So bad when you went away
Nothing I could do or say
And now we are a lonely two
Sit at home and watch the tube

I've been hurt before,
Sorrow knocking on my door
Pain

And so I make a brand-new-life
Fashioned out of brand-new strife
And when I hear the doorbell ring
I can never let them in to me

Pain is in me every day
When you went it came to stay
Come and be a cure for me
Make the tears come out of me

So bad when you went away
Nothing I could do or say
And when I hear the doorbell ring
I can never let them in to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Brand - New - Life" by Young Marble Giants revolve around the theme of heartbreak and the struggles that come with it. The song starts with the singer expressing the pain and helplessness felt when their lover leaves them. The lyrics "So bad when you went away, Nothing I could do or say" show the overwhelming feelings of loss and the inability to do anything about it. The singer also admits to being hurt before and sorrow being a frequent visitor.

The chorus brings a new perspective as the singer decides to fashion a brand new life out of the pain and strife. However, this comes with a cost as they become emotionally unavailable and unable to let anyone in. The lines "I can never let them in to me" show the self-imposed isolation and inability to trust, as they fear being hurt again. The song ends with the singer calling out to their lost lover, asking them to come back and be a cure for their pain.

Overall, the song's lyrics paint a picture of the aftermath of heartbreak, and the struggle to overcome it while also capturing the feelings of pain, isolation, and hopelessness.

Line by Line Meaning

So bad when you went away
The departure was incredibly painful

Nothing I could do or say
No action or words could prevent the departure

And now we are a lonely two
The absence has left only two people alone

Sit at home and watch the tube
They spend their time watching TV since they have nothing else to do

I've been hurt before,
The artist has experienced pain in the past

sorrow knocking on my door
The pain keeps coming back

Pain
The feeling of discomfort and hurt

And so I make a brand-new-life
The artist decides to start anew

Fashioned out of brand-new strife
The new life will be built from challenges and difficulties

And when I hear the doorbell ring
When someone comes knocking

I can never let them in to me
The singer is not ready for new people in their life