I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I was once a boy.
'Til I cut my penis off
And I grew a hairy skull
Of stubborn fire
Then I was a girl.
'Til I sewed my hole up
And I grew a hairy heart
Of dark desire
But
There's no answer. just surrender
Send all your barriers into the fire
And
Let no foot. mark your ground
Let no hand hold you down.
You were once so sad
Till you cut your suffer off
Now you please yourself
And fight your own wars
And you were once so weak
'Til you sewed your wounds up
Now you've learnt to sing
About sun and shine!
Be you own hero
Be your own savior
Send all your suffering
Into the fire
'Til I cut my penis off
And I grew a hairy skull
Of stubborn fire
Then I was a girl.
'Til I sewed my hole up
And I grew a hairy heart
Of dark desire
But
There's no answer. just surrender
Send all your barriers into the fire
And
Let no foot. mark your ground
Let no hand hold you down.
You were once so sad
Till you cut your suffer off
Now you please yourself
And fight your own wars
And you were once so weak
'Til you sewed your wounds up
Now you've learnt to sing
About sun and shine!
Be you own hero
Be your own savior
Send all your suffering
Into the fire
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
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I think it's talking about being yourself. Whether your a guy who like's guys or w/e. You don't have to be what society see's you as.
I agree, I think the song is about being yourself. Not being obstructed by gender roles. He means that a guy is not just a penis and a girl is not just a "hole". You shouldn't let anyone stop you from being yourself based on that. It's also about someone coming to terms with that and being who they are and not caring about their gender stereotype.
yeah definatly. good song
I dunno, to me it kind of seems like he's trying to say that the person let go of their sexual organs because maybe they chained the person down.. I mean how sex and stuff like that always gets in the way.. And once you get rid of your ridiculous need of the opposite sex, you're free and you can just live.
added note: on the line "then i grew a hairy skull" i've seen it posted as "hair scar" but w/e.
the first time i heard this song i was like wtf. but it's amazing
hairy*. i thought i should correct myself. there was a lot more to that comment, but it looks like i was cut off. oh well...
the song is basically tying in with the album its meant to be him transfering through the album as reflected in the snows/ song names
Lycanthropy- is the name for transforming into a wolf in mythology
i think the basic idea of this song is about being yourself. doing what you want to. alot of songs are bout such things
Fantastically experimental song from the androgynous Patrick Wolf that's about, well, androgyny.
It's actually kind of alarming how many people are so willing to simply interpret this as a typical "Be Yourself" type song. Is anyone else concerned about the grizzly metaphors he uses? He's not completely glorifying being independent, he's saying that there's an ugly price for cutting off these parts of your identity. The whole "cut your suffer off" seems like a warning that if you were to do what he suggests you'd become rather inhuman.
yeah, there's a price on his optimism.. I was too ready to accept.. I don't want to sew up my heart. And I can't be my own hero or saviour. I am not enough. I need something else, something other, something outside. Like crazy Patrick Wolf songs.