only time will tell if I'll allow
the scenery around to eat me alive

I want to sleep for weeks like a dog at her feet
even though I know it won't work out in the long run
so I burn down the wall, breathe my good shadow
those arms I once knew, hold me like gold
I learn how to speak a forgotten language
I fall in the sea but forget how to swim

When anything that's anything becomes nothing that's everything
and nothing is the only thing you ever seem to have

but only time will tell if I'll allow
the scenery around to eat me alive

I want to sleep for weeks like a dog at her feet
even though I know it won't work out in the long run
so I burn down the bone, breathe my good shadow
those arms I once knew, hold me like gold
I learn how to speak a defeated language
I fall in the street as I howl at the moon

When anything that's anything becomes nothing that's everything
and nothing is the only thing you ever seem to have



Lyrics submitted by wingedfeetxc

Track duration: 03:44


Van Helsing Boombox song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • -1
    General Comment:i get so confused on "when anything is anything..."!
    can someone explain? xd
    Flag eyesbrighton July 07, 2011   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:OMG I HATE IT WHEN I KNOW THE REAL LYRICS TO MAN MAN!!!!!!! DAMN IT!!!!! PLEASE TELL ME IT's

    only time will tell if i will ever see a way around her eat me alive
    Flag AimlessyEatingon April 10, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:only time will tell if I'll allow
    the scenery around to eat me alive




    Waiting something out.





    I want to sleep for weeks like a dog at her feet
    even though I know it won't work out in the long run



    What he wants to do is to be with her.




    so I burn down the wall, breathe my good shadow
    those arms I once knew, hold me like ghost




    He's thinking of her still and always, too many reminders to just get her out of his head.




    I learn how to speak a forgotten language
    I fall in the sea but forget how to swim



    He tries removes her from all aspects of life, but can't function entirely normal. He's still too attached.


    When anything that's anything becomes nothing that's everything
    and nothing is the only thing you ever seem to have


    Having nothing, but everything is the full concept of acceptance.


    I learn how to speak a defeated language
    I fall in the street as I howl at the moon


    He's not sad anymore, he's angry. He's frustrated. He feels like something is wrong, but he can't find out how to fix it. Followed by the true message again and again with added feelings, and a reliving "la la la" which in this case may symbolize closure.
    Flag KlausWeisson March 21, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:it's speaking to my current situation, having come back home after being away, and feeling like i'm in some sort of exile. i breathe my good shadow, trying to remember how good life was going before i came back. it seems like it's almost not a part of me when i'm here.

    and people literally talk differently here. sure, they speak english, but it's just a different social and political climate. so now i have to learn to speak a language that i had almost erased.

    the loneliness and last ditch effort at holding onto something (anything) are really shining through in this song for me right now.
    Flag willywillywillyon December 31, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is so depressing, but it's so incredible at the same time
    Flag threeinchhorseson December 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about the act of getting over a girl. The troubles of getting use to being alone, and the thoughts of wanting her back, but knowing it won't work.
    When he says "learn how to speak forgotten language. Fall in the sea but forget how to swim" He is talking about gettin back to the single life. The forgotten language is how to talk to girls again, and the the sea refers to the saying "plenty of fish in the sea" He will look for these fish, but has forgotten how.
    Flag milkwigon August 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Synergistic: A much easier way to play this (without detuning your guitar) is to capo on the third fret, and then play C, E7, Am, E7. Thought that might help :)

    When anything that's anything becomes nothing that's everything, and nothing is the only thing ya ever seem to have........
    Flag ikefoxon June 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:hey, i finally figured out this song on guitar. it has to be detuned a whole step down, but the shapes are F A7 Dm A7 (througout the song)

    on piano, that should be D# G7 Cm G7.
    Flag Synergisticon February 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:what is the wall? that is the one thing that bothers the hell out of me. I understand the meaning of the song. BUT WHAT DOES THE 'WALL' BEING 'BURNT DOWN' MEAN?? It's a great visual-emotional metaphor, but what is the wall? what is it between? what does it signify? help!

    Also, does anyone now the piano chords used in the song? I wanna learn how to play it
    Flag EvilPopsicleguyon February 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:does anyone know where i can find a transcription of this for guitar? I love this song, and i've tried to figure it out myself, but sadly i'm not that good.
    Flag Synergisticon December 11, 2007   Link

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