Every finger in the room
Is pointing at me
I wanna spit in their faces
Then I get afraid of what that could bring
I got a bowling ball in my stomach
I got a desert in my mouth
Figures that my courage would choose to sell out now

I've been looking for a savior in these dirty streets
Looking for a savior beneath these dirty sheets
I've been raising up my hands
Drive another nail in
Just what God needs
One more victim

Why do we
Crucify ourselves
Every day
I crucify myself
Nothing I do is good enough for you
Crucify myself
Every day
I crucify myself
And my heart is sick of being
I said my heart is sick of being in
Chains, oh oh oh
Chains, oh oh oh

Got a kick for a dog
Begging for love
I gotta have my suffering
So that I can have my cross
I know a cat named Easter
He says, "Will you ever learn?
You're just an empty cage girl if you kill the bird"

I've been looking for a savior in these dirty streets
Looking for a savior beneath these dirty sheets
I've been raising up my hands
Drive another nail in
Got enough guilt to start
My own religion

Why do we
Crucify ourselves
Every day
I crucify myself
Nothing I do is good enough for you
I crucify myself
Every day
I crucify myself
And my heart is sick of being
I said my heart is sick of being in
Chains, oh oh oh
Chains, oh oh oh

Please be
Save me
I cry

Looking for a savior in these dirty streets
Looking for a savior beneath these dirty sheets
I've been raising up my hands
Drive another nail in
Where are those angels
When you need them

Why do we
Crucify ourselves
Every day
I crucify myself
And nothing I do is good enough for you
I crucify myself
Every day
I crucify myself
And my heart is sick of being
I said my heart is sick of being in
Chains, oh oh oh
Chains

Why do we, in chains (why do we crucify ourselves?)
Crucify ourselves, everyday (why do we crucify ourselves?)
Oh, chains, oh yeah (why do we crucify ourselves?)
Yeah, chains (why do we crucify ourselves?)
Never going back again, no (why do we crucify ourselves?)
To crucify myself again, you know (why do we crucify ourselves?)
Never going back again
To crucify myself, everyday


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

Crucify Lyrics as written by Tori Amos

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

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Crucify song meanings
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37 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    I think to a large degree this song is about the harmful psychological effects of literalist/strict ("fundamentalist") religion. Specifically, the way it saddles people with guilt for being human (being imperfect and having deisres and drives), especially with regards to sex (IE the lines about dirty sheets, etc.), which results in people beating themselves up over things they often know (but have yet to convince their subconscious) that they shouldn't even feel bad about (crucifying). Furthermore, it inspires a spiteful, judgemental, "holier than thou" attitude (the lines about pointed fingers and a kick for a dog begging for love) which tends to destroy interpersonal bonds, especially between parent and child, and hence often results in children from these families looking for love (or a cheap, easy substitute) elsewhere...like in irresponsible sex (looking for love between dirty sheets again), though they may feel very guilty...

    Azzathothon January 06, 2005   Link

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