32 Leaves was a five-piece alternative/hard rock/post-grunge music group fr… Read Full Bio ↴32 Leaves was a five-piece alternative/hard rock/post-grunge music group from Phoenix, Arizona, United States. After releasing their first full album Welcome to the Fall in 2005, they were able to attract major label support from Universal Records. However, plans fell through and they ended up releasing their second album, Panoramic, independently on March 15, 2009.

The band formed back in 2001 and played locally in Arizona for their first few years. Their first formal release of music was in 2003 with the Fik'shen EP. The release had five tracks; the first three tracks, "Overflow", "Makeshift", and "Sudden Change", would later be reworked and re-recorded later for their first LP, Welcome to the Fall, in 2005. The other two tracks, "Bruised and Break" and "Dissolved", had a different, softer sound than the majority of the rest of their work, and were never reworked. Additionally, the track "Interlude to Addiction", from Welcome to the Fall, is also on the EP, but as an intro to "Makeshift" rather than a separate track by itself.
While the band toured some in 2009 in support of the album, they disbanded amicably in 2010.

Members:
Mike Lopez − guitar
Mike Chavez − guitar
Aron Orosz − bass
Barrett Gardner − drums

Blood On My Hands
32 Leaves Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

BLOOD ON MY HANDS
Closed in around me
The walls are like enemies
Trying to trap me inside
You are the same with your devious inklings
Trying to take me for mine

Well I don?t know what you want from me

I?ve given you everything
Even the air I breathe
And I don?t know what you?re trying to prove
I?ve got nothing left to lose
Either way
I know I?m only

Giving away the guilt in me
Giving away complicity
The feeling is surreal but the blood?s still on my hands

Guilty I may be but you?re the epitome
Blaming the world for your crimes
Soon comes the ending where I?ll be left standing
Alone here to die
On my time

Well I don?t know what you want from me
I?ve given you everything
Even the air I breathe
And I don?t know what you?re trying to prove
I?ve got nothing left to lose
Either way
I know I?m only

{chorus}

I?ll stay numb until the guilt is gone
When blood stained on my hands is fading
Fade?

{chorus}

Overall Meaning

In "Blood on My Hands," 32 Leaves muses on betrayal and guilt. The singer feels trapped, surrounded by walls that are like enemies. This sense of being hemmed in is compounded by the presence of someone who is trying to take advantage of them, hoping to "take me for mine." The singer seems to have given this person everything, "even the air I breathe," yet they are still being targeted. The singer doesn't know what this person is trying to prove, but they know they have nothing left to lose. Despite this, they feel guilty, and they acknowledge their complicity, even as they blame the other person for their actions. The guilt is surreal, but it lingers like blood on their hands.

The chorus acts as a kind of refrain, repeating the main theme of the song. The singer will remain numb, continuing to carry the guilt but hoping that it will eventually fade away. The final line of the song, "Fade?" is left hanging, leaving the listener to ponder whether or not the guilt will ever truly disappear.

One interesting aspect of the song is the use of the metaphor of walls as enemies. This is a fraught image, conjuring up both the idea of physical barriers that impede movement and the emotional barriers that can prevent connection with others. The idea of being closed in or trapped is a powerful one and helps to emphasize the singer's sense of vulnerability.

Another intriguing aspect of the song is the way that it explores guilt and blame. The singer acknowledges their own guilt, but they also place the blame on the other person for taking advantage of them. It's a complex dynamic that highlights the way that guilt can be a shared burden.

Line by Line Meaning

Closed in around me
Feeling trapped and helpless, like the environment is closing in on them.

The walls are like enemies
Viewing the surroundings as hostile and unforgiving.

Trying to trap me inside
Feeling as though one is being held against their will with no opportunity to escape.

You are the same with your devious inklings
Referring to someone who is manipulative and conniving.

Trying to take me for mine
Feeling as though someone is trying to take away what they rightfully own.

Well I don?t know what you want from me
Expressing confusion and uncertainty towards someone's motives or desires.

I?ve given you everything
Having given everything to someone, leaving themselves feeling empty and vulnerable.

Even the air I breathe
Giving so much that one feels as though they are losing even the very essence of life.

And I don?t know what you?re trying to prove
Unsure of what someone is trying to gain or achieve from a situation.

I?ve got nothing left to lose
Feeling as though they have already given everything away, leaving nothing else to lose.

Either way
Regardless of the outcome or decision, the end result is the same.

I know I?m only giving away the guilt in me
Admitting to feeling guilty or responsible for a situation.

Giving away complicity
Acknowledging one's involvement or responsibility in a situation.

The feeling is surreal but the blood?s still on my hands
Feeling as though the situation is almost unreal or dream-like, but also accepting that they are still responsible for the consequences.

Guilty I may be but you?re the epitome
Acknowledging one's own guilt, but also recognizing someone else as the ultimate representation of that guilt.

Blaming the world for your crimes
Refusing to accept responsibility for one's own actions and instead blaming external factors.

Soon comes the ending where I?ll be left standing
Regarding an impending ending or outcome where they will be left alone or isolated.

Alone here to die
Accepting their fate of facing the consequences or an ending alone.

On my time
Facing the consequences or ending in their own way or on their own terms.

I?ll stay numb until the guilt is gone
Choosing to ignore or suppress their feelings of guilt or responsibility until it no longer affects them.

When blood stained on my hands is fading
Waiting for the consequences or guilt to dissipate or fade away.

Fade?
Questioning whether the guilt or consequences will truly dissipate or if it will stay with them forever.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL LOPEZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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