Limb by limb and tooth by tooth
Tearing up inside of me
Every day every hour
I wish that I was bullet proof

Wax me
Mold me
Heat the pins and stab them in
You have turned me into this
Just wish that it was bullet proof
Was bullet proof

So pay me money and take a shot
Lead fill the hole in me
I could burst a million bubbles
All surrogate and bullet proof

And bullet proof [Repeat]



Lyrics submitted by piesupreme, edited by pranav0091, Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 03:29

"Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was" as written by Thomas Yorke, Edward John O'brien, Colin Charles Greenwood, Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, Philip Selway

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was song meanings
Add your thoughts

76 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:This song I believe is Thom Yorke opening up about the industry (music/ acting)-
    People are constantly critiquing, criticizing, breaking artists down, pulling limb by limb and tooth by tooth all the time, every day, non stop. He wishes he was bullet proof to deal with the demands and all the chaos.

    'Limb by limb and tooth by tooth
    Tearing up inside of me
    Every day every hour
    I wish that I was bullet proof'

    Then society, fans, people try to change, suggest, push our wants, ideas on to these artists and we are never satisfied so when he turns resentful or angry after we "wax, mold, heat pins and stab" he states we turned him into this- fragile soul who wishes they were bulletproof.

    "Wax me
    Mold me
    Heat the pins and stab them in
    You have turned me into this
    Just wish that it was bullet proof
    Was bullet proof'

    We will buy cd's, watch movies, go to concerts, pay these same people we break down, so he is saying pay him money and take a shot as in continue to break these artists down.I could burst a million bubbles is just a metaphor how overwhelmed, and exhausted and torn down he is at this point.

    So pay me money and take a shot
    Lead fill the hole in me
    I could burst a million bubbles
    All surrogate and bullet proof
    Flag Soulstaron May 07, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think that this song could be (I don't think this was why it was written, but I think this makes sense) about someone who tries helping everyone with their problems- like a therapist- but only adopts other people's problems. Similar to what brandidragonfly said, I think this person adopts these problems because he/she cares way too much about everything and everyone, so they want to help them. In the end this person has tons of problems ripping him/her apart, and just wishes he/she didn't care and was therefore bullet proof.

    This song could also mean that someone feels like they are just seen as a disgruntled child's toy, and the person wishes that something could change that but gives up because it will never happen.
    Flag ilovehotcoco18on January 16, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i wish i was too...
    Flag meyerson December 12, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I find myself coming back to this song time and time again... it's truly beautiful. To me, it's about caring. Caring so much it hurts. And wishing you didn't.
    Flag brandidragonflyon May 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:I think it's about suicide. I think the million of bubbles that would be burst, would be the religious people, if they only knew what really happens after death.
    Flag burninwdron May 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think "I could burst a million bubbles, all surrogate and bulletproof," means that he could bring others down around him to his level. Kind of rip the bulletproof vest off of them so they can feel how he feels. But he won't do it because he knows how much it hurts. I often feel like just exploding and telling everyone that life fucking sucks, why do we continue to go on like this? ...but then again, we all have different lives, and I can't pass judgment on those that do have a reason to live them. Because, obviously if I'm here, I do too.
    Flag Aquarius121on January 23, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i've always thought of this song as a picture of wanting to invulnerable and avoid getting hurt.
    most people have probably been in a situation, where you just wish to be bulletproof, so you dont have to spend your time on being depressed and sulking around.

    -though the fact that we're not bulletproof, is in my opinion, a basic human trait: if you're bulletproof you will not experience great moments, as friendship, love and so on.. (damn sappy, huh?) being hurt is a part of life: just like a child you will get a scratch now and then, but it will make you more experienced and its a part of life.

    tl,dr: a picture of wanting to be bulletproof and avoid getting hurt in different ways, though being completly bulletproof is not human.
    Flag faxek2fon November 02, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:when i first heard this i thought it was about someone suffering from a low confidence, especially with the line "i could burst a million bubbles" which could be reffering to deflating egos? however he aint willing to risk it as hes not "bullet proof" he doesn't have the confidence to stand out and take a shot himself.

    after reading comments on here though, the song does make sense about how the singer wants to be less vulnerable, maybe the pins line is referring to metaphorical stitches? as in recovering from the emotional trauma he wants to be protected from, dunno about the bubbles in that case though!

    but like penge says, the song can be taken in different ways.

    oh and i'm totally loving drews take on it, i could picture a factory worker/janitor who once had high goals, but got screwed over by the system, pulling down their confidence, moulding him into what they need him to be.
    Flag Dirt89on June 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:The lyrics, the melody, everything is perfect and does not need much interpretation, it is what is is, it says what it says.

    It expresses exactly as I feel now and I would like just to pass away.
    Flag alexander3487on May 24, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Best radiohead song to me...I agree with letmebe
    Flag KamikazeDolphinon December 30, 2009   Link

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!

Back to top
explain