Broken Bones
Aqualung Lyrics
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Snipping the tips off
Grinding down the long ones
That wind around your eardrums
Dangerous plastic words
For crowd dispersal
And dumb dumb words
That could blow your head off
This is a story 'bout the three of us
Down by the water and the tide is rising
This world is burning and I'm terrified
I need a little more time with you
Oh, I just need a little more time with you
One fine day you'll sing
Your inevitable love song
Inevitable lie song
Inevitable cry song
Time bends broken bones
Time bends broken bones
'Til they wrap around your throat
And snap around your fingers
This is a story 'bout the three of us
Down by the water and the tide is rising
This world is burning and I'm terrified
I need a little more time with you
Down by the water and the tide is rising
This world is burning and I'm terrified
I need a little more time with you
Oh, I just need a little more time with you
Oh, please just need a little more time with you
The lyrics to Aqualung's Broken Bones describe the fragility of words and how they can be used to manipulate and control people. The first stanza talks about "picking up broken words" and "snipping the tips off" and "grinding down the long ones" which could be interpreted as the act of manipulating language to fit one's agenda. The next lines mention "dangerous plastic words" and "dumb dumb words" which have the potential to cause harm or even violence.
The chorus of the song talks about the singer's personal relationship with someone and how they are afraid for the future of the world in general. They want to spend more time with this person as if to enjoy whatever time they have left before the world starts to fall apart. The line "time bends broken bones" could mean that time heals wounds but can also twist and distort them until they are something unrecognizable. The final lines of the song reiterate the singer's need for more time with their loved one.
Overall, the song "Broken Bones" speaks to the uncertainty and unpredictability of life and how we should cherish the moments that we have with the people we love.
Line by Line Meaning
Picking up broken words
Attempting to piece together fragments of speech that were muddled or garbled.
Snipping the tips off
Removing the superfluous or irrelevant parts of a statement.
Grinding down the long ones
Working to understand the more complex aspects of what was said.
That wind around your eardrums
Words that continue to echo in one's mind, haunting and persistent.
Dangerous plastic words
Harmful or deceitful phrases that are designed to manipulate or control people.
For crowd dispersal
Used to incite or disperse a large group of people, often without seeming reason.
And dumb dumb words
Simple phrases that lack depth or meaning, but can still have devastating effects.
That could blow your head off
Words with the power to harm or kill, either through their physical or emotional impact.
This is a story 'bout the three of us Down by the water and the tide is rising
The overall narrative of the song, featuring three individuals faced with danger and uncertainty.
This world is burning and I'm terrified
The sense of anxiety and fear that permeates the entire piece, stemming from the perceived instability and danger of the world.
I need a little more time with you
The desire for a sense of reassurance and comfort in the presence of another person, a need to hold onto what remains of life's simple joys.
One fine day you'll sing Your inevitable love song
The idea that all people will eventually face the pain of loss and heartbreak, as symbolized by a hypothetical yet inevitable song of sadness.
Inevitable lie song
The inescapable nature of deceit and dishonesty in daily life and relationships, often leading to pain and betrayal.
Inevitable cry song
The inevitability of sadness and suffering, no matter how much we try to avoid or deny it.
Time bends broken bones 'Til they wrap around your throat And snap around your fingers
The idea that the passage of time can turn traumas and wounds into something more treacherous and destructive, threatening to suffocate and overpower the individual.
Oh, please just need a little more time with you
A plea for the comfort and reassurance of another person, in the face of an uncertain and dangerous world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MATTHEW HALES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind