llscience, edited by TheCookFromMaine, kreepmode, smallwonderrobot, vinnystardust

Severed Crossed Fingers Lyrics as written by Anne Erin Clark

Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

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Severed Crossed Fingers song meanings
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3 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I feel like this is a deeply personal song. I could be wrong . . . but it's beautiful.

    First stanza i think is clearly talking about a "certain" musician who's getting older and in the industry that's a curse. Fearing youth because they're the judges. But is supportive even though her optimism isn't mutually felt by the other.

    Regardless she's in love but feels like she isn't getting through. Found herself with crossed fingers in the rubble (the crossing of fingers can mean you're hoping for something or it can mean you're telling a lie...think it's the former): she still held out hope among the destructiveness of the other person's outlook (or among the negativity that the media/critics/youth suffocates them with -spitting out their guts through their gears, draiming our spleens through the years?). Severed crossed fingers=lost/losing hope?

    I'm probably not even close but that's my interpretation.

    vinnystarduston May 20, 2014   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    The triumph of finding hope where there is no reason for any to exist.

    I won't edit the lyrics because I'm not sure but doesn't Annie sing 'Find my severed crossed fingers in the rubble there'? Otherwise the song's title isn't alluded to in the lyrics.

    maninmanchesteron May 26, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    138-140 Birds of America by Lorrie Moore

    annabellebeeon July 05, 2015   Link

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