Yourself

Manic Street Preachers

Your ritual everyday
A mild shower soak in aftershave
Best clothes do your best
Look in the mirror go on
Belittle yourself yourself yourself
Belittle yourself yourself yourself

You go on day after day
Dreaming on a lie
That you keep locked inside
Of yourself, yourself, yourself
Of yourself, yourself, yourself

Can you sleep tonight
Cast aside for some pouting young pup
Sink into a slurred veneer
Alcoholic haze so now
Least you can like yourself yourself
Least you can like yourself yourself

You go on day after day
Reservoirs of guilt
That your fixed grin always hides
And yourself, yourself, yourself
Of yourself, yourself, yourself
And yourself, yourself, yourself
Of yourself, yourself, yourself
Yourself

You look at ads all day
Everyone is perfect and you're so lame
Free scent burns your skin
But no smell can really cover sin
Too many teenage holes to fill
Too many teenage holes to fill

You go on day after day
Speak to your despised
Blanking your loved ones
And yourself, yourself, yourself
Of yourself, yourself, yourself
And yourself, yourself


Lyrics submitted by ShiverForMe

Yourself Lyrics as written by Marshal Kent Dutton Jeremy F Coan

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Yourself song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +4
    General CommentOn the Manics 'Everything Live' VHS tape from the mid 90s, in the closing bars of Motown Junk, James Dean Bradfield rants 'we live in urban hell, with new fragrances of Paco Raban aftershave every weekend.' Although Richey and Nicky write the lyrics, the band's durability lies in the strength of their shared beliefs. Otherwise JDB wouldn't be a band with two guys who could hardly play their instruments (in the early days at least). Modern capitalism is a meaningless empty and degrading ritual that preys on people's deepest insecurities, hence 'free scent burns your skin' - exploding the advertising myth that aftershave enhances your attractiveness to the opposite sex, when all you're actually doing is degrading yourself- 'everyone is perfect and you're so lame.' One of the greatest things about the Manics is that they gain relevance over time unlike most bands which fade with the zeitgeist. I stand in Boots thinking 'which man moisturiser should I buy' and hating myself for attaching any importance to such things. Wherever Richey is now, thank god he gave us these lyrics before he went.
    Liminal2on January 09, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General CommentIt's mainly about self disgust. it depends how u look at it whether ur singing about yourself or to someone else. But is still about disgust. Altho from what the manics have said it is about self disgust. Looking in the mirror every day trying to convince yourself you look ok just so you can get throught the day. When deep inside you know your just a flabby piece of shit.
    MissDon August 30, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General CommentOn the Manics 'Everything Live' VHS tape from the mid 90s, in the closing bars of Motown Junk, James Dean Bradfield rants 'we live in urban hell, with new fragrances of Paco Raban aftershave every weekend.' Although Richey and Nicky write the lyrics, the band's durability lies in the strength of their shared beliefs. Otherwise JDB wouldn't be a band with two guys who could hardly play their instruments (in the early days at least). Modern capitalism is a meaningless empty and degrading ritual that preys on people's deepest insecurities, hence 'free scent burns your skin' - exploding the advertising myth that aftershave enhances your attractiveness to the opposite sex, when all you're actually doing is degrading yourself- 'everyone is perfect and you're so lame.' One of the greatest things about the Manics is that they gain relevance over time unlike most bands which fade with the zeitgeist. I stand in Boots thinking 'which man moisturiser should I buy' and hating myself for attaching any importance to such things. Wherever Richey is now, thank god he gave us these lyrics before he went.
    Liminal2on January 09, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General CommentPretty straightforward, I think. This song is one of my favorites, I wish that MSP still wrote songs of this style.
    the kittenesson November 25, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think it's about the desire to conform, and to be accepted. The line about rituals depresses the hell out of me - get up, fit in, same old routine, routine, routine.
    richeyeon June 28, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSort of. I think its saying that there's all these rituals and routines, everyone does them, and we all hate it, but because it's what everyone else does, we think we have no choice but to do the same. The fact that we're subjecting ourselves to all this crap _and not enjoying it_, that makes us feel bad about ourselves, because we feel that this should be the sort of thing we aspire to, only when we acchieve it, it doesn't feel all that good.
    LittleBabyNothingon July 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt can be interprated as vanity. How you're never satisfied with your own appearence and personality so try harder and harder to fit in. Leading to depression and ignorance.

    Been there
    like blues 101on April 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWell I think everyone can relate to this song. It's pretty straightforward - sounds definitely like a Richey lyric.
    xpwoppaon June 30, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThe Manics are just all geniuses. The lyrics are all pure political poetry, and the music in this track is one of my very favourites :)
    manic4manicson August 22, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song actually scares me because its just so true and i love the "of yourself" part,such powerful lyrics and music! Hail the manics for best songs ever!
    nava115370on September 02, 2014   Link

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