I've got a house in the back of my head
But I can't find a permanent resident
'Cause the market's down
And the area's not so good these days

I've got a watch but I don't have time
I've got a road and it leads to decadence
But a dead end sign waits down the line
I leave my footprints for the evidence

So take my life, I'll hand it to you
And you can try on my clothes
But you can't fill these shoes
On a silver platter your wish came true
So your heart of gold turned platinum
You can take my life (oh)
But you can't take it with you

More long days and fleeting nights
I tell them, "Wake me under flashing lights"
'Cause I'm a brand name bought and sold
(Sold, sold, sold)
They say a face for fame is a crying shame
Because to face the crowd is to play the game
And I can play a little too rough
Now and again (every now and again)

You drank the poison and I let you in

So take my life, I'll hand it to you
And you can try on my clothes
But you can't fill these shoes
On a silver platter your wish came true
So your heart of gold turned platinum
You can take my life (oh)
But you can't take it with you

You drank the poison and I, I let you in
Would you trade that heart of gold for a minute in my skin?
You drank the poison and I, I let you in
Would you trade that heart of gold for a minute in my skin?

So take my life, I'll hand it to you
And you can try on my clothes
But you can't fill these shoes
On a silver platter your wish came true
So your heart of gold turned platinum
You can take my life (oh)
But you can't take it with you



Lyrics submitted by singusasong, edited by liniwa

"Poison" as written by Dane Anthony Deviller, Sean Syed Hosein, Anthony Anderson, Adam Hurstfield, Steven Smith

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Poison song meanings
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20 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Oh i thought it was about soul sucking devils who ate hearts and kind of gave a Little Mermaid type deal when it came to fame.

    Your ideas seem much better. :D
    Flag JuiceBOXofBloodon May 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song! My personal opinion of this song is that it doesnt only apply to fame but people who have had a hard life. Which is why it states "you can try on my clothes but you cant fill these shoes". And im not sure but all other times i read these lyrics it says "you can take my life. But you cant take you with you" If those were the correct lyrics id have to say its staing that once you step foot into that particular area then there is no going back to the way you used to be. but im not sure if thats right or not so.... yeah.
    Flag lilreaper720on August 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song was released as a bonus track from Nothing Personal. Personally, I think that since they're working on their fourth studio album right now, they should re-release this on that album if it'll fit with their album vibe, and possibly release it as a single from that, too.

    Another thing is that I think this song is about fame, but to apply universally, I think it also means that it's about someone who got what they wanted, whether it be fame, fortune, popularity, etc. but in the end, they realize it's tougher than you think and that some people just aren't cut out for it/aren't going to enjoy it, but they're stuck where they are. In other words, I think this is about fame and could also apply to popularity.

    "I've got a house in the back of my head
    But I can't find a permanent resident
    'Cause the market's down
    And the area's not so good these days

    I've got a watch but I don't have time
    I've got a road and it leads to decadence
    But a dead end sign waits down the line
    I leave my footprints for the evidence."

    I'm not quite sure about this part, because I think it's a little too metaphoric for me to understand, but I think the first stanza is supposed to mean that it's a rough ride, a rough place that some people don't want to get mixed up with. They stay away from it, but those that do come, they're only temporarily happy, because they soon see what they put themselves into.
    The second stanza I think is supposed to mean that they're going to go on a dead-end road where they're spoiled so much, they're not who they used to be. They've changed into someone else for the worst, and the proof will always be there, and they simply can't turn back.

    "So take my life
    I'll hand it to you
    And you can try on my clothes
    But you can't fill these shoes
    On a silver platter, your wish came true
    See a heart of gold turn platinum
    You can take my life
    But you can't take it with you."

    I think the chorus means that you can get mixed up in the life of greed and fortune, but in the end, the lifestyle is never truly yours. You can try it out, but it'll never be what you're cut out for/you can't handle it/it'll only be a fake life. You give up your down-to-earth lifestyle for the "high-life" but at the end of the day, you're merely stuck in a world you don't belong in, which refers back to the dead-end road metaphor in the second stanza of the first verse. The heart turning gold to platinum I think means that you went from where you were, to into the spotlight and that on the sliver platter, your wish came true, meaning that putting themselves into this fancy life, they got what they wanted, but taking the life but not taking it with you is supposed to mean that you realized it's not what you wanted.

    "More long days and fleeting nights
    I tell 'em, "Wake me under flashing lights"
    'Cause I'm a brand name, bought and sold
    (Sold, sold, sold)

    They say a face for fame is a crying shame
    Because to face the crowd is to play their game
    And I can play a little too rough now and again
    (Every now and again)
    You drank the poison
    And I let you in."

    The second verse, first stanza in my opinion, means that each day, you're working to be something you actually aren't for this lifestyle you gave up who you were for, and the nights where you sleep and you relax, they're gone before you know it. And the brand name, brought and sold refers to someone, whether they be famous or just popular, you're fake and you're being something you're not for everyone else. You're losing your dignity for the spotlight.
    And in the second stanza, I think it means that you drank the poison means that you gave up what you knew for the "high-life" and they were asking for it. I think it means that you're a pawn in this lifestyle's game, doing what they want to please them, even if you yourself aren't pleased.

    Then the chorus again, which I've already explained my opinion about. And after that would be the bridge.

    "You drank the poison
    And I, I let you in
    Would you trade that heart of gold
    For a minute in my skin? (x2)"

    I believe that it means that you got what you've asked for, and that looking back on it, from what you used to be and have to what you now are and have, would you trade what you had for what you now have? Would you trade that normalcy for this lifestyle? Looking back to when you weren't where you are now, what did you think it was like, and now that you have it, do you regret it and wish that you hadn't done what you did?

    And once again, they repeat the chorus and it goes into instrumental before it ends.

    I think this song is really deep and shows that sometimes, things aren't really what they seem. Fame and popularity are tougher than people think, and it's a rough and tough world, it's never something to mess with for fun. It's serious business, and sometimes, there are people who are handed this without working for it and it'll never mean anything versus those who do.

    I also believe that in addition to this being released as a bonus track from Nothing Personal, in a later album, they should release this on it and make it a possible single.
    Flag AfraidToBeAHeartbreakeron June 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Am I the only one who thinks that "Heart of gold turned platinum" could have to do with records? Like platinum records, since this song is about fame? Idk, just thought that would be a cool thing...
    Flag tntinytoton May 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Am I the only one who thinks that "Heart of gold turned platinum" could have to do with records? Like platinum records, since this song is about fame? Idk, just thought that would be a cool thing...
    Flag tntinytoton May 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This REALLY should have been on nothing personal, if it was, it would have made the album better! its great by itself but this would be one of their bests.
    Flag randommusicon January 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with a lot of people.. why isn't this song on the record? Even Alex said in an interview that Poison was his favorite track, but somehow it didn't make it on the album. I'm bummed because this song is great and it's what I wanted the whole album to feel like. Don't get me wrong, I still like NP, but it would've been better with this song included.
    Flag recitethison August 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think that JustDelirious got it down pretty well. (;

    The only comment I have for this
    is that I love that Alex told everyone to go out and download it.
    I think that says something about a band when they don't care that some people won't buy their stuff.
    Proves what they're in it for, yee?
    Flag keroscenexon August 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:iluvATL has got the meaning down cold.
    damn,I really wish they would've put this on the album,not make it a hidden or whatever it was.
    this is the most legit I've listened to in there new stuff,seriously
    Flag Ayyogetlowon August 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:iluvATL has got the meaning down cold.
    damn,I really wish they would've put this on the album,not make it a hidden or whatever it was.
    this is the most legit I've listened to in there new stuff,seriously
    Flag Ayyogetlowon August 05, 2009   Link

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