Skin
Oingo Boingo Lyrics

This is someone else's story
The singer is acknowledging that the story being told in the song isn't their own.

Someone that I never knew
The singer doesn't know the person whose story is being told in the song.

This is someone else's body
The singer is referring to the person whose story is being told in the song, indicating they don't recognize themselves or their current behavior.

Am I getting through to you
The artist is asking the listener if they understand the importance of recognizing oneself beyond surface-level appearances.

If you peel away the armor is something underneath
If you remove the protective layers that people hide behind, there's always something true and vulnerable underneath.

If you look below for hidden treasure underneath another layer
It's important to look beneath the surface to find the true value of a person or situation.

Are you hiding underneath the skin
The singer is asking if the person whose story is being told in the song is hiding their true self behind a façade.

If you peel away the skin is there anybody there
The artist is questioning if there's anything true and genuine inside of a person if you remove their outer layer.

If you peel away the armor is it too late to begin
It's never too late to start revealing your true self and show your vulnerability.

Is there anybody hiding if you peel away the skin
The artist is asking if there's anyone beneath the surface level, and whether they're hiding their true self or not.

Now a spark has passed between us now
The singer has made a connection with the person whose story is being told in the song.

A momentary recognition
The connection between the artist and the person whose story is being told in the song was brief and temporary.

Something lost and something gained
As a result of the connection, something was lost and something was gained, likely meaning that the singer learned something new about the person and themselves.

And something shared that feels strange
Although the connection was brief, it felt unusual and disorienting to the singer.

Something cold that will not go away
Even though the connection with the person whose story is being told in the song was brief, the impression that it left upon the singer was lasting and chilly.

There's a heart as cold as ice
The artist believes that the person whose story is being told in the song has a very cold and unfeeling heart, as if it were made of ice.

In a vault that's made of stone
The person whose story is being told in the song has effectively sealed up their heart and emotions inside a hard, unyielding shell.

Over years the walls got higher
Over the years, the person whose story is being told in the song has continued to build up their emotional walls to prevent others from getting to know them.

Over years the walls have grown
The walls around the person's emotional heart and mind have gotten higher and thicker over time, making it increasingly more difficult for anyone to get through to them.

Is there anybody in there in this self inflicted tomb
The artist is questioning if there's still someone inside the person whose story is being told in the song, and whether they'll ever allow themselves to be vulnerable with others.

If you peel away the layers is there someone in this room
The artist is questioning if the person whose story is being told in the song is still a present and active participant in their own life or if they're just going through the motions.

If you peel away the skin, if you peel away the skin
The artist is attempting to emphasize the importance of looking beneath the surface and not accepting what you see on the outside as the full picture.