1
You were built for blessing but you only make them bleed
But you don't care, you don't care
And bruises are but shadows of the blackness
That you breathe but you don't care, you don't care
The light that's left inside their eyes is darkened
Day by day but you don't care, you don't care
The presence pulls the color from the world til all is gray
But you don't care, you don't, you don't, you don't
You're less than half a man, yellow belly and crimson hands
You will one day reap your reckoning, maybe then you'll understand
Your hands are made to comfort but they only conjure fear
But you don't care, you don't care
She's in the closet praying Lord please get me out of here
You don't care, you don't you don't you don't
You're less than half a man, yellow belly and crimson hands
You will one day reap your reckoning, maybe then you'll understand
What mercy have they known, from you, from you
To ask that I be shown, to you, to you
To ask that I be shown, to you, to you
But you don't care, you don't care
And bruises are but shadows of the blackness
That you breathe but you don't care, you don't care
The light that's left inside their eyes is darkened
Day by day but you don't care, you don't care
The presence pulls the color from the world til all is gray
But you don't care, you don't, you don't, you don't
You're less than half a man, yellow belly and crimson hands
You will one day reap your reckoning, maybe then you'll understand
Your hands are made to comfort but they only conjure fear
But you don't care, you don't care
She's in the closet praying Lord please get me out of here
You don't care, you don't you don't you don't
You're less than half a man, yellow belly and crimson hands
You will one day reap your reckoning, maybe then you'll understand
What mercy have they known, from you, from you
To ask that I be shown, to you, to you
To ask that I be shown, to you, to you
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
Seems quite obvious, a simple struggle of faith or lashing out at "God" or Jesus, whatever. Seems as though Dustin is talking about how he knows "God" is supposed to be for comfort, for healing, for good, but all he sees is evil, fear, darkness coming from "God."
Also, I want to say, I know they're not a "Christian" band and I myself abhor religion, I just know Dustin often writes in religious undertones in a lot of Thrice's music.
That doesn't make any sense. Reread the lyrics and you should be able to see how it's not at all about God but about evil men/people.
Always some intent on turning every thrice song into a religious parable. Some songs are very obviously religious, this one is very obviously not. I know it says "praying lord" in one of the verses, but you've gotta look a little deeper than that to understand the song man!<br /> <br /> The lyrics describe an individual or a group of people who:<br /> Are supposed to bless, but instead injure<br /> Breathe blackness and cause bruises<br /> Darken and pull the color from "someone"s world<br /> (That "someone" being described as a female individual in a closet praying to god for help.)<br /> The chorus condemns this person as unmanly (less than half a man), cowardly (yellow bellied), and guilty (blood on his hands).<br /> <br /> Seems quite obvious it's a song about domestic violence/abuse against women.
It's not as directly religious or Biblical as some of their other works, but I'm pretty sure the song is meant to be God speaking to to an abusive father/husband. He admonishes the man for misusing the hands that God has given him - using them to bruise and draw blood and cause fear instead of to bless and to comfort his family. The end of the song I believe is a direct Bible reference, but I don't know the verse offhand - regardless, it's the man's creator saying, "You never showed them mercy - why should I show it to you?" (I'm pretty sure the last line in these lyrics is incorrect - it should be "what mercy have they known from you, to ask that it be shown to you")<br /> <br /> It doesn't necessarily have to be from God's perspective, but it's definitely at least about God's mercy, and the Golden Rule. If you give no mercy, you should expect none in return.