We all come in from the cold
We come down from the wire
An everybody warms themselves
To a different fire
When sometimes we get burned
You'd think sometime we'd learn
The one you love is the one
That should take you higher
You ain't got no one
You better go back out and find her

Just like children hidin' in a closet
Can't tell what's goin' on outside
Sometimes we're so far off the beaten track
We'll get taken for a ride
By a parlor trick or some words of wit
A hidden hand up a sleeve
To think the one you love
Could hurt you now
Is a little hard to believe
But everybody darlin' sometimes
Bites the hand that feeds

When I look around
Everybody always brings me down
Well is it them or me
Well I just can't see
But there ain't no peace to found
But if someone really cared
Well they'd take the time to spare
A moment to try and understand
Another one's despair
Remember in this game we call life
That no one said it's fair

Breakdown
Let me hear it now
Breakdown
Let me hear it now
Yeah
Breakdown
Let me hear it now
Breakdown
Let me hear it now
Get down with yo' bad self
Alright

I've come to know the cold
I think of it as home
When there ain't enough of me
To go around
I'd rather be left alone
But if I call you out of habit
I'm out of love and I gotta have it
Would you give it to me
If I fit you needs
Like when we both knew we had it
But now the damage's done
And we're back out on the run
Fun how ev'rything was roses
When we held on to the guns
Just because you're winnin'
Don't mean you're the lucky ones

Breakdown
Let me hear it now
Breakdown
Yeah
Breakdown
Breakdown
Let me hear it now

There goes the Challenger being chased
By the blue blue meanies on wheels
The vicious traffic squad cars are
After our lone driver
The last American hero
The the electric sitar
The demi-god
The super driver of the golden west!
Two nasty nazi cars are close behind
The beautiful lone driver
The police cars are getting closer-closer
Closer to our soul hero in his soul mobile yeah baby!
They about to strike, they gonna get him, smash! rape!
The last beautiful free soul on this planet

But it is written if the evil spirit
Arms the tiger with claws
Brahman provided wings for the dove
Thus spake the super guru"
"Did you hear that"


Lyrics submitted by mike

Breakdown Lyrics as written by Izzy Stradlin Duff Rose Mckagan

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Breakdown song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    First off, this song is a damn masterpiece. Maybe my favorite GnR track.

    One of the many awesome things about this song is that it is emotionally stirring, yet it isn't apparent exactly what it is about. The vagueness in the lyrics allows the listener to tailor the meaning to their own feelings and experiences, which gives the song a wide appeal.

    I think believil's post about the origin of the speech at the end is the key to understanding the meaning of this song. The hero in Vanishing Point is rebellious to the point of self destruction. Axl was that way too, and I think he is reflecting on his crazy behavior, the crazy behavior of people in his life, and the consequences of that behavior.

    Perhaps the song title implies that Rose feels he is heading for a metaphorical roadblock in his life. His craziness can no longer be sustained and he will have to breakdown at some point. That is basically what happened to him too.

    BrianMarkeyon February 11, 2012   Link

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