Petals
Hole Lyrics
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And make you tell the truth
All the darling buds of May
They fall with no sound
They carry you down
They carry you down
All the lilies bloomed and blossomed
Wilted and they're shivering
Oh this world is a war
The lyrics to Hole's song Petals talk about the act of tearing someone apart to make them confess the truth. It starts by talking about tearing the petals, which signify innocence and beauty, off of a person to reveal the truth. The use of the phrase "All the darling buds of May" is a reference to Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 which talks about the beauty of summer with its blooming flowers. However, in this song, the petals fall silently and carry the person down, suggesting a fall from innocence or grace. All of the lilies, which represent purity and devotion, have also wilted and are shivering, indicating a loss of hope and faith.
The line "Oh this world is a war" suggests that the world is a harsh place and that truth is hard to come by. It also could mean that the act of tearing someone apart to reveal the truth is a battle in and of itself. The song's theme of revealing the truth at any cost is common in Hole's music and can be seen in other tracks like "Doll Parts" and "Violet".
Overall, "Petals" is a song that deals with themes of truth, innocence, and beauty, and how they can be destroyed in a harsh and unforgiving world.
Line by Line Meaning
Tear the petals off of you
Forcefully remove all the layers of pretense and facade to reveal your true self
And make you tell the truth
Compel you to be honest and reveal your innermost thoughts and feelings
All the darling buds of May
Metaphorically represent youthful innocence, purity, and beauty
They fall with no sound
Their transformation and eventual decay go unnoticed and unappreciated
They carry you down
The passage of time and the inevitability of aging and death take hold of you
All the lilies bloomed and blossomed
Symbolize the transience and fragility of life
Wilted and they're shivering
They are fading away, becoming weaker and more vulnerable
I can't stop their withering
The passage of time and the impermanence of life are forces beyond my control
Oh this world is a war
The world is a battleground where time and mortality constantly wage war against life and beauty
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: William Patrick Corgan, Eric T Erlandson, Courtney M. Love
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind