I hope my smile can distract you
I hope my fists can fight for two
So it never has to show
And you'll never know

I hope my love can blind you
I hope my arms can bind you
So you'll never have to see
What we've grown to be

One may think, we're all right
But we need pills to sleep at night
We need lies to make it through the day
We're not O.K.

One may think, we're all right
But we need pills to sleep at night
We need lies to make it through the day
We're not O.K.

One may think, we're doing fine
But if I had to lay it on the line
We're losing ground, with every passing day
We're not O.K.

That's one thing, I would never
That's one thing, I would never
That's one thing, I would never
Say to you

That's one thing, I would never
That's one thing, I would never
That's one thing, I would never
Say to you


Lyrics submitted by sunrise highway

Pills [Live] Lyrics as written by Mans Erik Svennem Lundberg Ola Lars Kluft

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Pills song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Couldn't it just for a minute mean something less tragic? Perhaps poignant but not an ending?

    That they are torn apart by the humdrum of life but yet struggle to keep each other optimistic and upbeat? They medicate and communicate (with pills and lies) even though they know that it cannot elevate them yet do not want to see the other person fall?

    ymjp100on May 09, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    well this song is pretty much summed up in the first verse.

    So it never has to show And you’ll never know

    that's basically all the proof you need.

    such a sad song...

    tehunderdashpwnon December 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I saw The Perishers for the first time when they warmed up for Sarah McLachlan. When they played this song Sarah came out on stage and sang the female vocal. It was so beutiful.

    alice_in_wonderlandon June 14, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this band is so awesome live. if youre lucky you can see them live. theyre from sweden so its quite a far trip.

    so heres what i THINK this song means. sorry, im not too eloquent with words, espeically at 2:30 in the morning. but its not too complicated so...

    i think its about a couple who have lost their romantic interest. they still love each other but their love has envolved and faded over time. both people are oblivious about their feelings towards each other even though they are experiencing the same change of heart.

    "thats one thing i would never say to you" shows how neither want to hurt the other person because they still care for each other.

    its kind of a complex emotion? loving someone but not being IN love anymore.

    beautiful song though... goodnight

    babywiththebendson October 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    sweet little song, but what always bothered me is that the two characters, fictional or otherwise, are so comfortable with in their stereotypical roles in the relationship as seen in the first verse. maybe that's one part of why they're falling apart.

    sensitivetofateon January 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    A song about ignoring the signs and keeping yur head in the sand to keep from addressing the problem of how the rut that they have fallen into has made them 'not okay' so they hold on using whatever they can to make it through each day.

    wolf cubon June 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    sweet song

    so_fetch!on June 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song initially reminded me of a marriage, and how they've depended on eachother so long but the "fire" of their love isn't there -- they just want to hold on, and pretend everything's alright, but it isn't. They just aren't in love anymore; as babywiththebends said, it's a really complex emotion.

    "One may think we're alright But we need pills to sleep at night"

    To me this song is really visual. I can almost imagine a housewife lying in bed, slipping pain medication into her mouth or any other inducing pill, her back to her sleeping husband and just trying to block all her feelings out. It's just really heart-breaking.

    xbreatheformeon December 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ive just recently heard this song and it blew me away, its almost Damien Rice like.. Both voices compliment each other so well. As said above, this is a very visual song.. i can imagine these two people feeling exactly the same but not havin the heart to admit it to anyone but themselves. Its tragically beautiful.. x

    Fairy_Of_Iceon January 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    to me this is one of those songs you wouldnt want to hear coz its gets you too much, but its under favourite playlist.

    vauinon October 29, 2007   Link

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