I tried hard to mend my wicked ways
Acted like a lunatic for years
Lord knows I try to be good
I'd keep my promises if only I could
You count your blessings that I can't rely on you

[Chorus]
And I tried [Repeat: x4]

Clutch your pictures of the Pope
Pray to God for love and hope
Bring the Virgin home for luck
Bolt the door down, keep it shut

I've done things I never thought I'd do
Sure it helps to lose myself in you
A little time and I'll be all right
c'mon sugar let's go out tonight
Forgive your trespasses
And all that we've been through

[Chorus: x2]

Clutch your pictures of the Pope
Pray to God for love and hope
Bring the Virgin home for luck
Bolt the door down, keep it shut

That sinking feeling
When you are leaving
All I believed in
Walks out my door

I tried hard to mend my wicked ways
The damage's done, there's nothing left to save

[Chorus]

And I tried [Repeat: x3]

Clutch your pictures of the Pope
(just like I told you)
Pray to God for love and hope
(just like I warned you)
Bring the Virgin home for luck
(just like I told you)
Bolt the door down, keep it shut
(just like I warned you).


Lyrics submitted by Nevers0ul

Wicked Ways Lyrics as written by Shirley Ann Manson Douglas Elwin Erickson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Wicked Ways song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    How does this song have no comments? Its one of their best. For some strange reason, its fun to dance along to.

    xdarkentrieson August 23, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    She's spent a lot of her life trying to be good, tring to mend her wicked ways, but she just doesn't seem to be able to be good. She tries really hard, but she just keeps going bad. She's even surprised herself by some of the things she's done (done things I never thought I'd do). It helps to be with this guy, but she's afraid of corrupting him. So she tells him to hold on to religion and being good so that she won't turn him wicked (Clutch your pictures of the pope...etc). At the same time, she tries to persuade him to stay with her (Come on, Sugar, let's go out tonight) because, when he leaves, she's miserable (That sinking feeling, when you are leaving...). She's accepted herself as a bad person, but she hasn't given up on him. She's trying to be with him and save him from herself at the same time.

    fairyinblacknwhiteon June 15, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    In the one Youtube video where they play this song live she opens with "This is a song about infidelity". That's bascially the jist of it.

    pleasebeatme92on December 19, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    That's weird that no one has posted on this, i don't like the beginning beat of this song, it's like weirdly cowboyish, but the ending is so great. i'm not so sure as to what this means: Clutch your pictures of the Pope Pray to God for love and hope Bring the Virgin home for luck Bolt the door down, keep it shut

    interpol2221on January 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "A little time and I'll be all right C'mon sugar let's go out tonight"

    She wants to party with you but knows her "Wicked Ways" will inevitably corrupt you, hence the warnings to stay true to your (religious) morals.

    Little Green Yodaon April 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    basically, she wants to be a much better person than she feels she is. she makes the effort but isnt able to overcome her urges nd thoughts. when she is telling who shes singing to to prey nd bring the virgin home for luck,nd the bolted door nd whatever, shes trying to say RUN without saying it. she knows shes no good for herself nd she doesnt want to bring this person under with her, but she wants to change for the better nd become a little more like this person. in a sence, she uses the person to wrap her mind around something so she can try nd salvage whats left of her self esteem, but all the same in the process breaking it down lower. she knows it isnt going to last nd she doesnt want to be alone so she suppresses whatever shes feeling to her partner nd acts like everythings alright, even when she knows its falling to pieces because she cant control herself, much less the situation. when it all wraps up, shes lost her man, nd she knows theres nothing left to back to. shes right back in the same depressing hole she was to begin with, without hope, nd not knowing what to do other than try.

    its a vicious cycle.

    hollowheart1115on August 15, 2009   Link

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