I am the line
I hold you near
There is no burden left to bear
I can't see clear

You're in suspension
You know no love
There is no story left to tell
You have no wisdom to pass on

I am the soul of absolution
No man can hide his own illusion
My hands are crippled from the pain
You are the splinter in my vain

You put your head between your hands
And understand nothing it adds
I feel the answers keep you scared
I've put the harm inside myself.

I am the line
I hold you near
There is no burden left to bear
I can't see clear

I am perfected
I know no void
I have no conscience to keep clear
I understand there's nothing more

You try to kid yourself with questions
Pleading inside for some correction
I found you tied unto the cross
Your judgment owns your every thought

You know my words all mean the same
You're begging to isolate
Into this prison in your mind
Well, you were born without a spine

When did you stop caring?
When did you stop caring?



Lyrics submitted by leiferikson

Track duration: 05:07

"The Line" as written by Peter Hayes, Robert Turner

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CHRYSALIS MUSIC GROUP

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


The Line song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with everyone here that this song just sends shivers down one's spine. Very strong lyrics and music to go along with it. In terms of meaning, I think it's about someone who is watching over someone else who has committed suicide:

    You're in suspension
    You know no love
    There is no story left to tell
    You have no wisdom to pass on

    There are many clues throughout showing how the other person is stuck inside his head and can't handle things. Thus them being the line or the only thing stopping their friend from crossing into the other side.
    Flag DancingHoboon June 14, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Great song.

    To me this looks like a conversation between two old friends who have known each other for a long time and are know starting to go into different directions in their lives. The first is a religious, down-to-earth guy. The other one is breaking out of this life and not really caring about morality.

    In the first 16 lines, the "good" guy is talking to the other one - telling him that his path is the wrong one ("You know no love", "You have no wisdom to pass on", "I feel the answers keep you scared") and that he is a pain in the ass ("you understand nothing it adds" and "you are the splinter in my vain")

    After that, the "bad" guy is talking. It's starting out exactly with the same as the previous part, he's telling that the he is taking care of this friend. Then he describes this life (he is perfected but conscienceless) and starts accusing his friend for his religiousness (isolates in a prison in his mind, he has no spine, only caring about the judgement for his sins).
    Here "tied unto the cross" and "your judgement" are religious motives.

    Not sure what the last part, "When did you stop caring?" exactly means, though.
    Flag UltraGandi1337on October 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:This song is amazing yet eerie. I love it.

    It's about someone trying to help out a friend with a problem

    I am the line, i hold you near, there is no burden left to bear = A sense of security,protector/guardian, someone to keep him from doing any more damage.







    Flag Rocksandon July 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this is a song of friendship...the singer is holding up his friend, who is messed up and can't handle his life by himself. I have had friends like this. You keep trying to hold them up, but they keep bringing you down as you try to help them...taking their burdens, sheltering them, etc. This song captures so much. It is eery. My favorite by BRMC.
    Flag Sunshineshineon May 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song is about feeling empty. well thats how i interpret it

    open invitation is also an amazing song
    Flag robinmccreadyon March 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is, like, the pinnacle of good songwriting. Want to know how to write good lyrics? Show 'em this.

    It's like someone so tormented they try to become the line, perfect, unemotional, just. The last line reveals the inability of it all though.
    Flag Kenichion October 01, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I LOVE this song

    I agree as well... It's incredibly haunting....


    Not sure about meaning but it's beautiful...
    Flag quincebolison June 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Wonderful song... And Open Invitation is just awesome... I agree with you, it gives me chills every time I listen to it... And it makes me shivering. Just a great song, and also it is on The O.C., in the episode "The Game Plan"... Just perfect.
    Flag FoRevEr_SPooNeron January 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I would hate to be one of those people who makes every song about Jesus, but just think about it...From his point of view.
    Flag notFRANKon October 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Lyrically, this is the strongest track on HOWL

    The song tacked onto the end of this is a hidden track called Open Invitation

    I alwasy thought the lyric went "Bleeding inside for some correction"

    I think this could be about a friendship where one person is struggling with the other who has begun to spiral out of control.
    Flag TheAbsolutionHowlon May 11, 2007   Link

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