Sleep
Like a pillow
Down(ward)
And
(Where)
She won't care
Anyway (where)

Soft
As a pillow
Touch her there
Where she won't dare
Somewhere
Sleep
Like a (royal)
(Subject)

Think
That you grew
Stronger there
Speak
Your troubles
She's not scared

Soft like there's silk
Everywhere
Sleep
(Is a) pillow
Come

Where she won't dare
Anyway (where)
(Look)
In the mirror
She's not there
Where she won't care
Somewhere



Lyrics submitted by BrownBabu84

Track duration: 04:18

"Only Shallow" as written by Bilinda Butcher, Kevin Shields

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

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Only Shallow song meanings
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35 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I think the lyrics are "Sleep like a pillow, no one there" "And sleep like a novel subject" and in the last verse "Sleep like a pillow come somewhere." Just my theory.

    I had a friend suggest this song is about a wet dream. If you listen to the lyrics it kind of makes sense. He wakes up and no ones there. But I like the suducing someone in their sleep theory better.

    This whole album is absolute genius. One I could never live without.
    Flag BunnyVonPinkon March 07, 2012   Link
  • +2
    My Opinion:Contains possibly the best MBV hook ever. Starts you off with that noisy, psychedelic guitar, then lulls you with Bilinda's sweet, ethereal voice, then hits you hard, right in the ear with that awesome riff, just to remind you of how great it is.
    This is how you translate emotion into music.
    Flagged TriangleManon March 03, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Contains possibly the best MBV hook ever. Starts you with that awesome, noisy, psychedelic guitar, lulls you with Bilinda's ethereal voice, then keeps hitting you with that hook as a refrain, just to remind you how great it is. Simply briliant, >THIS< is how you translate emotion into music.
    Flag TriangleManon March 03, 2012   Link
  • +1
    Memory:I borrowed Loveless from a friend, and after a while he said I could keep it because he "only [liked] one song on it, anyway." I love the entire album.
    Flag SkpVwlson June 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Also, I totally agree with you all on the whole 'My Bloody Valentine are completely unrelated to Bullet For My Valentine' front.
    Dolorously enough, I don't know any My Bloody Valentine fans. But even more aggravating than that is the fact that any time I've so much as mentioned my love for this incredible band I 've been met with a response of either 'oh. i hate emo bands'/ 'omgeee i love Bullet For My Valentine'/'is that not a horror movie?
    arrrrr
    Flag durrkittyon June 18, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:What is particularly ingenius about this MBV song is the clever usage of contrasts.
    The song opens with a crushingly loud guitar riff, only to be flateringly met by Belinda's soft, desensitising vocals. It is not only Belinda's angelic tone that provides the contrast, but the words; they seem to form rich layers and textures and there is an ongoing resonance of a soothing, theraputic 's' sound. 'sleep' 'speak' 'soft' These gentle commands further allure us into the beauty and brilliance of this song.
    Flag durrkittyon June 18, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:That's my number one pet peeve. Like, in the entire world. And I have quite a few pet peeves.

    This one time I was in a music store and somehow I got into a conversation about MBV with one of the employees (who, I feel it is necessary to add, didn't look like the type of person who would listen to them), and he said something like, "Oh, I have one of their hoodies. Yeah, great band." I did a mental facepalm.

    Anyway. Let me edit what I posted above. Actually, let me post the entirety of what I think the lyrics say.

    "Sleep, like a pillow, no one there. Where she won't care, anywhere. Soft as a feather, touch her there. Where she won't dare, somewhere. Sweet, like a mallow, softer, fair. Feel like you could swallow her. Speak your trouble, she's not scared. Soft like there's silk everywhere. Sleep, as a pillow crowns her hair. Where she won't dare, anywhere. Look in the mirror, she's not there. Where she won't care, somewhere."
    Flag K-Lizzleon April 10, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I hate it when people think I mean 'Bullet for my Valentine' when I say I listen to 'My Bloody Valentine'. Man, those bands aren't even comparable. To me BfmV is shit when MBV is delicious food. Well, I don't mean that they are related or something, I mean that I just like MBV much more lol :)
    Flag Boreqon April 02, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:So I was watching the "Only Shallow" video and I paid attention to Bilinda's mouth during the second verse, and this is what it looks like she's saying: "Sweet like a 'mallow, softer (then?), think that you could swallow her."

    Just a thought. Because I'm pretty sure the lyrics above aren't entirely correct.
    Flag K-Lizzleon March 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the lyrics to this song don't make a whole lot of sense -- it's on the edge of a dream. that said, the entire album is arguably the ultimate soundtrack for making out and fvcking. I wish I had a copy of this CD when I was in college....
    Flag pawnshop_trashon July 22, 2009   Link

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