Since then I never feel helpless, recess, this mess if you do
And I find that even time well spent gets bent if you need it to
And we do
Well by now I've showed you how much I believe in the here and now and I wish
That you knew

Lay all you want on me
Lay all you want on me
Lay all you want on me
I'll be your whipping boy

You spilled your purse onto my bed
Searching for something for your head
Since then you never come clean I mean
You wish you only could

Lay all you want on me
Lay all you want on me
Lay all you want on me
I'll be your whipping boy

I can get up

And I find that even time well spent gets bent if you need it to
And we do
And we do
Lay all you want on me
Lay all you want on me
Lay all you want on me
I'll be your whipping boy

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Train's song Whipping Boy explore the idea of being someone's emotional punching bag, or "whipping boy." The first verse expresses the idea that the singer no longer feels helpless and can handle any mess that comes his way. He believes in living in the moment, yet wishes the other person could see things the same way he does. The second verse describes the other person's struggles with addiction or mental health issues, and how the singer has become a constant source of support. The repeated line "lay all you want on me" is an invitation to unload one's burdens onto another person, while the phrase "I'll be your whipping boy" reinforces the idea that the singer is willing to take whatever emotional pain the other person needs to dish out.

The lyrics are filled with emotion and vulnerability, touching on themes of mental health, addiction, and the complex dynamics of relationships. The singer is aware of the other person's faults and weaknesses, but is still willing to offer unconditional support. The song's chorus is repeated four times, emphasizing the idea that the singer will always be there for the other person, no matter what they need to unload.

Line by Line Meaning

Since then I never feel helpless, recess, this mess if you do
Ever since then, I haven't felt powerless, even in a difficult situation, unlike you who seems to struggle.

And I find that even time well spent gets bent if you need it to
I've realized that time can be manipulated to suit one's needs, even when it's been used productively.

And we do
We manipulate time according to our convenience.

Well by now I've showed you how much I believe in the here and now and I wish That you knew
I've demonstrated my belief in living in the present, and I wish you shared the same perspective.

Lay all you want on me
You can unload all your problems and burdens on me.

I'll be your whipping boy
I'll take all the blame and punishment on your behalf.

You spilled your purse onto my bed
You scattered the contents of your purse on my bed.

Searching for something for your head
Looking for a remedy to ease your worries.

Since then you never come clean I mean
After that incident, you haven't been completely honest with me, figuratively speaking.

You wish you only could
You deeply desire to be completely honest with me.

I can get up
I can handle anything and rise above the situation.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES COLIN, CHARLIE COLIN, JAMES STAFFORD, JAMES W STAFFORD, PAT MONAHAN, ROBERT HOTCHKISS, ROBERT S HOTCHKISS, SCOTT UNDERWOOD, SCOTT MICHAEL UNDERWOOD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it