Portishead – Threads

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  Lyric Correction:I've started listening to many videos of Portishead live in order to understand the lyrics, but I still have a lot of difficulties...
  
  In youtube.com/… it sounds like she says:
  
  "Widow or wife, (?)(Makes no sense though)
  When will I sleep?
  Where do I go/What will I know
  with all that I got?"
  
  Or "What/when will I know, in all that I got" could also be. It's really hard to listen to.
  
  In youtube.com/… :
  
  "Riddle of life (I like this better, because it makes much more sense, but it still sounds much like a "w" sound.)
  When will I sleep
  What do/would? I know (Or, as someone else said, "When will I go?")
  In all that I got?"
  
  In youtube.com/… it kinda sounds like
  
  "Where do I go
  In all that I know?"
  
  youtube.com/…
  
  "What do I know,
  In all that I've got?"
  
  Album version (The hardest imo.)
  
  "When and(/or?) why,
  Will I sleep?
  What do I know,
  And where do I go?"
  
  In youtube.com/…
  
  "Widow of why (?) ("Widow of war" makes more sense... but I really here an "y" at the end of that word. Perhaps she says "Window"?)
  When will I sleep?
  What do I know
  In all that I got?" (The "got" sounds like "go", so I'm not really sure.)
  
  youtube.com/…
  
  "Widow of life
  When will I sleep?
  Where will I go,
  with all that I got?" ("Got" still sounds like "go", but the beginning doesn't match!)
  
  There's a lot other videos, some have quite a decent quality, but I can't hear anything different than that I've already heard. So, basically:
  
  "Widow of life/war / Widow or wife / Riddle of life / When or why
  When will I sleep?
  Where do I go / What do/would I know / What will I know / Where will I go ?
  With all that I got/know / In all that I got/know "
  
  I'm also quite sure she says "Tears on tears" and not "tears and tears".
  
  I know that I'm only creating more confusion, and this probably won't help a lot. I even started thinking at some point that she just sings different lyrics every time. Anyway, the fact that I'm not a native english speaker might be a factor in my interpretation of the lyrics.
  
  This is my favourite song, and that's why I've put so much effort into understanding it. I hope we can clarify what she really says.

  Flag Kyvanon June 23, 2012   Link

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    0

    I've also found this site: alwaysontherun.net/… , where they claim that the lyrics were written and corrected by Beth herself. (Yet apparently only those of the first two albums...)
    It says the lyrics from the album version and the concerts are different... Which could be true, since "Stand, stand, damned one" might be just too much for some people to bear...

    Flag Kyvanon June 23, 2012  

    0

    Finally, (and I better stop doing this or else I'll start hating the song...) part of the lyrics of the song seem to be written in her hand in this vid: youtube.com/…
    
    You can see it clearly says "When will I sleep?" in the fourth line. If only that could be enhanced digitally...
    
    The fact that I've looked into this so much freaks me out.

    Flag Kyvanon June 23, 2012  
• 0
  General Comment:The version published here (with the "Damned one" lines) seriously scared me... I even started hearing it on the album! And didn't know what to think of the whole album anymore... seemed to be going a bit too far into insanity for me...
  
  But after listening to this live performance
  youtube.com/…
  I'm much relieved: there isn't a 'damned one'....
  Just 'tired and worn'! - Yippee!!!
  Thanks God! (or thanks, Beth?)
  
  (I support the version of the lyrics suggested above by grrsawn, seems very close)
  
  
  

  Flag Miyukion December 08, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I've struggled with severe treatment resistant depression most of my adult life and this song pretty much describes it to a T, especially the ending. The frustration in her voice is right there, at the very surface.

  Flag mbs3580on August 04, 2010   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:CovinS, Anarchitect, and Wallamanage: I like all of your inputs on the interpretation--each unique.
  
  As for my own... the lines that resonate with me most are when she says "I'm always so unsure" I feel her saying it with such despair as though she wishes she could be more decisive instead of always being unable to commit to one thing.
  I relate to this as I am myself a very indecisive person and avoid making any permanent decisions wherever possible. I'm going to go ahead and say she's afraid of being sure and having what she's sure about "turn away" and therefore reject her decision, but on the other hand she's also afraid of never making a decision and constantly being in the grey area.

  Flag alovelyfadeouton July 15, 2008   Link

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• +1
  General Comment:hmmm....when i hear this it goes something more like this:
  
  
  Better if I could find the words to say
  Whenever I take a choice it turns away
  
  I'm worn, tired of my mind
  I'm worn out, thinking of why
  I'm always so unsure
  
  I battle my thoughts
  I find I can't explain
  I've travelled so far
  But somehow, I feel the same
  
  I'm worn, tired of my mind
  I'm worn out, thinking of why
  I'm always so unsure
  I'm always so unsure
  
  I'm worn, tired of my mind
  I'm worn out, thinking of why
  
  I'm always so unsure
  I'm always so unsure (I'm always so unsure)
  I'm always so unsure (I'm always so unsure)
  I'm always so unsure
  
  Riddle of life
  When will I sleep?
  When will I know?
  Where do I go?
  I can't find
  No one to blame
  
  Tears and tears
  Tired, I'm worn
  Tired, I'm worn
  Tired, I'm worn
  Tired, I'm worn
  Tired, I'm worn
  Worn
  Where do I go?
  
  
  
  still, this song is frightning and real. i've felt like this before.
  beautiful song.

  Flag grrsawnon June 07, 2008   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:The Fates in Greek mythology govern the destinies of all living things, by a mystical thread. The first, Clotho, spins the thread; the second, Lachesis, measures its length and thus the length of a life; the third, Atropos, severs it when a life is to cease.

  Flag Wallamanageon June 06, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:I like the comment about over-analysis. Francisco Goya once made a print saying that "The sleep of reason produces monsters". Perhaps the lyrics in this song reflect the opposite kind of hell: one person's restless, insomniac quest to find a guilty party, or to ferret out an answer to life's problems. You can dig for answers, but if you overdo it, you may end up digging your own grave.
  
  eeweems.com/goya/…

  Flag Anarchitecton May 26, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:While guilt may be the catalyst, I think it's much closer to the curse of most intellectuals: over-analyzation. Always thinking, always questioning, always mentally occupied to the point of emotional oblivion...hence this song.
  
  "tired of my mind"
  "I battle my thoughts"
  "i'm worn out, thinking of why"
  
  I identify with this beyond reasoning.

  Flag CovinSon May 12, 2008   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:I love this song. I feel like I can identify with it. Stressed out over every decision, big or small. Pessimistic and lacking any confidence.

  Flag mojaamon April 29, 2008   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:Leitmotif is all one word.

  Flag Wallamanageon April 07, 2008   Link

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