Bet you can't tell I'm
Temporarily blind

And how much more can I
Get sunburned?

How much more can I
Get sunburned?

Bet you can't tell I'm
Temporarily blind

Isn't everyone?
Isn't everyone?
Isn't everyone?
Isn't everyone?

Isn't everyone?
Isn't everyone?
Isn't everyone?
Isn't everyone?

The thought of you waiting
For someone
Turn your back on this hating
Turn your back on this hating

Before I forget
It took so long
Turn your back on this waiting
Turn your back on this waiting

I need to know where you're
Coming from
Turn your back on the framing
Turn your back on the framing

Who history doesn't teach
It makes numb
Turn your back on their taming
Turn your back on their taming

Yeah, they might let let you say it
But it'd take all day to explain it

Overall Meaning

In "Temporarily Blind" by Built to Spill, the singer sings about feeling temporarily blind, and questions how much more sunburned they can get. The repeated question “Isn’t everyone?” suggests that feeling lost and not knowing what to do is a universal feeling. In the next lines, the singer addresses someone directly, calling on them to "turn your back on this waiting" and "turn your back on this hating," suggesting that the person may be holding onto negative emotions or waiting for something to happen that may never come. The singer then asks where the person is coming from, suggesting a need for clarity and understanding. Finally, the song ends with the refrain "Turn your back on the framing, turn your back on their taming," urging the listener to break free from societal norms and conditioning.

The lyrics of "Temporarily Blind" paint a picture of feeling lost and uncertain, of searching for clarity and understanding. The repeated questions and pleas for action suggest a sense of urgency and frustration. The metaphor of being temporarily blind and sunburned could be seen as symbolic of feeling disoriented and overwhelmed by life, and searching for a way forward.

Line by Line Meaning

Bet you can't tell I'm
I'm pretending that I cannot see something.

Temporarily blind
It's an act that won't last.

And how much more can I
How much more of something I can handle?

Get sunburned?
Can I afford to take more risks?

Isn't everyone?
Isn't it common for people to take risks?

The thought of you waiting
I'm thinking about someone waiting for someone.

For someone
I'm not sure who that person is waiting for.

Turn your back on this hating
Stop feeling bad about yourself or others.

Before I forget
I need to remember something important.

It took so long
I've been waiting for something for a long time.

Turn your back on this waiting
Stop being patient because it's time to take action.