Midwestern Hand Grenade
Adair Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

the moon is full and bugs are in the air.
I've been searching for the moment I can touch you.
I lost my hand.
humid summer nights.
this is dangerous.
I'm alive but not living.

what a chance. I'm burning inside.
what a chance now. what will change now?
where will we go if not here and now?

this shrapnel's digging deep into my heart.
and these sleeping pills aren't helping me forget you.
I lost my hand.
and I'm drowning on the highway.
this is dangerous.
will we ever make it out of here alive?

billions of bodies away from you.
billions away from you.

I lost my hand.
all this time without you.
I'm dying.
I lost my hand.

this bruise is permanent.




hold it or throw it.
hold it and watch it explode.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Adair's song Midwestern Hand Grenade depict a sense of danger, yearning, and loss. The first verse sets the scene for the singer's desire to touch someone, with the moon and bugs in the air creating an atmosphere of heightened emotion. However, the loss of a hand immediately suggests a physical attack, and the lyrics continue to describe humid summer nights and the danger the singer is experiencing. The line "I'm alive but not living" implies a deep sense of dissatisfaction, as the singer is barely surviving in this dangerous environment.


The chorus suggests a turning point in the singer's feelings, as they describe "burning inside" and the opportunity presented by a new chance. However, there is a sense of uncertainty in the lyrics - "what will change now?" and "where will we go if not here and now?" The second verse reveals the reason behind the singer's loss of a hand, with the shrapnel digging deep into their heart. The sleeping pills are not enough to help them forget this person, and they feel as though they are drowning on the highway. The final lines suggest a desperation and a willingness to take risks, with the singer holding onto this bruise that will either create a magnificent explosion or cause them more harm.


Overall, the lyrics of Midwestern Hand Grenade convey a sense of raw emotion and the desperation that can come with longing for someone who is dangerous or no longer present in one's life.


Line by Line Meaning

the moon is full and bugs are in the air.
The setting is ripe for romance, with the full moon casting a romantic mood and the bugs symbolizing spring and rebirth.


I've been searching for the moment I can touch you.
The singer has been craving physical and emotional connection with a specific someone for some time now.


I lost my hand.
The singer has lost something very important to them, possibly a metaphor for a deeper emotional wound.


humid summer nights.
The singer is painting a picture of a sultry, hot summer night, perhaps to convey the intensity of their emotions.


this is dangerous.
The singer is acknowledging that their feelings are powerful and potentially harmful.


I'm alive but not living.
The singer feels like they are going through the motions of life without truly feeling alive or fulfilled.


what a chance. I'm burning inside.
The singer feels strongly about the opportunity presented to them and is burning with desire to seize it.


what a chance now. what will change now?
The singer is questioning the outcome of taking the chance, wondering if it will lead to positive change.


where will we go if not here and now?
The singer is living in the moment and contemplating what will happen if they don't act on their feelings now.


this shrapnel's digging deep into my heart.
The singer is feeling deeply wounded and hurt by something.


and these sleeping pills aren't helping me forget you.
The singer is struggling to move on from a person or event and finding that nothing is helping them forget it.


and I'm drowning on the highway.
The singer is possibly feeling overwhelmed or lost, symbolized by drowning on the highway.


will we ever make it out of here alive?
The danger and intensity of the situation is causing the singer to question whether or not they will survive it.


billions of bodies away from you.
The singer feels very far removed from the person they desire and are lamenting the distance between them.


all this time without you. I'm dying.
The singer has been living without the person they desire for a long time and are feeling like they are wasting away.


this bruise is permanent.
The singer has been hurt in a way that they believe is irreversible and damaging.


hold it or throw it.
The singer is indecisive about how to handle the situation and their emotions, unsure whether to hold onto them or let them go.


hold it and watch it explode.
The singer is acknowledging that their emotions are powerful and explosive, implying that holding onto them may lead to a dramatic outcome.




Contributed by Alexis F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found