Sticks & Stones
Babyshambles Lyrics
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Tale I will tell
Blood lust after no sweet love
And a many, many things I do so well
Oh you know that's the end
That's the end so far away down
They said that I was as good as dead
And there was hope, but not for us together
My friend, my only friend
Oh well you know that that's the end
And that's the end so far away down
Skip... fame on the run
Don't look back into the motherfucking sun, no
Oh well you know that that's the end
And that's the end so far away down
Sticks and stones
May break my bones
Oh but your words
They really kill me
Sticks and sto-o-o-o-ones
May break my bo-o-o-o-ones
Sticks and stones may break my bones
Oh but your words they really kill me
And there you know that's the end
But there can never be and end
The song Sticks and Stones by Babyshambles tells the story of someone trying to survive in a world that is hostile towards them. The lyrics suggest that the singer is someone who thrives on dangerous behavior and has no desire for love or tenderness. He acknowledges that many people think he is already dead or doomed to fail, but his only hope is his friend. The song then moves into a chorus about the power of words, how they can be destructive and hurtful, and how they can impact a person just as much as physical objects.
The opening lines of the song describe the singer's personality and how it leads him to take part in dangerous activities. He is aware that his desire for violent and risky behavior is not something that most people would understand or approve of. The verse then transitions into a melancholic reflection on the singer's relationship with his friend, who is the only person that has ever believed in him.
The chorus is a reiteration of the aphorism, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." This saying is often used to encourage people to ignore hateful language and criticism, but the song suggests that words can be just as damaging as physical harm. The final lines of the song declare that even though everything may seem to be coming to an end, there is always the possibility for something new to begin.
Line by Line Meaning
Now here's a tale
I want to share a story
Tale I will tell
I have a story to share with you
Blood lust after no sweet love
I desire violence and not affection
And a many, many things I do so well
I am skilled in many things
Oh you know that's the end
The conclusion is inevitable
That's the end so far away down
The end is a long way off
They said that I was as good as dead
People thought I was going to die
And there was hope, but not for us together
Hope existed, but not for us to be together
My friend, my only friend
My friend, who is my only friend
Oh well you know that that's the end
The inevitable conclusion
Skip... fame on the run
Avoiding fame by running away
Don't look back into the motherfucking sun, no
Don't reflect on the past no matter how brutal it was
Sticks and stones
Physical violence
May break my bones
Can cause physical pain
Oh but your words
Verbal insults
They really kill me
Can deeply hurt me
Sticks and sto-o-o-o-ones
Repetition of 'sticks and stones'
May break my bo-o-o-o-ones
Physical abuse can cause me pain
Oh but your words they really kill me
Your insults and criticism can deeply hurt me
And there you know that's the end
The situation has concluded
But there can never be and end
But there can always be more to the story
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PATRICK GEORGE WALDEN, PETER DOHERTY, PETER WILLIAM WOLFE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind