Sometimes life seems to quiet
Into paralyzing silence
Like the moonless dark
Meant to make me strong

Familiar breath of my old lies
Changed the color in my eyes
Soon he will perforate the fabric of the peaceful by and by

Sorrow lasts through this night
I'll take this piece of you
And hold for all eternity
For just one second I felt whole
As you flew right through me

Left alone with only reflections of the memory
To face the ugly girl that's smothering me
Sitting closer than my pain
He knew each tear before it came
Soon He will perforate the fabric of the peaceful by and by

Sorrow lasts through this night
I'll take this piece of you
And hold for all eternity
For just one second I felt whole
As you flew right through me

And we kiss each other one more time
And sing this lie that's halfway mine
The sword is slicing through the question
So I won't be fooled by his angel light

Sorrow lasts through this night
I'll take this piece of you
And hold for all eternity
For just one second I felt whole
As you flew right through me

And up into the stars
Joy will come


Lyrics submitted by thesimpleways

Sorrow Lyrics as written by Sameer Bhattacharya Howard Benson

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Sorrow song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

62 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +6
    General Comment

    Flyleaf is a Christian band. Notice the capital "H" in "He knew each tear before it came". and the little "h" in the other "he" 's. Also, Satan is the Angel of Light. It is why he is called Lucifer. He was God's most beautiful Angel prior to his fall. God calls his word, the Bible, the sword of truth. It is also well known that Satan attempts to deceive. Therefore, "The sword is slicicing through the questions so I won't be fooled by his angel light" speaks to God's word clarifying what is right and what is wrong. I think it is about an adult, single women attempting to be abstinent, but failing. I think it is her version of how she feels when she fails. I think that "For just one second I felt whole... as you flew right through me" is about the very temporary satisfaction and closeness you feel during the act. But it is empty afterwards. But it is still very intimate and "I'll take this peice of you, and hold for all eternity" is about being in love, making love and knowing it is wrong at the time, but feeling so close to that person. "We kiss each other one more time and sing this lie that's half way mine" is about how she doesn't hold him responsible for the sin. She obviously wants him and is a willing participant, even though she feels remorse afterwards.

    This is one of the most beautiful songs on the album. I love "All Around Me" as well. It is such a wonderful Praise song.

    AngieRon March 01, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    Okay, this is my (long-winded) breakdown of the song. And yes, I view Flyleaf as a Christian Rock band, and I am deciphering this song like a Christian song, though I agree that there are so many interpretations of it! :)

    “Sometimes life seems to quiet into paralyzing silence Like the moonless dark, meant to make me strong Familiar breath of my old lies change the color in my eyes Soon he will perforate the fabric of the peaceful by and by”

    It is a widely held belief in the Christian faith that God tests us all to make our faith stronger. “Like the moonless dark, meant to make me strong. Next, she speaks of remembering her old mistakes and sins. “Change the color in my eyes” could be speaking of her guilt and sadness at her past mistakes (here I’m going to use the term of being under conviction). Y’know, how people’s eyes are often described as “darkening” with tears? I’m judging that the last line deals with her personal salvation. Although salvation is a wonderful thing, if you were living a life of sin, it will change what you do in your day-to-day life. But this line is tricky and can refer to many, many different things.

    ”Sorrow lasts through this night I'll take this piece of you and hold for all eternity For just one second I felt whole As you flew right through me”

    I think the first line says that maybe she’s just started her faith, but she’s not saved yet, so “sorrow lasts”. Yet, she takes a piece of God (possibly something physical like a Bible or necklace, but most likely just the changes of her philosophies and beliefs) and swears to hold onto it forever. She does feel whole for a second though, when the Spirit was nearby, maybe she witnessed someone else being saved or someone “in the Spirit” but she herself was not saved. “Flew right through me.”

    ”Left alone with only reflections of the memory To face the ugly girl that's smothering me Sitting closer than my pain, he knew each tear before it came Soon he will perforate the fabric of the peaceful by and by”

    I think this deals with her memories of drug use (or any bad memory, really) and her decision that her outward self, her sins and mistakes, are ugly and smothering the real her. “Sitting closer than my pain” refers to God, and how even though she was hurting and confused, God was closer to her than her own pain, and he knew every tear she would cry before she ever did. The repetition of the last line reinforces my view that it refers to her impending salvation.

    "And we kiss each other one more time And sing this lie that's half way mine The sword is slicing through the question so I won't be fooled By his angel light"

    Maybe here she falters a little, and doesn’t really know if she wants to commit to a religion. “And we kiss each other one more time and sing this lie that’s half-way mine,” I feel means that she either went back to an old junkie boyfriend, OR it could be read more metaphorically and mean that she went back to drugs, even though she knows it’s wrong because she’s simply frightened of giving herself up to God. However, the knowledge that whatever she’s doing is wrong finally gets the best of her, and she realizes that even if the boy/drugs make her feel good momentarily (“angel light”) they are still wrong.

    ”Sorrow lasts through this night I'll take this piece of you and hold for all eternity For just one second I felt whole As you flew right through me And up into the stars

    Joy will come”

    The last two lines end with the hope of salvation. She knows she’s under conviction, and she’s ready to accept Christ and has faith that “Joy will come” even if it’s not right then and there.

    Coronaeon February 05, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think the song is about making the mistake of having sex with someone before marriage and feeling used afterwards. When she sings "I'll take this piece of you and hold for all eternity," I think she is quoting the guy that took her virginity (in the song, I've no idea if she's a virgin or not). Read the lyrics and think about it being about regreting the loss of virginity. Makes sense to me. BTW, I love Lacey Mosley and I'd marry her if I had the chance, just letting everyone know that.

    hottguy7on June 12, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Very interesting interpretations, all of you. Yes, Flyleaf has already dubbed themselves a Christian band in one of their interviews. As for ambiguity, it's just a way to spread the Message without it being so blatantly stated that it loses appeal it could otherwise hold to someone who needs it ... I admit, though, in my mind, atheism has never quite worked out somehow ... When all things, without exception, are cause and effect, how can someone say humanity lacks a Cause? I'm forced to wonder.

    I never thought about it being about sex ... promiscuity ... How sad. It's like she left a piece of herself with someone who didn't even love her. That feeling was meant for good ... How often we twist what God intends for good. Very sad, very beautiful song.

    Job_the_Jubilanton March 03, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    "Sorrow will last through the night; but Joy comes in the morning" Psalm 30:5

    TiaEphesians429on March 15, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    A lot of these lyrics are wrong. The correct lyrics are:

    "Sometimes life seems to quiet into paralyzing silence Like the moonless dark, meant to make me strong. Familiar breath of my old lies Changed the color in my eyes Soon he will perferate the fabric of the peaceful by and by

    Sorrow lasts through this night I'll take this piece of you, and hold for all eternity For just one second I felt whole... as you flew right through me.

    Left alone with only reflections of the memory To face the ugly girl that's smothering me. Sitting closer than my pain... He knew each tear before it came, And soon he will perforate the fabric of the peaceful by and by

    We kiss each other one more time And sing this lie that's half way mine The sword is slicing through the questions so I won't be fooled By his angel light..

    Sorrow lasts through this night I'll take this piece of you and for all eternity For just one second I felt whole as you flew right though me and up into the stars Joy will come. " These lyrics are directly off of flyleaf's website.

    As for this song, personally, it is my favorite off the album. Flyleaf rocks.

    unclerico007on January 27, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    christian or not, the nice thing about religious bands nowadays is a lot of them make their songs ambigious. for me, it's sort of a breakup. taking a piece of someone could be a nice memory or a bit of clothing or a personal gift, and hope for all eternity that maybe someday you'll cross paths in a good way later on. i think that everyone gets to a point in a relationship where when it ends you look back and think that you had just one second where everything was perfect.

    seelenschreion April 27, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I Love This Song Soooooooo much!!!!!

    Sarah90on May 29, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I agree with Angie R. Basically, it's about the speaker interpretting being used as love. She can give and give and give of herrself, but the truth is that it really isn't love. It can feel amazing, but it's not actually any kind of real love. In time, she realizes that she was just lying to herself, but she doesn't hold the other person as entirely guilty, she allowed it to happen in the first place, so she's just as quilty. Honestly, I kinda think Lacey's been abused in a lot of ways or has at least had a really crappy life. I used to really hate this song because it was so quiet compared to their other ones, but once I actually listened to the words I changed my mind. These guys are going to get pretty big soon, watch and see.

    chardsofglasson August 21, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this is to xSatansxCupidx... Believe it or not..... myspace has nothing to do with a band being christian or not...... If you listen to their songs,read the lyrics, actually know a little more about the band basides the "music category" it is in on myspace... U might learn that Flyleaf is a christian band, and it's songs are about christianity, love for God, and the love he has for us.

    chris.pon May 11, 2007   Link

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

Album art
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Album art
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song: Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.” That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Punchline
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.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.