This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Every single night I endure the flight
Of little whims of white flame
Butterflies in my brain
These ideas of mine percolate the mind
Trickle down the spine
Form the belly swelling to a blaze
That's where the pain comes in
Like a second skeleton
Trying to fit beneath the skin
I can't bear the feeling
Every single night's alight
With my brain
And I say to her
Why'd I say it to her
What does she think of me
That I'm not what I ought to be
That I'm what I try not to be
Has got to be somebody else's fault
I can't get caught
If what I am is what I am
'Cause I does what I does
Then brother get back 'cause my breast gonna bust open
The rib is the shell and the heart is the yolk
And I just made a meal for us both to choke on
Every single night's a fight
With my brain
I just wanna feel everything
I just wanna feel everything
I just wanna feel everything
So I'm gonna try to be still now
Gonna renounce the mill a little while
And if we had a double king-size bed
We could move in it and I'd soon forget
If what I am is what I am
'Cause I does what I does
And maybe I'd relax, let my breast just bust open
My heart's made of parts of all that's around me
And that's why the devil just can't get around me
Every single night's alright
Every single night's a fight
Every single fight's alright
With my brain
I just wanna feel everything
I just wanna feel everything
I just wanna feel everything
I just wanna feel everything
Of little whims of white flame
Butterflies in my brain
These ideas of mine percolate the mind
Trickle down the spine
Form the belly swelling to a blaze
That's where the pain comes in
Like a second skeleton
Trying to fit beneath the skin
I can't bear the feeling
Every single night's alight
With my brain
And I say to her
Why'd I say it to her
What does she think of me
That I'm not what I ought to be
That I'm what I try not to be
Has got to be somebody else's fault
I can't get caught
If what I am is what I am
'Cause I does what I does
Then brother get back 'cause my breast gonna bust open
The rib is the shell and the heart is the yolk
And I just made a meal for us both to choke on
Every single night's a fight
With my brain
I just wanna feel everything
I just wanna feel everything
I just wanna feel everything
So I'm gonna try to be still now
Gonna renounce the mill a little while
And if we had a double king-size bed
We could move in it and I'd soon forget
If what I am is what I am
'Cause I does what I does
And maybe I'd relax, let my breast just bust open
My heart's made of parts of all that's around me
And that's why the devil just can't get around me
Every single night's alright
Every single night's a fight
Every single fight's alright
With my brain
I just wanna feel everything
I just wanna feel everything
I just wanna feel everything
I just wanna feel everything
Lyrics submitted by NeonZebra, edited by nickireland7, ghostyyy, Soulwax
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I Can't Go To Sleep
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No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
some have said "you are your own worst enemy". I think this song is an acknowledgment of that. our minds sometimes try to sabotage us and with fiona it is not at all different. every single night she fights the thoughts and feelings that come up and try to bring her down, feelings of depression, of loneliness, anything that's real and human. the eternal battle between what we are and what we want to be. the eternal frustration and the sensation that we just might explode with all these feelings. we all feel it, it's all there.
what I love the most about this song is that in the end she realizes that frailty is actually her biggest strength: "My hearts made of parts of all thats around me/And thats why the devil just cant get around me" - she is moved by love and that love will keep her safe from harm. that's why every single fight is alright.
fiona apple has been my favorite artist for years. but never has she been so close to what I feel. thank you for coming back!
Ugh...I didn't read this before I posted my own comment. I should have just kept my mouth shut, because you basically summed up everything I tried to say, but better. You're awesome! I wish I knew more people that appreciated Fiona Apple as much as us :(
Beautifully put. I'm not sure I'd call the realisation of her strength 'frailty' exactly, but it's not far off the mark.<br /> <br /> Aquarius121, your comment was worthwhile too! Fiona Apple really is a woman of extraordinary talents, and I thought you expressed that well. :)<br /> <br /> For what it's worth, you both might enjoy Tempestas' writing about her work...<br /> <br />
@0olong by frailty i think she meant "profound sensitivity". and i also wish i knew more people who loved her just as much.
@giuliadm "My hearts made of parts of all thats around me" is one of the most powerful and instructive lyrics I've ever heard. I interpret it to mean that she doesn't give her full heart to any one thing because once that thing goes away the devil can move in. It's better to give your heart to many things so if one goes away there are others to fill the void.
No song has ever even come close to what's going on inside me like this one does. The constant anxiety, the overwhelming collision of feelings, the noise in my head that won't go away. I hate it. I love it. But above all, I wish I could bottle it up and create something amazing out of it like Fiona can.
