What I See
Black Flag Lyrics
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Behind these eyes the shell seems so empty
Though I wonder if anything lives inside?
I want to live, I wish I was dead
My heart aches to bleed
I'm cheated from what I see
Freedom holds a double edge for me
I look in your eyes and see
I want to live, I wish I was dead
I don't want to think
I'm stuck here and I know it
I don't want to see
Make me close my eyes
I want to live, I wish I was dead
Life's cold.
And it reaches inside
I need to feel, and turn my mind off
The desperation begins
From the start I see the end
Not right, I'm not right, you're not right
I've got to close my eyes
I look in your eyes
And I see it's always this way
Live the lie and take a dive
Just to make it die
I want to live, I wish I was dead
I've just got to close my eyes
I've got to close my eyes
I've got to close my eyes
The lyrics of Black Flag's "What I See" is a raw and intense exploration of the inner turmoil of a person who is struggling with their emotions. The song opens with the lines, "This feeling haunts me, Behind these eyes the shell seems so empty, Though I wonder if anything lives inside?" The singer is haunted by his own emotions and feels empty inside. He questions whether there is anything left inside of him. The sense of hopelessness and despair is evident in the lines, "My heart aches to bleed, I'm cheated from what I see, Freedom holds a double edge for me." The freedom to feel and express oneself is a double-edged sword for the singer because he is unable to escape his own emotions.
Throughout the song, he repeats the lines, "I want to live, I wish I was dead," which reflect the internal conflict he is facing. He wants to live, but at the same time, the intensity of his emotions makes him feel like he is dead inside. He doesn't want to think or see, he just wants to close his eyes and shut everything out. The lines, "Life's cold. And it reaches inside, I need to feel, and turn my mind off," convey the depth of the singer's feelings.
The closing lines of the song, "I look in your eyes, And I see it's always this way, Live the lie and take a dive, Just to make it die," suggest that the singer feels trapped in his own thoughts and emotions. He sees the same sense of despair reflected in others and feels like the only way to escape this agony is to live a lie and give up on life.
Overall, the lyrics of "What I See" are a poignant reminder of the complex and often painful emotions that many people experience. The song speaks to the human need for connection and empathy, even when we feel like we are disconnected from our own emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
This feeling haunts me
A persistent emotion has been troubling me
Behind these eyes the shell seems so empty
I lack the essence of life, making me seem barren
Though I wonder if anything lives inside?
Desperately trying to see if there's anything that makes me alive
I want to live, I wish I was dead
I yearn to have a fulfilling life, but the absence of it makes me feel dead inside
My heart aches to bleed
I wish to feel something, even if it's pain
I'm cheated from what I see
Whatever I perceive as reality is not what I expected
Freedom holds a double edge for me
Being free means I could also be unshackled from things I find pleasant
I look in your eyes and see
I see a reflection of myself in others, their happiness or sadness
I don't want to think
I want to be oblivious to my bleak situation
I'm stuck here and I know it
I'm aware that I'm in a situation I can't change
I don't want to see
I want to shut my eyes, pretend that everything is fine
Make me close my eyes
I want someone to force me to look away
Life's cold.
Life is harsh and unforgiving
And it reaches inside
Its extremity penetrates through every aspect of my being
I need to feel, and turn my mind off
An attempt to shut down my consciousness and just go through life's motions
The desperation begins
The hopelessness of my situation dawns on me
From the start I see the end
I knew it was bound to end badly from day one
Not right, I'm not right, you're not right
Everything around me seems to be flawed
I've got to close my eyes
Only by pretending that everything is alright, can I get through the day
And I see it's always this way
I realise my situation is a common one and not unique at all
Live the lie and take a dive
Lead a deceitful life and accept the resulting consequences
Just to make it die
An attempt to end my miserable existence
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHARLES DUKOWSKI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind