One track mind, like a goldfish,
Stuck inside my petri dish.
I can't breathe, and I can't smile,
This better be worth my while.

I feel numb most of the time,
Lower I get the higher,
I'll climb, and I will wonder why,
I got dark only to shine.
Looking for the golden life,
Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice.

C-C-C-Cry

Forgo families, forgo friends,
That's how it started, and how it ends,
I can't open up and cry, 'cause I've been silent all my life.

I feel numb most of the time,
The more I get the higher,
I'll climb, and I will wonder why,
I get dark only,
To shine.
Looking for the golden light,
Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice.

C-C-C-Cry
C-C-C-Cry

Ooh, I get dark,
Oh, and I'm in hell,
I need a friend,
Ooh, but I can't yell,
Yeah, I'm no good,
No good to anyone,
'Cause all I care about,
Is being number one.

Shine,
Looking for the golden light,
Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice.

Shine,
Looking for the golden light,
Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice.
Sacrifice.

I feel numb most of the time,
The more I get the higher,
I'll climb, and I will wonder why,
I get dark only,
To shine.
And I'll light up the sky,
Stars that burn the brightest,
Fall so fast and pass you by,
Puff like empty lighters,

I feel numb most of the time,
The more I get the higher,
I'll climb, and I will wonder why,
I got dark only,
To shine.
And I'll light up the sky,
Stars that burn the brightest,
Fall so fast and pass you by,
Spark like empty lighters.

Dum dum dum, duh dah da.



Lyrics submitted by florencefan, edited by izzybella5, meekadai

Track duration: 04:17

"Numb" as written by Marina Lambrini Diamandis

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Numb song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:Yeah, there are hints about depression, and social awkwardness, and bipolarity, but I believe it is about ambition, espeicially when she is saying "I'm no good, no good to anyone 'cause all I care about is being number one." She is basically saying she has tried so hard to get where she wants to be in life. But, later on, she realizes that maybe that's not where she REALLY wants to be. She finds that what she wants to do isn't all it's cracked up to be, and that there may be more important things, such as friendship.
    That's just how I see it.
    xx
    Flag Radioactivon April 11, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Yeah, there are hints about depression, and social awkwardness, and bipolarity, but I believe it is about ambition, espeicially when she is saying "I'm no good, no good to anyone 'cause all I care about is being number one." She is basically saying she has tried so hard to get where she wants to be in life. But, later on, she realizes that maybe that's not where she REALLY wants to be. She finds that what she wants to do isn't all it's cracked up to be, and that there may be more important things, such as friendship.
    That's just how I see it.
    xx
    Flag Radioactivon April 11, 2013   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:This song is bloody amazing. You hear all these ballads from other pop artists that are out today and they are good, but they havn't got a scratch on this one. I love you Marina :)
    Flag TheCloudon April 26, 2012   Link
  • -3
    General Comment:oh hey florence welch
    Flagged thrwmyhrtawy.on March 13, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I feel numb most of the time,
    The more I get the higher,
    I'll climb, and I will wonder why,
    I got dark only,
    To shine.
    And I'll light up the sky,
    Stars that burn the brightest,
    Fall so fast and pass you by,
    Spark like empty lighters.

    I loooove this bit. Her voice is absolutely amazing in this song :) I think this song is about stardom rather than depression, although I guess it could always be a bit of both.
    Flag ripitupon July 01, 2011   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:Another correction. The line in the chorus should read:

    Looking for the golden LIE
    Flag connectedon April 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:To me this song means quite a lot it seems to describe how I feel most of the time. I agree with the comments about depression but would like to add that I think it relates a lot to how i feel with Bi polar disorder where I am up one minute and as low as can be the next. When I'm hyper I feel invincible as in 'I get dark only to shine' and 'all I care 'bout is being number one' and don't care about anything or anyone but when I'm down its like 'I can't breathe, and I can't smile, This better be worth my while' and reasoning with myself that 'Looking for the golden light, Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice'
    Maybe I'm wrong but hey ho there you go. The song has helped me a lot though and for that Marina I am grateful lol
    Flag weirdfish76on March 26, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:I agree with robinthahood and clockmarks. the corrections are needed. and those interpretations seem to fit nicely.
    Flag FadedConstellationson February 22, 2011   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:Marina said her self that this song is about social awkwardness and the hole album is analyzing success.

    With those two points its easier to understand the chorus

    I feel numb most of the time,
    The more I get the higher,
    I'll climb, and I will wonder why,
    I get dark only,
    To shine.
    Looking for the golden light,
    Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice.

    She is climbing the ranks of stardom and wonders "why"
    "I get dark" refers to her social standing with her family and friends- she dosen't have any traditional friends and she closed them out which she thinks is a reasonable sacrifice for working so hard to shine as a super star.

    but later she sings:

    And I'll light up the sky,
    Stars that burn the brightest,
    Fall so fast and pass you by,
    Spark like empty lighters.

    this basically gives us the "why?" she is asking. It questions what she actually got- she's lighting up the sky but who knows how long that will last- and it might just "pass you by" not be spectacular enough for it to have warranted the effort.
    Flag Clockmarkson January 01, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i totally agree with IsoT.

    "rootless" is the way i feel like for many months, i'm listening now all the time, just glad, that i'm not the only one feeling like that. -marina i love you only for that song!)
    i was wondering, WHY i am that rootless... and it's just 20 minutes ago, when i realized, if it could be my own fault, cause i was trying to reach the bottom, just like in fight club- (free from everything that could own me).

    and i think that's why "numb" is the song after "rootless"-

    "Forgo families, forgo friends,
    That's how it started, and how it ends,
    I can't open up and cry, 'cause i've been saddened all my life."

    that's where ia am now.
    i can count the friends i have on one hand (while smoking a cigarette)
    Flag leahleahleahon December 16, 2010   Link

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