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Bruises
Chairlift Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I tried to do handstands for you
I tried to do headstands for you
Every time I fell on you yeah every time I fell
I tried to do handstands for you
But every time I fell for you
I'm permanently black and blue, permanently blue
For you

I tried to do handstands for you
I tried to do headstands for you
Every time I fell on you yeah every time I fell
I tried to do handstands for you but every time I fell for you
I'm permanently black and blue, permanently blue

For you ooh
For you ooh
So black and blue ooh
For you ooh

I grabbed some frozen strawberries so I could ice your bruising knees
But frozen things they all unfreeze and now I taste like
All those frozen strawberries I used to chill your bruising knees
Hot July ain't good to me
I'm pink and black and blue (For you)

I got bruises on my knees for you
And grass stains on my knees for you
Got holes in my new jeans for you
Got pink and black and blue

Got bruises on my knees for you
And grass stains on my knees for you
Got holes in my new jeans for you
Got pink and black and blue

For you ooh
For you ooh
So black and blue ooh
For you ooh

Do doo do do do
Do doo do do do
Do doo do do do
Do doo do do do
Do doo do do do
Do doo do do do
Do doo do do do
Do doo do do do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chairlift’s “Bruises” may seem like a simple love song at first but it’s actually a story of a love that brings out both the best and worst in an individual. The singer is clearly head over heels in love with someone and she’s determined to impress them. She’s willing to do anything, even handstands and headstands, but every time she falls, she falls for the person even harder. The imagery of bruises comes up repeatedly throughout the song, perhaps a representation of the physical and emotional pain that comes with this love. The bruises are a symbol of her loyalty and dedication towards the person she loves.


However, towards the end of the song, the significance of the bruises takes on a different meaning. The singer has put so much effort into this relationship that she has become physically marked by it. The singer describes herself as being permanently black and blue, but she’s willing to put up with it. She’s got grass stains on her knees, holes in her jeans and all of this is for her love. She even tries to ice her beloved’s bruising knees, showing her devotion in a caring gesture.


Overall, the song is a beautiful representation of the complexities of love, where the feelings can be both wonderful and painful at the same time. It shows the lengths a person can go to express their affection and how much they are willing to put up with in the name of love.


Line by Line Meaning

I tried to do handstands for you
I made an effort to impress you.


I tried to do headstands for you
I tried to do something even more impressive for you.


Every time I fell on you yeah every time I fell
Every time I failed, it felt like I was hurting you.


But every time I fell for you
Every time I failed, I fell more in love with you.


I'm permanently black and blue, permanently blue
The pain of constantly trying to impress you has left a lasting mark on me.


I grabbed some frozen strawberries so I could ice your bruising knees
I tried to provide comfort for you even though it hurt me.


But frozen things they all unfreeze and now I taste like
Things don't stay the same forever and now I'm dealing with the consequences of trying to impress you.


All those frozen strawberries I used to chill your bruising knees
All the effort and pain I went through to try and impress you.


Hot July ain't good to me
The heat of summer just makes the bruises worse.


I'm pink and black and blue (For you)
The bruises are a reminder of all the things I did for you.


Got bruises on my knees for you
I physically hurt myself for you.


And grass stains on my knees for you
I went out of my way for you, even if it meant getting dirty.


Got holes in my new jeans for you
I tore my new clothes for you.


Got pink and black and blue
I'm still dealing with the consequences of what I did for you.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Aaron Davis, Jonathan Wimberly, Caroline Elisabeth Polachek

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@joseluisvilchez8978

I tried to do handstands for you
I tried to do headstands for you
Every time I fell on you, yeah every time I fell
I tried to do handstands for you
But every time I fell for you
I'm permanently black and blue, permanently blue for you

[Verse 1]
I tried to do handstands for you
I tried to do headstands for you
Every time I fell on you, yeah every time I fell
I tried to do handstands for you
But every time I fell for you
I'm permanently black and blue, permanently blue

[Chorus]
For you ooo ...
For you ooo ...
So black and blue ooo ...
For you ooo

[Bridge]
I grabbed some frozen strawberries
So I could ice your bruising knees
But frozen things they all unfreeze and now I taste like
All those frozen strawberries I used to chill your bruising knees
Hot July ain't good to me
I'm pink and black and blue
(For you)

[Verse 2]
I got bruises on my knees for you
And grass stains on my knees for you
Got holes in my new jeans for you
Got pink and black and blue
Got bruises on my knees for you
And grass stains on my knees for you
Got holes in my new jeans for you
Got pink and black and blue

[Chorus]
For you ooo ...
For you ooo ...
So black and blue ooo ...
For you ooo

[Outro]
(Du, du, lu, du, lu, du, lu)
(Du, du, lu, du, lu, du, lu)
(Du, du, lu, du, lu, du, lu)
(Du, du, lu, du, lu, du, lu)
(Du, du, lu, du, lu, du, lu)
(Du, du, lu, du, lu, du, lu)
(Du, du, lu, du, lu, du, lu)
(Du, du, lu, du, lu, du, lu)



@jo_magpie

quoting my dad's Aunt's poetry:
A Turkish girl in Zagreb
fell in love and told it
to her beloved
by standing on her hands
by walking on her hands
around the whole floor
before she excitedly threw herself into the bed.
Could I walk on my hands
walked on me hands for you
around the whole living room and across the road
and hit cobblestones front and back
and ate twenty cinnamon buns without juice, water or soda
and limped to Oslo on one leg -
then you would probably understand

that I loved you?



All comments from YouTube:

@coquevevo1378

who else is listening to this in 2024?

@michaelwhittaker5432

was used as an iphone new model advertisement , the U.S marketing were so clever , instead of running satday night prime time they ran it 11 oclock sunday morning just as the drunken kids were getting out of the sleeping pits - just genius

@faustulusmaximus

Me

@retrojimmyx

Finally, getting through the #music to listen to' list; better late than never I s'pose.

@howardpope3932

Me. At Saint Patrick´s Day.

@dylansharkey6040

This song was such a bop and I didn't realise until now it was Caroline Polachek

@kittystcherbatski67

Same, and I've been listening to Caroline Polachek a lot after what I thought was discovering her work. When she did the nano commercial song! Things like this make me think Superman's disguises only being glasses isn't as dumb as it looks. You don't always recognize people when you don't expect them because of one little different detail, like a name.

@daytripperarrabal

@@kittystcherbatski67 holy f youre right

@Annababy97

❤❤❤❤ the springs back so many memories when I was in middle school about to go into high school. And I would ride around with my babysitter blasting this song. She was awesome! Katherine, you are the shit.!!!❤

@shelleylin1322

A classic never dies

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