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Novocaine for the Soul
Eels Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Life is hard
And so am I
You'd better give me something
So I don't die
Novocaine for the soul
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out

Life is white
And I am black



Jesus and his lawyer
Are coming back
Oh my darling
Will you be here
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out

Guess who's living here with the great undead
This paint by numbers life is fucking with my head, once again

Life is good
And I feel great
'Cause mother says I was
A great mistake
Novocaine for the soul
You'd better give me something to fill the hole
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Eels’s song “Novocaine for the Soul” deal with themes of existential crisis, depression, and the use of anesthetics to numb emotional pain. The opening lines, “Life is hard and so am I,” sets the overall tone of the song as one of bleakness and emotional pain. The singer begs for “Novocaine for the Soul” to keep them from “sputtering out” or breaking down completely. The lyrics deepen the theme of this song by creating metaphors of both white and black, representing the duality of good and evil. The reference to Jesus and his lawyer possibly suggests that the singer may be thinking of their own sins and hoping for salvation. The final line of the verse asks their lover to be there “before I sputter out,” suggesting that the singer sees the salvation of their relationship as a means to alleviate their suffering.


The second verse shifts the focus to the singer’s current reality, highlighting their disconnection from their surroundings. The lyrics “Guess who's living here with the great undead/ This paint by numbers life is fucking with my head, once again” present a sense of detachment and hopelessness. The final verse suggests that there may have been a mistake in bringing the singer into the world. However, the use of Novocaine, yet again indicates the singer's escape from the intolerable pain. This song addresses not only depression but also the helplessness that one feels when they're stuck in a situation that can't change.


Line by Line Meaning

Life is hard
Life is difficult to deal with


And so am I
I too am struggling to cope with life


You'd better give me something
I need help from someone


So I don't die
So that I can survive this experience


Novocaine for the soul
I want something to numb my psychological pain


Before I sputter out
Before I completely give up and lose hope


Life is white
Life seems unsullied and pure


And I am black
But I feel like the opposite, dark and dismal


Jesus and his lawyer
Metaphorical representation of confronting judgement and accountability


Are coming back
I feel that my misdeeds will catch up to me


Oh my darling
A plea for emotional support


Will you be here
Can I count on you to be by my side


Guess who's living here with the great undead
I feel like I am surrounded by depressed and lifeless people


This paint by numbers life is fucking with my head, once again
I feel that my monotonous and unoriginal life is affecting my mental state, yet again


Life is good
Things are going well at the moment


And I feel great
I am enjoying this period of happiness


'Cause mother says I was
My mother believes I was a successful person


A great mistake
But I feel like a failure and a disappointment


You'd better give me something to fill the hole
I need something to make up for my feelings of inadequacy and emptiness


Before I sputter out
Before I lose my will to keep going


Before I sputter out
Before I completely give up and lose hope


Before I sputter out
Before I lose my will to keep going




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK GOLDENBERG, MARK O. EVERETT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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