The first night after you're release,
no one expects you to get much sleep
you're the waking, walking dead
In my case i'm not much better
walk to the kitchen and grab a marker
trace the path the blood will flow
the lines I wear around my wrist
are there to prove that I exist
Tomorrow, it will be easier to forgive myself
and remember her without a guilty head
these nightmare lines, an empty heart
we take for granted all the things that make us who we are
get up, get dressed, go to work, they all know who you are
they can't believe you'd show up here, but that's just who they are
set up shop at your machine, calibrate and remember who you are

here lies clarity in a perfect grave comprised of perfect steel
the perfect blade, was a perfect white
against the perfect lines, from last perfect night
I'm the perfect picture of complacency
and that's all I feel
slow motion replaces real time
as the horror fills their eyes
these claws will never kill again
the lines i wear around my wrist
are there to prove that i exist
the lines i wear around my wrist
I am a monster, clothed in crimson sleeves
and perforated lines where my wrists should be
A warehouse full of workers scramble like a pack of bewildered wolves
as my world turns black... and i fall.

Overall Meaning

In the song Purging by Boys Night Out, the lyrics describe the singer's struggle with self-harm and their attempt to recover from it. The first few lines describe what it's like for someone who has just been released from a mental health facility or hospital after a suicide attempt. The singer admits that they are not feeling any better, but as they draw lines on their wrist with a marker to predict where they might self-harm, they start to acknowledge the scars they have already inflicted upon themselves.

The song goes on to explore how the singer tries to integrate back into society by going to work, but they still feel like a monster. The lines they wear around their wrist serve as a reminder of their past and how easy it is to fall back into old habits. The singer talks about being a "perfect picture of complacency," which can refer to the facade they present to others - being seemingly okay but still struggling internally. The final lines of the song are haunting as they describe how the singer's world turns black and they fall, possibly indicating a relapse into self-harm.

Overall, the song Purging is a raw and honest portrayal of the complex emotions and struggles that someone who self-harms may experience. The lyrics capture the difficulty of trying to recover from such a mental health issue and the constant battle to resist the urge to harm oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

The first night after you're release,
After being released from something, whether it be prison or an addiction, it is expected that getting a good night's sleep will be difficult on the first night.

no one expects you to get much sleep
In circumstances like these, sleep can be hard to come by.

you're the waking, walking dead
Even if you're awake, you still feel restless and tired like the walking dead.

In my case I'm not much better
I am experiencing a similar emotional state as the person being referred to in the previous lines.

walk to the kitchen and grab a marker
Getting up and doing everyday things can feel like a chore and you may do bizarre things out of impulse.

trace the path the blood will flow
People sometimes self harm as a coping mechanism, and it can become a habit.

the lines I wear around my wrist
The scars from these types of behaviors are reminders of pain and damage done to oneself.

are there to prove that I exist
At times, people may wonder whether they even exist or feel disconnected from reality. For some, these scars are a reminder that they do exist.

Tomorrow, it will be easier to forgive myself
With time, people can learn to forgive themselves for the pain they have caused themselves.

and remember her without a guilty head
It is possible to remember someone who is no longer in your life without feeling guilty for the things that went wrong between the two of you.

these nightmare lines, an empty heart
The scars may serve as a physical reminder of the emotional pain the person has experienced.

we take for granted all the things that make us who we are
We often overlook our own characteristics and the things that make us individuals.

get up, get dressed, go to work, they all know who you are
Everyday routines can become monotonous and it can feel as though everyone knows what you do and who you are.

they can't believe you'd show up here, but that's just who they are
Others may be surprised by your presence, but that is due to their own preconceived notions or expectations.

set up shop at your machine, calibrate and remember who you are
Getting lost in a routine can make you forget yourself, so it is important to stay mindful and remember who you are as an individual.

here lies clarity in a perfect grave comprised of perfect steel
Sometimes we can find clarity in metaphorical death when all disturbances clear and lifeless, almost like death.

the perfect blade, was a perfect white
A blade represents danger, and its whiteness symbolizes purity, something dangerous and pure; also it might be referring to a scalpel used in self-harm or surgery.

against the perfect lines, from last perfect night
Contrasting the blade, these 'perfect lines' refer to scars left behind by the self harm the person inflicted upon themselves, and how it feels like such an imperfect night when they self harmed.

I'm the perfect picture of complacency
The act of doing nothing is easy and automatic, indicating no particular inclination towards a particular action or striving.

and that's all I feel
Feelings of complacency can consume someone's entire emotional spectrum.

slow motion replaces real time
People may start feeling as though life is moving slowly or they are moving in slow-motion, especially when in a depressed state.

as the horror fills their eyes
Their own personal demons can feel as though they are suffocating them, leading to a sense of horror.

these claws will never kill again
The singer is overcoming the emotional trauma that led to self harm and is committed to never fall prey to it again.

the lines I wear around my wrist
These lines represent more than pain, but also a reminder of personal strength and fortitude to overcome trauma.

are there to prove that I exist
The person struggles with their self-identity and purpose and uses these scars as evidence that they exist.

I am a monster, clothed in crimson sleeves
After the self harm, the singer feels like a monster who is hiding and covering their pain.

and perforated lines where my wrists should be
Refers to the wounds from the self harm and how there are now physical perforations where once there were healthy skin.

A warehouse full of workers scramble like a pack of bewildered wolves
Feeling overwhelmed by others and the frenzied state of society at large.

as my world turns black... and I fall.
As the artist comes closer to losing hold and plunging into chaos caused by their own emotional and mental state.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it