Clean
Amanda Somerville Lyrics


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Finish me
Push me off the ledge
So hard to read
So hard to make a call on what you do or say
It's not my place to do so, anyway

A magnet pulls
It singes the air
I'm torn in two
I'm watching your fingers painting shadows with the beat
Longing for your hands to reach out for me
And don't you know
I need to come clean

[Chorus:]
Indiscreet
I've got something to say
Giving away my dirty deed
Is it indiscreet
I've got nothing to lose
To tell you you're the liquid of my dreams
I need to come clean
Taunting me
I'd say you were there
We're stumbling
We're walking a tightrope made of high voltage wire
We're melting as we tend to our fires

You're whispering
I don't want to hear
You're mumbling
You see how I fight to claw my way further down
The need to bury my secret is strong
And yet I know
I need to come clean

[Chorus]

Heaven help me
Will I ever be clean of this
Mortally afflicted
Heaven help...
But leave a light on so you can watch me sin

[Chorus]

Glistening
We dance in the rain
So easy now
So hard to pull the brake once you're on the ride




You'll get to know me from the inside
I need to come clean

Overall Meaning

In Amanda Somerville's song Clean, the singer is torn between telling someone something important and keeping it a secret. The song starts with the singer asking the other person to push them off the ledge, indicating that they are struggling to make a decision. The inability to read the person and uncertainty about what to do or say makes it more challenging for the singer, but they understand that it's not their place to determine what the other person wants.


As the song progresses, the singer describes how much they want the other person, both physically and emotionally. However, they're struggling to confess their "dirty deed," and the need to bury their secret is strong. The frustration is evident in the lyrics as the singer talks about their struggle to claw their way further down to hide their secret. Despite this, the singer understands that they need to come clean, even though it might be indiscreet or could cost them something.


In the second verse, the singer realizes that they're stumbling and walking on a tightrope made of high voltage wires. The imagery suggests that they're both aware of the risks, but they're still willing to take the chance. The fear of the reaction to their confession is palpable, and they're scared of hearing the response from the other person. Despite this fear, the singer knows that they need to come clean, and that they'll be relief in letting their secret out.


Overall, Clean is a song about the struggle to keep a secret, the fear of telling someone, and the relief that comes with confession. It also touches on the complexity of emotions and the desire to be close to someone, even when there are risks involved.


Line by Line Meaning

Finish me
I need you to end this for me because I cannot do it myself.


Push me off the ledge
I need you to help me take a big step and make a change.


So hard to read
It's difficult for me to understand your actions and intentions.


So hard to make a call on what you do or say
I can't decide what your words or actions mean and it confuses me.


It's not my place to do so, anyway
I shouldn't be trying to judge you or control your actions.


A magnet pulls
I feel strongly attracted to you and can't resist your pull.


It singes the air
The energy between us is intense and almost electric.


I'm torn in two
I'm conflicted and can't decide what to do about my feelings for you.


I'm watching your fingers painting shadows with the beat
I'm mesmerized by the way you move and make music.


Longing for your hands to reach out for me
I want you to want me and touch me like I touch you.


And don't you know
I wish you could understand.


I need to come clean
I need to confess my feelings and secrets to you.


Indiscreet
I'm about to say something I shouldn't.


I've got something to say
I have a confession to make.


Giving away my dirty deed
I'm revealing a shameful secret.


Is it indiscreet
I know it's wrong but I can't help it.


I've got nothing to lose
I'm taking a risk because I have nothing to lose anymore.


To tell you you're the liquid of my dreams
I want to reveal that you're my ideal lover and partner.


Taunting me
You're teasing me and making it hard for me to resist you.


I'd say you were there
I think you understand and feel the same way.


We're stumbling
We're making mistakes and struggling to stay together.


We're walking a tightrope made of high voltage wire
Our relationship is dangerous and could end badly at any moment.


We're melting as we tend to our fires
We're becoming more intimate and passionate as we pursue our love.


You're whispering
You're talking softly and sweetly to me.


I don't want to hear
I'm afraid to hear what you have to say because it might reveal too much.


You're mumbling
You're speaking unclearly and I can't understand you.


You see how I fight to claw my way further down
You can see how I'm struggling to avoid revealing my secrets and feelings.


The need to bury my secret is strong
I really don't want to tell you my secrets and shame.


Heaven help me
I need some divine intervention.


Will I ever be clean of this
Will I ever be free of this guilt and shame?


Mortally afflicted
I'm suffering deeply and it's killing me inside.


But leave a light on so you can watch me sin
I know I'm doing something wrong, but I want you to see it and still love me anyway.


We dance in the rain
We're enjoying each other's company and having fun together.


So easy now
Things are going smoothly and it seems effortless.


So hard to pull the brake once you're on the ride
It's difficult to stop this relationship once it's started and gotten so intense.


You'll get to know me from the inside
If we stay together, you'll learn all my secrets and see all my flaws.




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