Tragedy Bound
Looking for clues
I'm starting to suspect she likes abuse
I'm starting to feel like she doesn't feel
Is there anybody in there?

Tragedy Bound
She is a mess
Her daddy was a demon watching her dress
He shriveled her down, wore her like a crown
Is there anybody in there?

All her life, she's bound to lose
All her life, she's bound to lose

Tragedy Bound
I feel sick
Her daddy was killed, her feelings were mixed
He wore a hole in her skin, now all the boys look in
Is there anybody in there?

Tragedy Bound
Now she's stuck
She can't even care enough to fuck
She's cutting herself just to see if it works
Is there anybody in there?

All her life, she's bound to lose
All her life, she's bound to lose

Tragedy bound
If I met this man
What would I say?
How could I speak
How could I speak
How could I speak

All her life, she's bound to lose
All her life, she's bound to lose
All her life, she's bound to lose
All her life, she's bound to lose

Overall Meaning

The Bravery's song Tragedy Bound is a commentary on the cycle of abuse and trauma that can afflict individuals and families. The lyrics describe a young woman who is the product of a dysfunctional family, with a father who was abusive towards her and seemed to view her as a possession. The singer wonders if the woman is even capable of feeling anything, given the way she has been treated. He also laments that she seems unable to break the pattern of abuse, as she engages in self-harm and has become "tragedy bound."

The lyrics paint a bleak picture of the woman's life and the challenges she faces. It's possible that the singer himself has been involved with this woman in some way, but is now seeing the situation more clearly and struggling with how to help her. Throughout the song, there's a feeling of helplessness and despair.

Overall, Tragedy Bound is a powerful song that addresses an important subject matter. It's a reminder that abuse and trauma can have long-lasting effects on individuals and that it's not always easy to extricate oneself from a cycle of negativity and harm.

Line by Line Meaning

Tragedy Bound
The singer is fated for tragedy.

Looking for clues
The singer is searching for answers about the singer's behavior.

I'm starting to suspect she likes abuse
The singer is becoming aware that the singer enjoys being mistreated.

I'm starting to feel like she doesn't feel
The artist believes the artist has become emotionally numb.

Is there anybody in there?
The artist wonders if the artist has any capacity for emotion left.

She is a mess
The singer is in a state of chaos and dysfunction.

Her daddy was a demon watching her dress
The singer's father was abusive and controlling.

He shriveled her down, wore her like a crown
The father reduced the artist's sense of self-worth and used her to boost his own ego.

Is there anybody in there?
The artist questions whether the artist is still capable of independent thought and feeling.

All her life, she's bound to lose
The artist's fate is to suffer and never break free from her circumstances.

I feel sick
The singer is physically and emotionally disturbed by the singer's situation.

Her daddy was killed, her feelings were mixed
The artist experienced conflicting emotions when her abusive father died.

He wore a hole in her skin, now all the boys look in
The singer's father damaged her self-esteem to the point that she is now seeking validation from men.

Now she's stuck
The singer is trapped in her current state of dysfunction.

She can't even care enough to fuck
The singer is so emotionally numb that she cannot even engage in sexual activity.

She's cutting herself just to see if it works
The artist is engaging in self-harm to test whether she can feel anything.

If I met this man
The artist imagines encountering the artist's abusive father.

What would I say?
The singer wonders how they would react in such a situation.

How could I speak
The singer feels overwhelmed and powerless to confront the abusive father.

All her life, she's bound to lose
The artist's fate is unchanging.

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