(There is no dream)
So wake up run your lips across your fingers till you find
Some scent of yourself that you can hold up high
To remind yourself that you didn't die
On a day that was so crappy whole and happy you're alive

And you seem so bruised and it's beautiful
As it's reflecting off from you as it shines
You're in the bathroom carving holiday designs into yourself
Hoping no one will find you but they found you
And they took you and you somehow survived

(There is no dream)
So wake up and if the holidays don't hollow out your eyes
Then press yourself against whatever
You find to be beautiful and trembling with life
Because I'm so happy I'm so happy I'm so happy
I'm so happy that you didn't die



Lyrics submitted by PLANES

Track duration: 04:01

"Three Peaches" as written by Jeff Mangum

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Three Peaches song meanings
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30 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:This song is obviously about his friend that died, but I feel that it can also apply to someone who has undergone a traumatic life-threatening event. At least that's what I thought of when I first heard it, and it's still what I think of when I listen it today.

    Say the first verse perfectly describes someone reminiscing a traumatic event. And the second verse talks about the changed persona of the person "you seem so bruised, and it's beautiful as it's reflecting off from you", and how they have turned to self-mutilation to cope, and how they don't want other peoples' help, or they don't think others can help them.

    The third verse touches on how these instances can cause people to be very distant and unable to connect emotionally anymore "press yourself against whatever you can find" leading to cavalier relationships with others. The holiday implication I feel could refer to the traumatic event/events, I don't think it is supposed to be literal. And then he ends the song with "im so happy that you didn't die" in such a depressing tone it almost implies the exact opposite. Like it would have almost been better for this person to die in the event rather than live with the consequences.

    Well that's what this song says to me. Because I feel it is a pretty tight fit.
    Flag bauceon October 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:‘Because I’m so happy you didn’t die.’ A month or two after I broke up with my first girlfriend, she
    text me in the middle of the night freaked out, after having a dream where I’d died. It was a horrible break up, and something that screwed me up far more than I ever thought it would. But getting that, and knowing that whatever had happened she still cared, it was weird. In the period, I knew her she was messed up by so many different things, and she fucked me up too, and maybe I should hate her for that, but I don’t. Sometimes life is just like that, I guess.
    Anyway, Neutral milk Hotel are one of my favourite bands, I just love Jeff’s lyrics. They are beautiful, and they express so many different things, about life, death, love, sex, everything. Every song seems to encourage such a vivid image, feeling or emotion. ‘You seem so bruised....And you somehow survived.’ They are flat out intense.
    Flag Wheretofindyouon September 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:three peaches: three peaches sitting in a bowl, still life, perfect, beautiful.
    Flag peaches1234on May 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"holiday designs" always makes me think of ribbons. ribbons of blood.
    maybe i'm being masocistic...
    Flag immekusauruson October 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:crappy*
    Flag HWOntoFireon April 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's chilling. It's perfect.

    "To remind yourself that yoooou didn't diiiie on a day that was so scrappy, whole and happy, your alive."
    That 'on' in that line just...gives me chills.

    I'm gonna be honest, I didn't like the song all too much until I read the lyrics.
    Flag HWOntoFireon April 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song has a rather sad story. you can read about it here

    neutralmilkhotel.org/…
    Flag Munky88on February 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i know this has nothing to do with this song, but it always makes me think of Richie Tenenbaum from the Wes Anderson film. great song.
    Flag kingsleyon December 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The title "Three Peaches" has to do with bruising, peaches bruise easily. "
    You seem so bruised
    And it's beautiful as it's reflecting off from you as it shines" is the reference to peaches.

    Beautiful song, and I agree "You're in the bathroom carving holiday designs into yourself" has to do with the stress of holidays trying to pretend to be happy for your family.
    Flag OMG.Erinon November 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:yeah it does sound like it's saying i'm so unhappy. maybe it has something to do with what someone said about people acting like everything is okay during holidays. how it's kind of underneath and in the background or whatever.
    Flag kyleeburnson August 17, 2007   Link

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