Atrophy
Antlers (The) Lyrics
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You've been writing me rules, shrinking maps and redrawing borders
I've been repeating your speeches, but the audience just doesn't follow
Because I'm leaving out words, punctuations, and it sounds pretty hollow
I've been living in bed because now you tell me to sleep
I've been hiding my voice and my face and you decide when I eat
While you're awake I'm impossible, constantly letting you down
Little porcelain figurines, glass bullets you shoot at the wall
Threats of castration for crimes you imagine when I miss your call
With the bite of the teeth of that ring on my finger, I'm bound to your bedside, your eulogy singer
I'd happily take all those bullets inside you and put them inside of myself
"Someone, oh anyone, tell me how to stop this
She's screaming, expiring, and I'm her only witness
I'm freezing, infected, and rigid in that room inside her
No one's going to come as long as I lay still in bed beside her"
The Antlers’ “Atrophy” is a haunting tale of a man who is controlled by the voice inside his head. The singer is speaking to this voice, who has been living in the front of his skull for quite some time now, giving him orders and making him follow rules. This voice has become a part of him, and he has been repeating its speeches, but the audience doesn't follow. The singer feels hollow because he's been omitting words and punctuations.
The voice has taken over so much that the singer has been living in bed and hiding his voice and face. The voice decides when he can eat and sleep, and this control is suffocating. The voice even dreams of him being a criminal, while in waking life, he's seen as impossible and constantly letting the voice down. The voice aims porcelain figurines and glass bullets at the wall, threatening him with castration, even for crimes that have only existed in its imagination. The singer feels bound to this voice, singing its eulogy, even though it tears him apart from inside.
Line by Line Meaning
You've been living a while in the front of my skull, making orders
You've been dominating my thoughts, controlling my every move
You've been writing me rules, shrinking maps and redrawing borders
You've been imposing your will on me, changing the way I see things and limiting my options
I've been repeating your speeches, but the audience just doesn't follow
I've been trying to follow your advice, but it doesn't seem to work for me
Because I'm leaving out words, punctuations, and it sounds pretty hollow
I'm not able to fully express your ideas and it comes across as incomplete and ineffective
I've been living in bed because now you tell me to sleep
You've been dictating my actions, including when I should rest
I've been hiding my voice and my face and you decide when I eat
You've been suppressing my identity and deciding basic necessities like when I should eat
In your dreams I'm a criminal, horrible, sleeping around
In your subconscious, you view me as a problematic person, engaging in promiscuous behavior
While you're awake I'm impossible, constantly letting you down
In your waking life, you find me unattainable and disappointed in my actions
Little porcelain figurines, glass bullets you shoot at the wall
You attack me with fragile objects as a way to express your frustration
Threats of castration for crimes you imagine when I miss your call
You threaten me with severe punishment for perceived wrongdoings that are really just minor mistakes
With the bite of the teeth of that ring on my finger, I'm bound to your bedside, your eulogy singer
I feel trapped in this relationship, committed to you in a way that requires me to praise you even in your death
I'd happily take all those bullets inside you and put them inside of myself
I would take the blame for all of the problems in our relationship, even though they are caused by both of us
"Someone, oh anyone, tell me how to stop this
She's screaming, expiring, and I'm her only witness
I'm freezing, infected, and rigid in that room inside her
No one's going to come as long as I lay still in bed beside her"
I am paralyzed by this relationship and don't know how to fix it, while my partner is struggling and needs help that I can't provide alone
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@snehamaal
Lyrics:
You've been living a while in the front of my skull, making orders
You've been writing me rules, shrinking maps and redrawing borders
I've been repeating your speeches, but the audience just doesn't follow
Because I'm leaving out words, punctuations, and it sounds pretty hollow
I've been living in bed because now you tell me to sleep
I've been hiding my voice and my face and you decide when I eat
In your dreams I'm a criminal, horrible, sleeping around
While you're awake I'm impossible, constantly letting you down
Little porcelain figurines, glass bullets you shoot at the wall
Threats of castration for crimes you imagine when I miss your call
With the bite of the teeth of that ring on my finger, I'm bound to your bedside, your eulogy singer
I'd happily take all those bullets inside you and put them inside of myself
"Someone, oh anyone, tell me how to stop this
She's screaming, expiring, and I'm her only witness
I'm freezing, infected, and rigid in that room inside her
No one's going to come as long as I lay still in bed beside her"
@snehamaal
Lyrics:
You've been living a while in the front of my skull, making orders
You've been writing me rules, shrinking maps and redrawing borders
I've been repeating your speeches, but the audience just doesn't follow
Because I'm leaving out words, punctuations, and it sounds pretty hollow
I've been living in bed because now you tell me to sleep
I've been hiding my voice and my face and you decide when I eat
In your dreams I'm a criminal, horrible, sleeping around
While you're awake I'm impossible, constantly letting you down
Little porcelain figurines, glass bullets you shoot at the wall
Threats of castration for crimes you imagine when I miss your call
With the bite of the teeth of that ring on my finger, I'm bound to your bedside, your eulogy singer
I'd happily take all those bullets inside you and put them inside of myself
"Someone, oh anyone, tell me how to stop this
She's screaming, expiring, and I'm her only witness
I'm freezing, infected, and rigid in that room inside her
No one's going to come as long as I lay still in bed beside her"
@CooperStation01
This album.. Lord have mercy
@micahperry3186
i hear you man. I just found this band this morning, I've been listening to the whole album while in school.
@slimetime850
Been listening to this album/band for years now and I think this is my absolute favorite song. Its so eerie.
@gravepriestess
aaaaand I’m crying.
@youtubeisevil
I love the middle part.
@cincoequinze
Hey people from earth ! I love you ALL in this coment Session. If u r here u r a legend ! Lets Just apreciate this masterpiece and spread love and Hope to our fellas
@MrAntAve
NO
@deehno9018
Yoo I know I'm not the only one that knew there was another variation of this song but now looking everywhere I just cant seem to find it. Could it be that I am...tripping??
@Blueberryfaygodreams
maybe you might have heard a cover? you could try soundcloud by looking up the name and listening to the other ones. hope that helps.