Round and Round
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti (Hood Internet Remix) Lyrics

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It's always the same as always
Sad and tongue tied
It's got a memory and refrain

I'm afraid, you're afraid
And we die and we live
And we're born again
Turn me inside out

What can I say?

(Merry go round)
Up and around we go
Round and around we go

Break down, break down

You play air guitars for a fan
And I, I'll play the eardrums in the band
And I'll back you up as your frontman

"Hello? Oh, hi"
Now that sounds right frontman
Write the songs that say, "I like that!"

Hold on, I'm calling, calling back to the Bowl
And we'll dazzle them all, hold on

Pick up the phone
And I'll want to go home now

(Merry go round)
Up and around we go
Round and around we go

Lady come on Lee, set me free
Come on me!

Sentimental heartbreaking
Everything is my fault.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Round and Round" by Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti address themes of memory, fear, life, and death. The repetition of "It's always the same as always" and "Round and around we go" illustrate the cyclical nature of life and its monotony. The singer is "sad and tongue-tied" which could represent feelings of uncertainty and anxiety.

The phrase "Turn me inside out, what can I say?" suggests vulnerability and a desire to be understood. The chorus is structured like a metaphorical merry-go-round, which signifies the circular nature of life: people go round and round, continuously experiencing the same things before ultimately dying and being born again.

The second verse seems to be addressing the role of a performer and the pressure to succeed. The lines "Write the songs that say, 'I like that!'" and "I'll back you up as your frontman" suggest the pressure to be commercially successful and to create music that appeals to fans. The bridge is a conversation on the phone where the singer appears to be calling somebody for assurance that they'll "dazzle them all" at a performance. The line "Lady come on Lee, set me free" could be understood as the artist calling for inspiration or creativity, or perhaps as an attempt to escape the pressure of the industry.

Overall, the song could be understood as a meditation on the challenges of being an artist, the fear and monotony of everyday life, and the desire for freedom.

Line by Line Meaning

It's always the same as always
Life seems to be predictable and mundane.

Sad and tongue-tied
Miserable and unable to express oneself.

It's got a memory and refrain
It has a repetitive and unforgettable nature.

I'm afraid, you're afraid
We both have fears and worries.

And we die and we live
We experience both life and death.

And we're born again
We begin anew despite experiencing pain and suffering.

Turn me inside out
Expose my innermost self.

What can I say?
I don't know how to express myself.

Up and around we go
Life is a continuous cycle, like a merry go round.

Round and around we go
We experience the same things over and over again.

Break down, break down
Everything falls apart.