Jewel – Grey Matter

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Hate you, I love you
Leave, please
Don't go away
Can't decide if
I like your face
Or if I wish
It would stray
You're a child but
You're malicious
You're sweet but
Don't remember my name
And heads you win
And tails I'm lost
And love equals pain

[Chorus]
I am drifting
Without an anchor
Through your ambiguous region
A strange continent
Immune to all reason
And I'm flattered by
Your gray matter

Inside my skin
I feel your tongue
Telling me I'm dirty
And licking my bones
A surge against silence
A knife across a plate
Makes the sound
Of need on hate

[Chorus]

And I do not understand
Why a woman can't
Just love a man

You're amusing
You're a real cool show
With your meat hooks
And barbed wire carnival
You got glitter in your pocket
You got mothballs in your soul
From too many false teeth
And greasy flash bulbs

[Chorus]

I love you
I hate you

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Lyrics submitted by Ice

Track duration: 04:41

"Grey Matter [Live]" as written by Jewel / Kilcher

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Grey Matter song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This is my song to you Nathan!
    Flag driftingdreameron June 12, 2012   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:I've always loved this song. I'd love to know from Jewel if there is a story behind this. I was listening to it the other day and it dawned on me that it reminded me of my relationship with my ex. This could be the 'poster song' for borderline personality disorder. If the first lines were from the guy's perspective (I hate you I love you Leave Don't go away Can't decide if I like your face or if I wish it would....") and then the rest of the song in response. It's really very sad. 'Your a child, but your malicious'....BP's can be the most wonderful and the most horrible. Love them. Don't give up on them, but falling in love with one is not recommended.

    "...and I do not understand why a woman ca'nt just love a man." Well you can, but they won't completely believe that you love them, and when they start loving you back, prepare for a very difficult time because you're in for the ride of your life.

    Sorry. Still effected.....
    Flag vitaminveeon October 10, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:Grey matter is brain matter a part of the brain. So she is talking about his emotions. But to me the term grey matter is much more than that. Its grey, so its ambivolent. He doesn't know where he stands with her and won't communicate it. So she's constantly battered between black and white, love and hate. Caught in the purgatory of his emotions.

    "I hate you, I love you
    Leave, please don't go away
    Can't decide if I like your face
    Or if I wish it would stray"

    I don't quite get the part about "From too many false teeth and greasy flash bulbs" I guess this is about the phony world of fame. But are flashbulbs really greasy?

    But I think the best verse is the refrain. She's lost and doesn't know where she is with him:

    "I am drifting without an anchor
    Through your ambigous region
    A strange continent immune to all reason"
    Flag troubadour13on August 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I would just like to know what exactly does grey matter mean. From my perspective it has always been a feeling of not really knowing what you're getting from the other person. Cause when she's saying I'm flattered by your grey matter, is she trying to say that whatever the other person is giving her is enough, even though she's not really sure what their feelings are. Am I totally off?
    Flag lykkeon November 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Wow I love this song exactly how i'm feeling at the moment...I hate it when you're unsure of whats happening in a realtionship but you can't quit leave...for some reason you're still flattered by any attention...sigh...
    Flag cjk16on June 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:god this song is awesome..it's so powerful.

    it's about a love/hate relationship i think.
    Flag cherry_queenon June 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:after she sings "from too many false teeth and greasy flash bulbs" the last chorus is beautiful. how she holds "i am drifting without an anchor" all in one breathe. her voice seems like it is doing exactly what she is singing...drifting without an anchor.
    Flag Marie0891on March 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i loveeee
    Flag kiss_kiss_bang_bangon February 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i loveeee
    Flag kiss_kiss_bang_bangon February 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:aaahhh so amazing.

    just the whole " i am flattered by your grey matter"

    its so amazing
    Flag silhouettedon July 02, 2006   Link

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