Wash out my apathetic mouth dear
With the whiskey of your kiss
There's no tapestry of words here
Just spider's webs of hit or miss
If you'd insanity for any reason
Or of excuses had your fill

I say your name cause no one else does
I sing your song cause no one will

Your mouth creeks when I open it
And suck the breath from deep inside
Your voice i fear is too low for it
It seeks a place where it can hide
I wipe the dust from your open book
Shed a tear for your pride

I say your name cause no one else does
I cry the tear that no one cried

How I long for the animals
Clearing human simple minds
Left to rot with the carcasses
Of all the lives you left behind
Did you wonder why the vultures
Sit among us as we die
I say your name cause no one else does
I sing your song like it was mine

I say your name cause no one else does

I say your name cause no one else does
I sing your song cause no one cares

I see the light is softly fading
Upon the mountain of their stares
I hear the calling of a village
The torch is lighted for the kill

I say your name cause no one else does (say your name)
I sing your song cause no one will (say your name)
I say your name cause no one else does (say your name)
I sing your song cause no one will (say your name)
Say your name cause no one else does (say your name)
I sing your song cause no one will (say your name)

Overall Meaning

The Slackers' "Sing Your Song" is a melancholic ballad about the feelings of neglect and isolation one might experience in life. The lyrics are cryptic and poetic, but the general meaning seems to center around the idea that the world can be a cruel and apathetic place, and sometimes the only way to make oneself heard is to sing their own song.

The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song with a metaphor comparing the whiskey of someone's kiss to a mouthwash that can wash out the singer's apathy. The line "There's no tapestry of words here, just spider's webs of hit or miss," further emphasizes the singer's inability to express themselves in a coherent way. The next couplet seems to suggest that the singer is tired of listening to people's excuses, and would rather just call things as they see them. The refrain "I say your name cause no one else does, I sing your song cause no one will," repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the idea that the singer feels unseen and unheard in the world.

The second verse delves more into the singer's relationship with the other person in the song. The line "Your mouth creeks when I open it, And suck the breath from deep inside" is a vivid metaphor that suggests the other person's voice is almost like a haunted house that is sucking the singer's soul away. The next couplet implies that the other person's voice is too timid to make itself heard, and the singer feels sorry for them. The final line in this verse "I say your name cause no one else does, I cry the tear that no one cried" expands on the idea that the singer is trying to give voice to the voices that are not being heard.

The final verse touches on some more existential themes, using the metaphor of animals to compare human beings to vultures who sit among us as we die. The final couplet brings the whole song to a close with the lines "I say your name cause no one else does, I sing your song like it was mine," which brings us back to the central idea of the song, that sometimes we need to sing our own songs because nobody else will.

Line by Line Meaning

Wash out my apathetic mouth dear
Please inspire me with the passion and motivation I need to speak and act with purpose.

With the whiskey of your kiss
I need your love and affection to wash away my apathy and awaken my senses.

There's no tapestry of words here
My expression lacks eloquence or complexity; I can only speak in simple terms.

Just spider's webs of hit or miss
My words are tangled and uncertain, lacking in coherence and direction.

If you'd insanity for any reason
If you ever become irrational or unpredictable due to your emotions or thoughts,

Or of excuses had your fill
Or if you're done making excuses,

I say your name cause no one else does
I acknowledge and speak your name because nobody else will.

I sing your song cause no one will
I am singing your praises and telling your story because nobody else will give you that recognition.

Your mouth creeks when I open it
Your lips are slightly parted, making a soft noise, as I prepare to kiss you.

And suck the breath from deep inside
As I kiss you, I inhale deeply to try to get as close as possible to your essence.

Your voice i fear is too low for it
I am worried that your voice won't allow you to express your true feelings and desires.

It seeks a place where it can hide
Your voice tries to remain hidden or avoid attention, perhaps out of fear or insecurity.

I wipe the dust from your open book
I am trying to remove the grit and neglect that have accumulated over time and restore your vitality.

Shed a tear for your pride
I am mourning the loss of your self-confidence and dignity, and hoping to restore them.

How I long for the animals
I feel a deep yearning for a state of natural innocence, free from the constraints and pressures of human society.

Clearing human simple minds
The simplicity and clarity of animal thinking is a relief from the complex and often confusing thought processes of humans.

Left to rot with the carcasses
Humans have a tendency to abandon or discard things that no longer serve their purposes, like they do with the remains of dead animals.

Of all the lives you left behind
You have walked away from many relationships and experiences, leaving a trail of hurt and loss behind you.

Did you wonder why the vultures
Have you ever stopped to reflect on why others often seem to scavenge and feed off of the scraps you leave behind?

Sit among us as we die
Others seem to take advantage of our vulnerability and suffering, like vultures circling around their prey.

I see the light is softly fading
I am noticing that people are losing hope and energy, as if they are slowly surrendering to the inevitable.

Upon the mountain of their stares
The oppressive presence of others' judgment and scrutiny weighs heavily on people, draining their confidence and motivation.

I hear the calling of a village
I sense that a larger community or group is beckoning people to come together and find solace and support.

The torch is lighted for the kill
However, there may still be danger or harm lurking in that community, as if they are preying on the vulnerable.

Contributed by Camden V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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