Damien Rice – Grey Room

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Well I've been here before
I've sat on the floor
In a gray gray room
Where I stay in all day
I don't eat but I play
With this gray gray food

Desole, if someone is prayin'
Then I might break out
Desole, even if I scream,
I can't scream that loud

I'm all alone again
Crawling back home again
Just stuck by the phone again

Yeah, well I've been here before
Sat on a floor
In a gray gray mood
Where I stay up all night
And all that I write
Is a gray gray tune

So pray for me child, just for a while
And I might break out
Pray for me child, even a smile
Would do for now

So I'm all alone again
Crawling back home again
Just stuck by the phone again

Have I still got you to be my open door?
Have I still got you to be my sandy shore?
Have I still got you to cross my bridge in this storm?
Have I still got you to keep me warm?

'Cause if I squeeze my grape
And I drink my wine
'Cause if I squeeze my grape
And I drink my wine
Oh cause nothing is lost
This is frozen in frost
And it's opening time
And there's no one in line

But I've still got me to be your open door
I've still got me to be your sandy shore
I've still got me to cross your bridge in this storm
And I've still got me to keep you warm

Warmer than warm yeah
Warmer than warm yeah
Warmer than warm yeah
Warmer than warm yeah...

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Lyrics submitted by TheMineralRecord

Track duration: 05:44

"Grey Room" as written by Damien George Rice

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Grey Room song meanings
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33 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I just suddenly realise what he meant about this song being about song-writing. I was puzzling over why he used "i've still got me to cross your ...etc" instead of "you've still got me". I think the "you" refers to the listeners. Even if the songwriter is in a "grey mood" he still has his writing abilities to try to be his listeners' sandy shores, open doors.

    Or it could be about how song-writing is his sandy shore.

    Why do people always think songs are about romantic love? I love songs that are not about that.
    Flag yevilon February 07, 2011   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • 0
    General Comment:I believe this song, as the others on this album, and also related to "O" have to do with the same girl from Blowers Daughter. In this one, as not in Elephant. I think he actually breaks away from his current relationship to spend some time with the one he's really in love with. The goes back to the greyness that is his actual situation. Even though he's still in his relationship, he's so distant that its as if hes really alone.
    Flag Mellowyellow8on February 05, 2010   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • 0
    General Comment:I think that this song is all about depression and how one wants to get out, but can't seem to.
    How one needs to be dependent on oneself.

    Just my two cents (:
    Flag edenshmedenon June 03, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I always thought this was a song about boredom. just pure simple boredom, and coping with being so bored by singing an exciting song, but since you're so bored you can't think of anything to sing about but your boredom, and so you sing about that. Damien's songs are so expressionistic though, like looking at a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting. I never really know what his songs are about. Other artists are like that too. Like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, David Bowie, but with them it's not as extreme. Like Rolling Stone or Sad Eyed Lady could be interpreted a million ways but Blowin' In The Wind or Masters of War are very forward and have only one or a couiple places you could take them. But Damien rice hasn't made a single song, at all, that i could say i knew exactly what he was talking about. all of them are so full of scatological imagery and evocative sounds, but each unique. He's a master, for sure.
    Flag TheThornBirdson January 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:great song I first heard it on a movie trailor I think?.. basically guy is depressed for a long period of time but still has a girl in his life. While he feels depressed he feels as if he is the vulnerable one in the relationship and he needs the girl to comfort him. He then realizes throughout the song that he is alive after all this depression and he can be the one who comforts the girl. Great song it makes u feel like u can overcome depression
    Flag BrandNewman55on January 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i agree with envync18 that is exactly the way im feeling now..its such a horrible feeling to go through..this song just makes me cry every single time especially the line " have i still got you to keep me warm" it makes me like dead...simply beautiful this song is!!!!!

    its undescribable...
    Flag parissssiscoolon January 09, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i know its stupid, but this song was my mood music when my dog of 13 years was put to sleep a few days after christmas. i grew up having him around...and the lines about not eating, being up all night, having just a smile to make me feel a smidge better...it just really fit my mood at the time. i really love damien's music...no matter the real true meaning, they always seem to be able to relate to anyone and everyone's situations.
    Flagged lifegrdstenon May 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song, although amazing, has terrible associations for me.
    But I still love it. It's the song that, even when things are going well in my world, never fails to make me sad. It's the song that I go to when I just need to cry...you know?

    I know it's so stereotypical, but...this was the song I listened to when my first real boyfriend & I broke up. It's a fantastic song, so I feel kinda disrespectful or something for using it as an emotional plow...it makes me cry when I need to.
    Regardless, I love it.

    It's actually the only Damien Rice song I've ever heard, but I just read the lyrics to "9 Crimes" & it made me tear up a little. And I just skimmed.
    I think that everyone who knows about Damien Rice probably has that one song by him that always makes them sad, or that they always listen to when they're sad. But that's just based on my own personal experiences with people.

    I agree with Poetica...I've never seen this song as having a happy ending either. I think it's that moment of sad desperation where you have to realize that you CAN live without that one person...even if you want to.
    It's such a bittersweet moment because while you are realizing your own sufficiency, you still have to admit to yourself that your one person isn't there anymore.
    It's so sad...

    But so beautiful.
    --Hopium.
    Flag misshapen_chaoson April 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:For what's worth, at the Damien show I went to he talked about why most of his songs are sad/depressing. He said when he's down he wants to be alone and then rights, but when he's happy he's out and being social/etc.
    Flag monosynthon January 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I put this song on when I'm in my own 'grey room'; when I'm feeling depressed and alone and wondering if the person I love really cares about me- 'have I still got you to keep me warm?'
    I have never really interpreted the ending as being happy; I see it as 'I've still got ME to keep YOU warm'; that he still cares for them even if the love isnt requited.
    Flag Poeticaon January 09, 2008   Link

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