Wai
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics
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The tidiness of cry
The only way I'm leaving here
Is curling up and die
The way our shelter moves above
Controlled by just my hand
Insures the death you're dreaming of
The drowning down of man
O love, o love, o careless love
I only want to lay with you
My love, my love, my carefull love
I've found the hard way love is true
And always love the smiling one
And rounding out will come
With bitter bile and heartless fun
And consciousness made numb
And fearful hate that's steming out
From fear and only fear
Has made your inner croco shout
And bring his victims here
O love, o love, o careless love
I only want to lay with you
My love, my love, my carefull love
I've found the hard way love is true
A creature born in listlesness
His hatred to become
It's here his love is swollen in
And consciousness made numb
And relegate your youth and trust
Your table and your skin
And share the love the godly must
And hold it til the end
O love, o love, o careless love
I only want to lay with you
My love, my love, my carefull love
I've found the hard way love is true
I only want to lay with you
My love, my love, my carefull love
I've found the hard way love is true
The lyrics of "Wai" by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy paint a haunting and dark picture of love, fear, and hatred. The opening lines of the song, "The lameness of an unborn child, the tidiness of cry," describe a sense of hopelessness and despair. The singer then sings about wanting to curl up and die, highlighting the depth of his despair.
As the song progresses, the singer's focus turns to the destructive nature of his love. He describes how his "shelter" (presumably the home he shares with his beloved) is under his control and ensures the death of the person he loves. This lines seem to suggest that the singer's love is all-consuming and results in destruction.
The chorus of the song is a plea for love, but also an acknowledgement of its destructive power. The singer confesses that he has learned the hard way that love is true, but also acknowledges the carelessness and potential for harm that comes with love.
The final verse of the song brings together the themes of fear and hatred, describing the birth of a creature whose love is tainted by its hatred. The final lines of the song suggest that the only way to find true love is to hold on to it until the end.
Overall, "Wai" is a complex exploration of the darker side of love, and how it can fuel fear, hatred, and even destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
The lameness of an unborn child
The helplessness and vulnerability of a yet-to-be-born baby
The tidiness of cry
The control and restraint in one's expression of sorrow and pain
The only way I'm leaving here
Is curling up and die
The singer's feeling of hopelessness and desperation, that death seems like the only escape
The way our shelter moves above
Controlled by just my hand
Insures the death you're dreaming of
The drowning down of man
The artist's destructive power, using his shelter as a tool to bring about death and destruction
O love, o love, o careless love
I only want to lay with you
My love, my love, my carefull love
I've found the hard way love is true
The artist's complicated relationship with love, experiencing both its careless and careful sides, and having learned the hard way that it is true
And always love the smiling one
And rounding out will come
With bitter bile and heartless fun
And consciousness made numb
The singer's recognition that even those who seem happy on the surface can bring about bitterness and heartlessness, leading to a numbness of one's awareness and feelings
And fearful hate that's steming out
From fear and only fear
Has made your inner croco shout
And bring his victims here
The idea that fear can be a root cause of hate, leading one's inner 'croco' (perhaps a metaphor for one's inner monster or darkness) to act out and harm others
A creature born in listlesness
His hatred to become
It's here his love is swollen in
And consciousness made numb
The idea that one can be born feeling empty or directionless, but then develop hatred that overtakes them and numbs their awareness and ability to feel
And relegate your youth and trust
Your table and your skin
And share the love the godly must
And hold it til the end
The idea that one should prioritize sharing love and kindness over material possessions, and that holding onto it until the end is important
I only want to lay with you
My love, my love, my carefull love
I've found the hard way love is true
Reiteration of the artist's desire for closeness and their acknowledgment that they've learned about love through difficult experiences
Contributed by Jordan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
rockitsauce
"the only way i'm leaving here is curling up and dying"........... bpp you are true poet
David Vega
Beatiful!!!
PresenceUponMe
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