I don't understand how someone can be such a ridiculously good writer. And it's not just that...it's the way she uses her voice, the rhythm of her playing, just everything combining to make her probably my favorite artist of all time.
I know this all sounds really fangirly and over-exaggerated, but at this moment in time, I'm in complete fucking irrational awe. I wish I was born with a voice like hers so I could bring to life the songs I write...but they probably don't even compare anyways :/ thanks for being a dream crusher Fiona Apple...still love you <3
Dear Aquarius121,<br /> <br /> Fiona Apple does have some good ones. I totally am with you and can relate to "the noise in my head". Really....I have been listening to this song over and over...scrolled down.....read your post and my first thought was....I bet you are a dream crusher, too. I don't know if you can sing but obviously you write. If you write, then you are passionate...and passion moves the world. <br /> <br /> I hope that mean something. I created an account to tell you that. Ok, that's all. No, wait a minute....you didn't sound fangirly at all ;)
@veritas73<br /> <br /> Hi, I'm so sorry for not replying to your comment sooner! I'm having trouble believing that I wrote mine almost two whole years ago...time is fucking weird. <br /> <br /> Anyways, thank you very much for your kind words. You have no idea how much I needed (and still need) to hear them...especially, "passion moves the world." I love that. It makes me want to keep writing and learning and hearing, and I've been struggling with finding that fire lately.<br /> <br /> So yeah, thank you again. Keep listening to great music <3
I have always been able to relate to Fiona's words & these lyrics are no exception. My personal brain-fight results in insomnia.
Initially, I misheard the lyric as "I just wanna be everything", which I also related to & thought fit the song, but of course the actual lyric makes sense, too.
But anyway, I agree with qiuliadm's interpretation - couldn't have said it any better.
These are the lyrics from her website (fiona-apple.com/)
Every single night I endure the flight Of little wings of white flame Butterflies in my brain These ideas of mine percolate the mind Trickle down the spine Swarm the belly, swelling to a blaze
That's where the pain comes in Like a second skeleton Trying to fit beneath the skin I cant fit the feelings in
Every single nights a light With my brain
What'd I say to her Why'd I say it to her What does she think of me That I'm not what I ought to be That I'm what I try not to be It's got to be somebody else's fault I can't get caught
If what I am is what I am Cause I does what I does Then brother get back cause my breast gonna bust open The rib is the shell and the heart is the yolk And I just made a meal for us both to choke on
Every single nights a fight With my brain
I just wanna feel everything x3
So I'm gonna try to be still now Gonna renounce the mill a little while And if we had a double king size bed We could move in it and id soon forget
That what I am is what I am Cause does what I does And maybe I'd relax let my breast just bust open My hearts made of parts of all that surrounds around me And that's why the devil just can't get around me
Every single nights alright Every single nights a fight Every single fights alright With my brain
I just wanna feel everything
I think this song is a trip into her brain. Fiona's telling us how her brain works, and how it doesn't let her live\sleep. She thinks too much, and it causes her pain.
This song is about someone with an eating disorder having late night food cravings.
this interpretation just blew my mind and made complete and total sense at the same time.
Its not a fad for me to love her. I've loved her and appreciated her since I first heard her. I do believe she's the greatest lyricist/singer ever. No hyperbole. This is a feeling which has endured for decades. She's a poet and bursting with creativity.
I always feel grateful when she shares her talent, pain and introspection with us.
It's a pleasure reading all of the insight of the commenters here.
just wanted to say I loved the song and the crazy video right away...but when I read the lyrics it hit me like an Ironic ton a bricks...then when I read your post I had to agree but mostly...however you should give yourself a little more credit for your own writing :) @AQUARIUS121
The song is about her struggle with OCD. One of my compulsions was always to touch certain things and it never felt like you had completed the task because there were more compulsions/things to touch. "I just want to feel everything."
Love this song and the video. I think we all could analyze this song on every single line cause of how good it is. For me I relate to it as my insomnia problems with sleeping cause of my mind. Like i could be physically tired but mentally my mind is still going like the energizer bunny. And its stuff like this song like the lyrics of what'd i say to her, why'd i say it to her, what does she think of me? That im not what i ought to be" part i can relate to cause i got depression and anixiety and so i analyze what people say but also i feel like sometimes i can't read social cues or read the air of a room and so make mistakes socially that I'll remember and think of in the night like ugh i was so stupid or why did i do that!