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Red Lyrics

Come as you are sweetheart
Come as you are
You know you've got nothing to prove

I'll put you to bed you can
Let it all go
You've been playing too rough lately

Chorus :
You burn too bright
You live too fast
This can't go on too long
You're a tragedy starting to happen

Just as you are perfect
Just as you are
I'll give you the time you deserve

Don't make those promises
Don't tell me again
That dust is gonna settle your nerves

Chorus ( X 3 )
21 Meanings

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Cover art for Red lyrics by Elbow

This is an amazing song. Great lyrics and melody. I feel that it's about someone living their life too fast and dangerously.

Cover art for Red lyrics by Elbow

I've heard this is a song for leadsinger Guy Garveys ex-girlfriend who was a drug-addict. the song is really heartbreaking.

Cover art for Red lyrics by Elbow

For me, this is someone seeing a friend or loved one standing on the edge of depression, and wanting to help ("I'll put you to bed you can / Let it all go" and "I'll give you the time you deserve"). Seeing them fighting the misery with everything they've got ("you've been playing too rough lately"). Burning all the energy they've got left ("you burn too bright"), about to crash ("you're a tragedy starting to happen"). Saying to the people who want to help them that they'll be okay in time ("that dust is gonna settle your nerves").

I could go on like that with every line, but these are the lines I feel strongest about. This is such a beautiful song...

Cover art for Red lyrics by Elbow

This is about a drug-addict. "Don't tell me again that dust is gonna settle your nerves." Obviously the girl is saying that the drugs will numb her pain, and he's saying don't give me that bull. He wants her to slow down and quit harming herself before something bad happens to her. "You're a tragedy starting to happen."

Cover art for Red lyrics by Elbow

one of the best songs around..great melody. kinda sounds like Doves..tragically sweet

Cover art for Red lyrics by Elbow

yeah...it sounds like the man who stole everything....mixed with obvious morrissey influences...

Cover art for Red lyrics by Elbow

by the way, its "the man who told everything"...

Cover art for Red lyrics by Elbow

This song breaks my heart. My boyfriend once dedicated it to me..

Cover art for Red lyrics by Elbow

what kind of person would dedicate a depressing (but beautiful and artistic) song like that to you? I know i wouldn't give that to my girlfriend. If you take the lyrics seriously, it's not the kind of song you want to give to a boyfriend or girlfriend, no offense or anything...

Cover art for Red lyrics by Elbow

I don't think this is necessarily about drugs, but about a woman who tries to be accepted in others' eyes and fails. A man (the singer) finds her and tries to comfort her by saying that she's perfect the way she is ("Come as you are", "Just as you are perfect"). Perhaps by "dust" settling nerves, threats of death and suicide are implied.

 
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