Laying on the bathroom floor
Kitty licks my cheek once more
And I could try
But waking up is harder when you want to die

Walter's on the telephone
Telling him I am not at home
Cause I think I am going
To a place where I'm always high

My name is Elizabeth
My life is shit and piss

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Eels' "Elizabeth on the Bathroom Floor" paint a vivid picture of a person in a state of profound despair. The singer of the song is lying on the bathroom floor, feeling so low that even a cat's affectionate lick can't lift them up. They express their desire to die and how difficult it is to face waking up each morning with such a bleak outlook on life.

As the song progresses, we learn that the singer is avoiding phone calls from someone named Walter because they are planning to go "to a place where I'm always high." This suggests that they may be struggling with addiction or attempting to escape their painful reality through drug use. The repetition of the line "My life is shit and piss" emphasizes the singer's feelings of hopelessness and misery.

Overall, "Elizabeth on the Bathroom Floor" is a haunting and harrowing portrayal of a person on the brink of giving up. The lyrics offer a glimpse into the mind of someone struggling with mental health issues, addiction, and the overwhelming weight of daily life.

Line by Line Meaning

Laying on the bathroom floor
I am in the bathroom lying on the floor.

Kitty licks my cheek once more
My pet cat is licking my cheek again.

And I could try
I could attempt to get up.

But waking up is harder when you want to die
It's more difficult to get up off the floor when you feel like you want to die.

Walter's on the telephone
My friend Walter is talking on the phone.

Telling him I am not at home
He is telling someone that I am not available.

Cause I think I am going
Because I believe I'm on my way

To a place where I'm always high
I'm heading to a place where I'm always feeling intoxicated.

My name is Elizabeth
My given name is Elizabeth.

My life is shit and piss
My existence is utterly awful.

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