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Future Starts Slow
The Kills Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

You can holler, you can wail
You can swing, you can flail
You can thump like a broken sail
But I'll never give you up
If I ever give you up, my heart will surely fail

And after all God can keep my soul
England have my bones
But don't ever give me up
I could never get back up when the future starts so slow

No longing for the moonlight
No longing for the sun
No longer will I curse the bad I've done
If there's a time when the feelings gone, I wanna feel it

You can holler, you can wail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can swing, you can flail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
(I don't mind)

There's a time for the second best
And there's a time when the feeling's gone
But it's hard to be hard I guess
When you're shaking like a dog

You can holler, you can wail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can swing, you can flail
You can blow what's left of my right mind

You can holler, you can wail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can swing, you can flail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
(I don't mind)

You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can holler, you can wail
You can blow what's left of my right mind

Overall Meaning

The Kills' song "Future Starts Slow" is a powerful and raw song that speaks to the struggle of holding onto love when things get tough. The opening lines describe a sense of chaos and desperation, with the narrator describing how their partner can "holler" and "wail," or do anything they can to try and push them away, but they will never give up on them. However, the consequences of giving up on this love are dire, as the narrator believes that they would surely "fail" if they lost it.


The chorus of the song speaks to a broader sense of existential dread, with the narrator stating that "after all, God can keep my soul" and "England have my bones," suggesting a willingness to let go of the physical and ephemeral aspects of life. However, they refuse to give up on love, even if the future seems slow and uncertain. In the subsequent verses, the narrator acknowledges their past mistakes and regrets but has come to terms with them, choosing instead to embrace whatever feelings come their way, whether they be positive or negative.


Line by Line Meaning

You can holler, you can wail
You can scream and cry, trying to get my attention


You can swing, you can flail
You can wildly move around, trying to impress me


You can thump like a broken sail
You can make loud and repetitive sounds, but it won't change anything


But I'll never give you up
But I won't give in to your actions and desires


If I ever give you up, my heart will surely fail
If I were to give into you, it would go against my true feelings and cause me great emotional pain


And after all God can keep my soul
When I die, my spiritual essence can go to God


England have my bones
When I die, my physical being can stay in England


But don't ever give me up
But don't let anyone overpower my true self or the essence of who I am


I could never get back up when the future starts so slow
I know that I won't be able to move forward if I continue to move at this slow pace, and I need to start taking risks and chasing my future


No longing for the moonlight
I don't have any unrealistic desires or expectations


No longing for the sun
I don't have any grandiose aspirations or unrealistic goals


No longer will I curse the bad I've done
I won't dwell on the mistakes I've made and the negative things that have happened in my past


If there's a time when the feelings gone, I wanna feel it
Even if I feel disconnected or numb, I want to experience and be present in every moment of my life


You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can do whatever you want to try and control me, even if it's illogical or irrational


There's a time for the second best
Sometimes, you have to settle for less than what you truly want or deserve


And there's a time when the feeling's gone
Sometimes, a relationship or situation can lose its spark and meaning


But it's hard to be hard I guess
But it's difficult to stay strong and maintain boundaries in those situations


When you're shaking like a dog
When you're feeling vulnerable and scared like an animal




Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Alison Mosshart, James Hince

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Stav Mkr

You can holler, you can wail
You can swing, you can flail
You can fuck like a broken sail
But I'll never give you up
If I ever give you up my heart will surely fail
And after all God can keep my soul
England to have my bones
But don't ever give me up
I could never get back up when the future starts so slow
No longing for the moonlight
No longing for the sun
No longer will I curse the bad I've done
If there's a time when the feelings gone, I wanna feel it
You can holler, you can wail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can swing, you can flail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
(I don't mind)
There's a time for the second best
And there's a time when the feeling's gone
But it's hard to be hard I guess
When you're shaking like a dog
You can holler, you can wail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can swing, you can flail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can holler, you can wail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can swing, you can flail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
(I don't mind)
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can holler, you can wail
You can blow what's left of my right mind



Fiorella Pacha

Future Starts Slow

The Kills

You can holler, you can wail
You can swing, you can flail
You can fuck like a broken sail
But I'll never give you up
If I ever give you up my heart will surely fail

And after all God can keep my soul
England to have my bones
But don't ever give me up
I could never get back up when the future starts so slow

No longing for the moonlight
No longing for the sun
No longer will I curse the bad I've done
If there's a time when the feelings gone, I wanna feel it

You can holler, you can wail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can swing, you can flail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
(I don't mind)

There's a time for the second best
And there's a time when the feeling's gone
But it's hard to be hard I guess
When you're shaking like a dog

You can holler, you can wail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can swing, you can flail
You can blow what's left of my right mind

You can holler, you can wail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can swing, you can flail
You can blow what's left of my right mind
(I don't mind)

You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can blow what's left of my right mind
You can holler, you can wail
You can blow what's left of my right mind



All comments from YouTube:

Brian

I will never get tired of this song as long as I live

~PrettyGirl~

Brian Tully Do u still think that?

Brian

Yes.

~PrettyGirl~

Brian Tully Wouah

bandicamgirl

You'll never give it up 😂

Tom Simson

@Brian still?

31 More Replies...

Dusty Griffin

this video reminds me of that documentary they did where they talk about their connection and co-dependency and how they can’t imagine doing this without the other. all these places, beautiful places, and they’re the only people. it’s always been just the two of them making some incredible sounds together. congrats on 20 years of the kills! also congrats on creating one of the best guitar riffs in the last decade.

Samuel Powell

if you like The Kills you should check out Lonely Gimmick - All Along the watchtower, its got those noughties rock vibes and it's a great take on classic song

PepperMeadow

You described their connection very well... and it's exactly why I'm scared for anything bad to happen to one of them. Jaime and Allison are a non romantic example of a "couple" who can't go on without each other.

thepayne78

Thank you Person of Interest for exposing me to The Kills and thank you The Kills for making me a fan after listening to your other stuff that is not in PoI. You guys are fantastic.

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