'Cause he's still coming around like an injured bird needing a nest
A place to rest his head in a song you'll regret
Still you take him, Lord knows I don't want to compete
Still I sleep in the very sheets he's been in

Swallow him whole like a pill that makes you choke, it steals your soul
You have the nerve to look me in the eyes and lie
Send him back, I won't share the trap that you have me in

Is he still coming around like an injured bird needing a nest?
A place to rest his head in a song you'll regret
Still you take him, Lord knows I don't want to compete
Still I sleep in the very sheets he's been in

Swallow him whole like a pill that makes you choke, steals your soul
You have the nerve to look me in the eyes and lie
Send him back, I won't share the trap that you have me in
(Still I sleep in the very sheets he's been in)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Damien Jurado's song "Sheets" describe a complicated and hurtful love triangle. The singer is questioning whether the person they love is still going to the other person, who is described as an "injured bird needing a nest." The other person is using their vulnerability to keep them around, even though the singer doesn't want to compete. Despite all of this, the singer still sleeps in the same sheets as this other person, unable to let go of the feelings they have.

The lyrics become even more intense in the second verse when the singer expresses the pain of watching the other person swallow their love interest whole and choke their soul. They are frustrated with the other person's ability to lie and deny what is happening. The singer then reveals that they are stuck in a trap, one that the other person has put them in. The song ends with a haunting repetition of the line "Still you sleep in the very sheets he's been in," symbolizing the ongoing emotional power struggle between the three characters.

Line by Line Meaning

Is he still coming around like an injured bird needing a nest?
Is he still seeking comfort from you even though he knows the relationship is over?

A place to rest his head in a song you'll regret
He keeps coming back to you even if it's just out of habit, and you know that it's a mistake to let him in.

Lord knows I don't want to compete
You don't want to fight for his affections because you know he's not truly committed to you.

But I still sleep in the very sheets he's been in
Even though you know he's not fully devoted to you, you still cling to the memories and the physical reminders of your past with him.

Swallow him whole like a pill that makes you choke and stills your soul
The thought of him with someone else is suffocating and suffocating, draining your happiness and energy.

You have the nerve to look me in the eyes and lie
You are hurt and angry that he is still leading you on, despite the obvious damage it's doing to your heart.

Send him back
You know that you need to cut him loose and move on, for the sake of your mental and emotional well-being.

I'll share the trap that you have me in
You'll admit that you are trapped in a cycle of heartbreak and codependency, but you refuse to let him bring you down any longer.

(Still you sleep in the very sheets he's been in)
You continue to hold onto the past, even though you know it's not healthy for you.

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