There's a message on my bed
A new engraving in my overloading head
Feel the walls are caving in
As the wire cuts into my butter skin

Yeah
Overload

Love's the antidote we need
Love's the antidote we really need

When you're all by yourself
Standing on the edge of the world
Take a look at yourself
Don't fall back in

I thought I shot my conscience dead
But he's come back again to break my china head
Blown a hole right through my dream
Brought me back to earth in a rocket made for one

Yeah
Overload

Love's the antidote we need
It's the antidote we really need

When you're all by yourself
Standing on the edge of the world
Take a look at yourself
Don't fall back in
Cause when you're all by yourself
Standing on the edge of the world
Take a look at yourself
Don't fall back in
Don't fall back in

Overall Meaning

Feeder's song Standing on the Edge is a ballad about inner turmoil and the importance of self-love. The opening lyrics suggest a sense of overwhelming pressure, both internal and external, which is causing the singer to feel trapped and restricted. The use of vivid imagery to describe the wire cutting into the skin suggests that the pressure is self-inflicted, perhaps due to an obsession with perfection or fear of failure.

When the chorus hits, the lyrics suggest that despite this darkness, a solution exists in the form of love. Love is presented as an antidote to the singer's troubles, with the repetition of the phrase "Love's the antidote we need" hammering home the song's message.

The second verse delves deeper into the singer's mental state, with lyrics about a broken conscience and shattered dreams. The reference to a "rocket made for one" suggests that the singer feels isolated and cut off from others. However, the chorus repeats the idea that love can provide a way out of these negative feelings, providing hope to the singer and urging them to keep on fighting.

Overall, Standing on the Edge is a powerful exploration of mental health struggles and the power of self-love to overcome them.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a message on my bed
I have a strong feeling or thought on my mind that I can't seem to shake off, it's constantly with me like the message on my bed.

A new engraving in my overloading head
My thoughts are so overwhelming that it feels like they're permanently etched in my head, always present and never going away.

Feel the walls are caving in
I'm feeling trapped and suffocated by my own thoughts, like the walls are closing in on me.

As the wire cuts into my butter skin
The pressure and stress I'm going through is unbearable, it feels like wires are slicing through my weak and vulnerable skin.

Love's the antidote we need
To overcome these negative and overpowering emotions, love is what we need. It's the only cure for our troubled minds.

When you're all by yourself
When you feel alone, isolated and have no one to turn to.

Standing on the edge of the world
When you feel like you're teetering on the brink of a major decision or life-changing event.

Take a look at yourself
Take a step back and reflect on yourself and the situation at hand. Analyze your thoughts and feelings objectively.

Don't fall back in
Don't give into your negative emotions, don't let them control you.

I thought I shot my conscience dead
I tried to ignore my inner voice that tells me what's right and wrong, but it's still there and won't let me forget.

But he's come back again to break my china head
My conscience is back and is breaking down my fragility, revealing the truth that I've been hiding from.

Blown a hole right through my dream
My ideal or fantasy has been shattered, leaving me exposed and vulnerable to reality.

Brought me back to earth in a rocket made for one
After my fantasy is destroyed, I'm brought back to reality in a sudden and jolting way, alone and by myself.

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