The Antlers – Sylvia

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Please, curtains in, start us off
You swing first, sorry
I don't know what I said
But you're crying now again
And that only makes it worse

Let me do my job
Let me do my job

Sylvia, get your head out of the oven
Go back to screaming and cursing
Remind me again how everyone betrayed you
Sylvia, get your head out of the covers
Let me take your temperature
You can throw the thermometer right back at me
If that's what you want to do, okay?

Please, please calm down
Steady out, I'm terrified
Sorry, I want us to ally
But you swing on little knives
They're only sharp on one side

Let me do my job
Let me do my job

Sylvia, get your head out of the oven
Go back to screaming and cursing
Remind me again how everyone betrayed you
Sylvia, get your head out of the covers
Let me take your temperature
You can throw the thermometer right back at me
If that's what you want to do, okay?

Sylvia, can't you see what you are doing?
Can't you see I'm scared to speak
And I hate my voice because it only makes you angry

Sylvia, I only talk when you are sleeping
That's when I tell you everything
And I imagine that somehow you're going to hear me

Send "Sylvia" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Freddox

Track duration: 05:27

"Sylvia" as written by Peter Joseph Silberman

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Sylvia song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:This album being about the pains of an emotionally abusive relationship, this is the part where he is able to see all the wrongs and issues he and her have, but when he tries to work it out and talk things over, she just resists and throws everything back at him with a volatile attitude. He only wants to take care of her and love her, but she just won't let him.
    Flag Anilandon December 08, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:such a powerful song, i cant handle it, this whole album is full of emotions i can bare.
    Flag coolwaveson October 12, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Sylvia, can't you see what you are doing?
    Can't you see I'm scared to speak
    And I hate my voice because it only makes you angry

    Sylvia, I only talk when you are sleeping
    That's when I tell you everything
    And I imagine that somehow you're going to hear me


    o god Peter, spot on.
    Flag _CARAon February 27, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:This song is literally about Sylvia Plath the poet, who tried to commit suicide many times, once, by taking sleeping pills and putting her head in an oven

    Sylvia stands as a metaphor for how the main girl, who has cancer feels.
    Flag kimpertimeon January 21, 2012   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:I have to say, this song is heavily inspired by Sylvia Plath as well as Leonard Michael's novel 'Sylvia'.

    Fun fact: Sylvia Plath lived with a live-in nurse a few days before her suicide.

    There are a lot of isolation metaphors throughout the whole album, too! The oven interpretation by 4squarechamp and the covers that he mentions.
    Flag HurricaneThundercloudon December 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is about him trying to help her but how she doesnt want to be helped because the reality of her actually having cancer and needing help is to hard to bear, and hie is in love with her and will do anything to try to save her even though he knows he cant.
    Flag savbisson December 07, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:According to an interview with Silberman (the songwriter) in The Guardian he's never read The Belljar, and while he was kind of thinking of Plath, the Sylvia the song refers to is from Leonard Michael's novel 'Sylvia'.

    Full article here: guardian.co.uk/music/2010/may/13/…
    Flag SecondFigon May 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:my theory here: silenskit.wordpress.com/
    Flag SKsilenskiton March 04, 2010   Link
  • +4
    General Comment:I was driving with my mom in the car and this song came on and brought her to tears. My older sister, Silvia, had brain cancer and she didn't want any treatment even though my parents pleaded with her. From what I always hear of her she always use to say she knew where she was going and she was alright with that. If told once again to fight, she would refuse to see anyone. She was eight years old and I was month old when she passed away.

    Anyways, I just recently stumbled upon this CD.
    I'm very glad I did. It helps to understand what people go through.
    Flag mindsawakeon January 05, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:SYYYYYYYLLLLLVIIIIAAAAAAA

    GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE OOOVEEEEEEEEEN
    Flag Cowarton December 09, 2009   Link

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