Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Palms are fitted black and finely tuned
To triggers, cause bodies that tremble
But this mud looks shallow from the beach
When we hide behind such ugly faces
And the dark eyed woman lifts her head
"Why do we hide behind such ugly faces?"
Child-bearing games
From the streets down to the shores
They're playing as waterways open
In an obscene gaping gasp
But this mud looks shallow from the beach
When we hide behind such ugly faces
And the dark eyed woman lifts her head
"Why do we hide behind such ugly faces?"
"Rally all your men (rally all your men)
There is work to be done" (there's work to be done)
Still we don't have the time for speaking out of place
He won't come down (he won't come down)
He won't come down (he won't come down)
When lengths of snakes match each silent syllable
"With eyes like these"
Face glistening with suspense of a scalpel blade
Clockwork, calculating surgical precision
But this mud looks shallow from the beach
When we hide behind such ugly faces
And the dark eyed woman lifts her head
"Why do we hide behind such ugly faces?"
"Rally all your men (rally all your men)
There is work to be done" (there's work to be done)
Still we don't have the time for speaking out of place
He won't come down (he won't come down)
He won't come down (he won't come down)
He won't come down (he won't come down)
He won't come down (he won't come down)
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
Palms are fitted black and finely tuned
To stomachs that swallowed whole that bayou
But this mud looks shallow from the beach
When we hide behind such ugly faces
And the dark eyed woman lifts her head
"Why do we hide behind such ugly faces?"
To triggers, cause bodies that tremble
But this mud looks shallow from the beach
When we hide behind such ugly faces
And the dark eyed woman lifts her head
"Why do we hide behind such ugly faces?"
Child-bearing games
From the streets down to the shores
They're playing as waterways open
In an obscene gaping gasp
But this mud looks shallow from the beach
When we hide behind such ugly faces
And the dark eyed woman lifts her head
"Why do we hide behind such ugly faces?"
"Rally all your men (rally all your men)
There is work to be done" (there's work to be done)
Still we don't have the time for speaking out of place
He won't come down (he won't come down)
He won't come down (he won't come down)
When lengths of snakes match each silent syllable
"With eyes like these"
Face glistening with suspense of a scalpel blade
Clockwork, calculating surgical precision
But this mud looks shallow from the beach
When we hide behind such ugly faces
And the dark eyed woman lifts her head
"Why do we hide behind such ugly faces?"
"Rally all your men (rally all your men)
There is work to be done" (there's work to be done)
Still we don't have the time for speaking out of place
He won't come down (he won't come down)
He won't come down (he won't come down)
He won't come down (he won't come down)
He won't come down (he won't come down)
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
La, la, la da da
Palms are fitted black and finely tuned
To stomachs that swallowed whole that bayou
But this mud looks shallow from the beach
When we hide behind such ugly faces
And the dark eyed woman lifts her head
"Why do we hide behind such ugly faces?"
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I understand what your thoughts on this song being about drugs, but the entire album is not about drugs. Not every song is about drugs, you're just stuck in that frame of mind so START THINKING!
I'm guessing parts of this as some natural disaster. Maybe the tsunami, or hurricane katrina.
My other guess is a war of somekind or a siege of some sort. palms are fitted black finely tuned to triggers that cause bodies to tremble- Black tactical gloves wrapped around guns
He won't come down - suggests that the head of the operation whether criminal or governmental won't sway
@mongoos3 song was before katrino by abouta year on release likely 2 or 3 from writing, so it could be about 1 but it isnt abut 1 spacific one likely and i agree w the drugs point theres already 1 about a crack addiction in the album<br />
amazing song.
this is an amazing song. are the lines in quotes directly from the book, or are they just being said?
the lines are quoted just like that in the cd booklet
i cant believe this contains members from Anatomy Of A ghost. Totally different sound and everything. i thought this band was weird, but their original and i like almost every song. truely a find. they need more exposure, awesome band!!
very good song... i can't stop hearing it..
All of their music is Glorious. Yes they do sound entirely different. And they even hold the same singer/song writer. It's pretty shocking, but so great.
am i the only one that thinks portugal. the man is mars volta like... if so sorry, i just listen to both and i hear the same kind of experimental sounds
When I first heard this album at the very start of the year (one of my first grabs in January), my first thought was "hey, At the Drive-In reformed after all the members learned from their experiences."
Needless to say, I was pleased by it, even if over time I've really just gotten more of that "mars volta without the pretention" vibe.
In case no one has noticed, the opening riff to this song is the almost the exact replica of the opening riff to the Refused song Summer Holidays vs Punk Routine