It's in the water, baby
It's in the pills that bring you down
It's in the water, baby
It's in your bag of golden brown
It's in the water, baby
It's in your frequency
It's in the water, baby
It's between you and me

It's in the water, baby
It's in the pills that pick you up
It's in the water, baby
It's in the special way we fuck
It's in the water, baby
It's in your family tree
It's in the water, baby
It's between you and me

Bite the hand that feeds
Tap the vein that bleeds
Down on my bended knees,

I'd break the back of love for you [Repeats]

It's in the water, baby
It's in the pills that bring you down
It's in the water, baby
It's in your bag of golden brown
It's in the water, baby
It's in your frequency
It's in the water, baby
It's between you and me

Bite the hand that feeds
Tap the vein that bleeds
Down on my bended knees,

I'd break the back of love for you.


Lyrics submitted by Spiner

Post Blue Lyrics as written by Stefan Olsdal Brian Molko

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Post Blue song meanings
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72 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    Mostly everything has been said already, but I still wanted to add my take. What no one mentioned is that writing a song is not like writing a story where everything is mapped out. Songwriting is more about the emotional meaning of the words, since rhythm often controls the word choice.

    Everyone has had a different idea on the line "I'd break the back of love for you." Emotionally, we all get it. It's an ultimate declaration of love, so lost in this person that you would break love itself for them, but probably still be in love with them--but to put that emotion in words is hard to do. We all have our own ways to say it, Brian Molko's original phrasing being the best. :)

    I'm interested in the pregnancy theory, and it was fun to read everyone's thoughts on that, but I think Dylan in the movies got closest. Blue is universally a word for depression. To me, this song is about a codependent, screwed up relationship, and the violent love that characterizes it. Songs are made to be easy to relate to, and that kind of relationship and depression in it would be something everyone can understand. The whole pregnancy thing, not so much. A relationship where you're up and down all the time, using and never really stable, betraying each other and fighting, having make up fucks, sometimes even angry sex, betraying each other--bite the hand that feeds--bleeding your life's blood for this person because the extremity of the relationship makes it feel like real love. And it's in the water. Something they can't get rid of, have no control over. The most contagious diseases are those carried by water because no one can avoid drinking, and that's what I think of. And finally, down on bended knees. This song is a plea in several directions. On one hand he never wants to lose this lover, on the other hand he wants out. The love vascilates between passion and despair. But he tells his lover, "Bite the hand that feeds--betray me--tap the vein that bleeds--suck away my life's blood--and I will still be on my bended knees for you, offering you everything. I would even break the back of love for you."

    dressedinleatheron August 11, 2008   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    Emotions are actually a transmitter of frequency. Our frequency effects all living biological beings. There was frozen water tests done to prove this. This song is about breaking off a relationship and support for an addict because you love them and can't bare to watch them suffer anymore. What he's first talking about is bad energy vibrations. How we feel effects things around us. Water element symbolizes emotions because we are mostly water and water is the carrier of energy.

    Brian clearly loves them and that's why he has to destroy the relationship and essentially "break the back of love" for this person. Because when someone is an addict and is killing themselves every day with heroin you eventually have to draw a line. Else you will have to be there to pick up the pieces when their life is finished. He knew the best thing for them was for him to walk away in hope they would wake up. So this was his sort of tribute. It's very similar to a song to say goodbye in many ways. But this is more like hopefully you'll learn from me walking away.

    Bite the hand that feeds is basically saying that person was going against Brian. Brian was clearly paying for this person and looking after them. Which isn't hard to imagine. Most heroin addicts become depantant on others when their addiction gets out of hand. He's essentially saying here that it's not very smart to go against the person looking after you "feeding you" by shooting up. So clearly he's talked to this person and told them not to (he's given them warnings). But the addict couldn't help themselves. So Brian breaks the relationship off with them out of love. He couldn't stand enabling them to kill themselves. If anyones had a relationship with an addict they would know what this feels like.

    TheProfitSongon July 23, 2020   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is absolutely awesome , the bass lines and the way Brian says "I'd brake the back of love for you" just make chills run down my spine.

    Spineron February 15, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I also think Dylan is right. I dont believe the pregnancy story, I dont see it anywhere!... where does it says so. I think is about them having problems in there relationship and the relationship is dieing. But what make their relationship go that way?..

    Everything.. not just because of golden brown, uppers or downens, her frequency or family tree. It's in all these things as well, but most importantly it's in the water, a thing as normal, pure and innocent as water. That means it's all around them, in everything them do, no matter what they do, it's there. It's between him and her...

    That's my 2cents.

    -Jens R.

    stegtflaeskon September 07, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Take a look at a film called 'It's in the water' that will answer it.

    dpcon July 25, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    The protagonist in this song is very mature.

    He has understood that there are no external influences to blame for who they truly are.

    So he's saying 'it's in the water' because water is one of the five elements. It's something very natural.

    And when you feel bad for something that makes you You, you have to learn to accept yourself. Can't change who you are.

    The song refers to the movie 'It’s in the Water' where a man blames his homosexuality on the water.

    And that's ridiculous.

    Being gay is part of him.

    And in the song, the protagonist sees how depressed his loved one is by fighting to see the truth that he is gay, too.

    All the pills he takes and the booze he drinks ('bag of golden brown') only support the assumption that he's homosexual. And all it leads up to is him and the protagonist.

    The protagonist has already come clean with who he is, but his partner is still fighting, hence 'Bite the hand that feeds and tap the vein that bleeds' (emotionally) referring to the protagonist himself who is the one who suffers the more his partner resists the truth.

    'Down on my bended knees' could refer to a blowjob and that the protagonist would do everything for the one he loves and he would even 'break the back of love' for him probably by that blow job position when he tries to show him how much he loves him.

    StoriesinSongs.comon January 16, 2020   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I Agree Spiner! Surprised ther's not many comments on the new songs! Not quite sure what the lyrics are supposed to mean apart from it being about sex and drugs but its great.

    ashtray girlon March 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love it! I also love "blind" and "song to say goodbye", oh well I actually love the whole album, and every song they ever made hah! but, "i'd brake the back of love for you", what exactly does he mean by that? is it good or bad?

    AshtrayGirl-on March 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    surely its BREAK?!? Brake just doesnt make sense...but anyway, great song, great album! seeing them in a month...cant wait!

    riceyon March 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    methinks it should be break somehow or it doesnt really make sense

    i think the "i'd break the back of love for you bit" sounds like he wants to make it easier for whoever the song is about to love him, and the rest of it i think implies theres something between them they cant avoid, like its part of their nature, and he wants to make this easier. yeah what does anyone else think??

    shoesbbonon March 15, 2006   Link

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