Snakes and Martyrs Lyrics

Lyric discussion by solmyr 

Cover art for Snakes and Martyrs lyrics by TV on the Radio

here's what I can hear...

Everyone makes the same wave at the same time Like petals on water And they call all those interrupting lines Sons and daughters A community So let’s join hands in song Blessed unity

But brother I don’t want to know ya, I don’t even want to know ya Sister, I don’t want to know ya, I don’t even want to know ya

But we’re trapped, in this lovely mess Hold you close and smile, fake Like they do way out west

So many medicines for so many heads I help you clean the skeletons from under your bed But, I don’t even know ya, how could it be me that sends you? Darling, didn’t yo’ momma tell you not to let no stranger bend you Probably someone here that could help to mend you

But it’s not me Got my own anxiety Sadness isn’t any way to explain You’ll probably crash heads throughout Possibly slain*

It’s as simple as the way you wear your [something]** shoes And your righteous rays*** (a rainbow) But all I know is your blues Ain’t like my blues And why would they ever be

If there’s one commonality, it’s that that feeling is mutual Given time you’ll see You’ll see

  • There's definitely something here, "possibly" sounds right, "slain" is harder to make out and might be something else

** This word doesn't sound like either umpire or untied to me. Please, if anyone has more ideas, please post them. The phrase might also be "[something] issues"

*** This word could be damn near anything, but it didn't sound like "face" to me.