She homed with thieves
Kicked up dirty leaves
She was a maniac
No one's heart attack
She got around
Slept on the bad side of town
She was cooler than you
Way cooler than me
She was true, all blinded and bruised
She didn't give a fuck
No she had given up
She was alive
She was caught on fire
She was everything
She was all of this

She opened up and laid it all right there
She said, "I don't mind
No, no I don't care
I'll help you shovel out my shallow hole
And I know I know they're threatening
But at least we're not the ones carrying
Such heavy heavy heavy stoning stones

And yeah I know they'll get you down
They'll do you in and they'll drag it out
'Cause me and you, we are one of a kind"

She liked to lose
Never wore Sunday shoes
She found her luck in wells and corner stores and jails
She was crazy
A downtown kind of baby
Always dangerous, she got me down on my knees
She made it rain
She called the wind and then it came
Oh with the wave of her hand
She brought the sunshine right in
She was the sky
Beyond steeple and the choir
Oh, the preacher's amen
His hallelujah child

She opened up and laid it all right there
She said, "I don't mind
No, no I don't care
I'll help you shovel out my shallow hole
And I know I know they are threatening
But at least we're not the ones carrying
Such heavy heavy heavy stoning stones

So when your bones are broke and you're all alone
And the fog's so thick you can't see up close
Just know that I will end up strangled too
And when the floods they come all rushing in
And the boat is full and you can't get in
Oh, it's okay if you don't want to swim
And when you're swallowed up, oh, don't you cry
Just give right in, don't try to fight
'Cause baby I wouldn't pay no mind
There's nothing you can do"

They'll have you coughing up your colors
They'll have you coughing up your colors

She sang the blues
Out of time and out of tune
Spoke no silver spoon
Only simple truths
She was a friend, stabbed backs and broke plans
She would give you his coat
Or put nails through his hand

She was wise, full of magic and life
Oh you could see it in her eyes
Oh yeah I saw it in her eyes
She was more than this
Oh way more than this
She was everything
She was all of this



Lyrics submitted by delial

Track duration: 06:22

"Coughing Colors" as written by Kianna Alarid, Neely Jenkins, Jamie L Williams, Derek Pressnall, Nicholas White

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Coughing Colors song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:i think this is one of the most beautiful songs i have ever heard.
    Flag charcoalsketchon June 01, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation: To me this song could be about a girl who had a lot of psychological problems, and how her behavior was really chaotic but sort of part of the reason she was so loved. I think the "coughing up your colors" reflects this attitude that treatment/acting like society expects you to can sometimes take away somebody's individuality and how he kind of wants her to succumb to the insanity and be herself...It's bittersweet. It's about how people can't be defined by one description or action, how they can be selfish and kind at the same time, how you can resent and love the same person for the same reasons.
    Flag ninety6tearson October 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me, this song seems like it this song could be about a close friend that had some sort of terminal illness.
    "And when you're swallowed up, oh, don't you cry
    Just give right in, don't try to fight
    'Cause baby, I wouldn't pay no mind
    There's nothing you can do
    They'll have you coughing up your colors"
    Like coughing up blood?
    After losing a close friend,
    that's just what it reminds me of.
    It's such a beautiful song.
    Flag chasingsunsetson September 30, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:epic song. seems to be about someone who sums up tragedy. she's free and she is in control of her life. she seems to be free from the norms of society and acts beyond the restrictions imposed. "she was the sky, beyond the steeple and the choir". i knew someone just like this. she was a stoner, backstabber and ultimately a bitch but during the short time you knew her, you felt as free as she did. tragedy is generally about good people with issues or in poor situations. she is happy and free with the ability to make friends fast due to her attitude but this means she drifts through life and friendships with little aim, moving on to more useful people. the narrator to my mind knew her briefly and is describing her as something very transient. she bursts into your life, open and flawed (i'll help you shovel out my shallow hole shows her acceptance of problems and highlights her openness) and eventually she drifts back out of your life into the wider world to repeat this pattern. Like i said, i knew this girl, god knows where she is now, most likely somewhere lying on a heroin stained mattress or partying with turkish royals.
    Flag blakleberryon September 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song.
    It wont ever get old.


    I'm pretty sure the opening line is "She hung with thieves."
    Flag omghayleyon June 11, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:so does anyone else think this is a song about a friend who passed away. he keeps referring to her in the past tense and it reminds me of an elegy.
    Flag bloodbloodbloodon January 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:mmmmm this song. although there is unmistaken despair in the song, it makes me some how happy at the same time.
    a beautiful song about a beautiful complex girl.

    i really wish i was her.
    Flag scarletfeverron July 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"cause you and me, we are one of a kind."

    absolutely beautiful song.
    Flag livelovemusicccon November 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:if i'm not mistaken, the sing was written by derek pressnall for his wife, jamie, who is the tapdancer in the band.
    Flag jilltheroboton October 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:that's funny because every time i hear this song, i think of how i reeeeally wish i knew who this girl was. i think i want to meet the girl that the song seems to be referring to, and have her break my heart. is that weird? i think this song subconsciously reminds me of a past burn and i kind of want to relive it or something weird haha
    Flag y0ung__aspiringon July 10, 2007   Link

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