Alkaline Trio – In Vein

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My point of reference makes me afraid to begin convincing,
But you might as well just change your name.
'Cause I only recognize this shadow,
Kinda like a superhero with nobody's best interests in mind.

Now there's blood in the waters, that I squeezed from this stone, here
And we turned into our cheap wine.
And I swallowed every drop, yes, I could feel my stomach rotting,
You were so supportive as I drank through the pain.

You recognize this shape, it's the back of your hand. (Whoa-oh whoa-oh [x2])
You placed it on my face here again, and again, yeah. (Whoa-oh whoa-oh [x2])
And I don't wanna be the one who takes this place in vein.

Dove off the deep side platform, jack-knifed and bone dry, I hit floor
One broken ankle saved my name.
And this eraser burn, I dig in deep at every turn.
It keeps getting darker and the fear stays the same.

You recognize this shape, it's the back of your hand. (Whoa-oh whoa-oh [x2])
You placed it on my face here again, and again, yeah. (Whoa-oh whoa-oh [x2])
And I don't wanna be the one who takes this place,
don't wanna be the one who takes,
I don't wanna be the one who takes this place in vein.

(Whoa-oh whoa-oh, Whoa-oh whoa-oh oh [x2])

I don't wanna take, I don't wanna take this place, no.
I don't want to take, I don't wanna take this place, no.
No-oh, no-oh. I don't wanna take this place, no.
No-oh, no-oh. I don't wanna take this place, no.

You recognize this shape, it's the back of your hand. (Whoa-oh whoa-oh [x2])
You placed it on my face here again, and again, yeah. (Whoa-oh whoa-oh [x2])
And I don't wanna be the one who takes this place,
don't wanna be the one who takes,
I don't wanna be the one who takes this place in vein.

Send "In Vein" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by simon_quine, edited by Alkaline_Injection

Track duration: 03:56


In Vein song meanings
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21 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I was listening to this song today as I'm dealing with the falling out of a friendship, and it totally applied. I think it's got alot to do with being stabbed in the back by someone (or slapped in the face, "paste it on my face"), and not knowing who they are anymore ("Cause I only recognize a shadow, kind of like a superhero, with nobodys best interest in mind"). Not to mention you didn't think it was possible for them to treat you that way ("Blood in the water that I squeezed from this stone here"). And the person has no idea how much damage they're doing, or don't care ("You were so supportive as I drank through the pain").

    I suppose the "friend" in the song could have been heroin, who is no longer a good friend due to the addiction and whatnot.
    Flag mjc123on October 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is amazing and shows that they can play any style!

    But those lyics up there are messed up! if you got irony and agony it comes with a book of all the lyrics and he def drove off the deep side platform jack knife to bone dryest floor one broken ankle saved his him lol meaning his going to the hospital saved his life and its about a haroien addic ... they dont recognise the shape of the back of thiere hand
    Flag rugdoctor276on October 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with ToothAche.
    Keep it fresh, and this album has done the best out of all the previous ones. Alk3 are clearly on their way up.

    And if anyone gets pissy because Alk3 are starting to sell records out then grow the fuck up.
    D'you think these guys got in a band with the intention to never become successful?
    Flag Livvyxoon August 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:ahh you can't blame alkaline trio for mixing it up a bit, sometimes you gotta keep it fresh, but yeah i can see why this song would be hard to accept, but luckily for me i don't mind it. The "whoa"s don't bother me that much, it's a punk rock thing, Trio have punk background, so let them do a "whoa" every now and then. fuck. and last time i checked AFI don't own the copyrights to "whoa" haha.
    Flag ToothAcheon August 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think this song might be about Bush dragging us into Iraq on a bullshit justification in a terribly disrespectful fashion to our nation and how that played out

    just read the lyrics and think about it
    Flag ilovedamusicon August 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Ok, I've been a Trio fan since the late 90's, saw em play in like 99 and fuckin loved em since, and i've been with em every step of the way, every change they've made, but this song just sounds too fucking FUCK!!! The rest of the album is good, but i just CAN'T get into this song, and i've tried! FUCK!!
    Flag Mr.Chainsaw0503on July 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"dove off the deep side platform
    jackknife to bone dryest floor
    one broken ankle saved my name"

    a jackknife is a kind of dive that looks like this:

    farm1.static.flickr.com/63/…

    you can obviously see hoow you might break your ankle that way.

    phrases.org.uk/meanings/…
    Flag laurelinwyntreon July 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think this song is pretty awesome.. but most trio songs are in one way or another...
    Flag louisruben88on June 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think this song is pretty awesome.. but most trio songs are in one way or another...
    Flag louisruben88on June 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Ya, those whoahs are kind of pissing me off. I am trying to be accepting as I can...loved crimson, not as much as from here to the infirmary, but still. Pretty much, everyone thing AT has put out, I have spent a month straight listening to it....and had a blast doing so. But this, I just don't know...
    Flag akburtonon May 12, 2008   Link

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