Years Ago
BLACK MIDI Lyrics
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Put me in a
Years ago they tried to throw me in a payphone
All I made was a penny and a black eye, ba ba ba
A pen and a black swan came and took my
Years ago they tried to cut me with a chainsaw
I drowned my own son in a cold river
Jammed my head in a generator, ba ba ba
Do do widzenia proszę
Dja dja dja dja dja Dziękuję
Do do do widzenia
Dja dja dja dja dja Dziękuję
The lyrics of BLACK MIDI's song Years Ago paint a dark and disturbing picture of a person who has been subjected to various forms of torture and abuse. The first stanza refers to an attempt to put the singer in a payphone, which resulted in them being left with only a penny and a black eye. The second stanza describes an even more harrowing experience involving a chainsaw with the singer having only a pen and crayon to defend themselves. The final lines of the second stanza refer to drowning their own son in a cold river and jamming their head into a generator.
The lyrics of this song suggest a deep-seated sense of pain and trauma. The singer is likely using music as a cathartic tool to express the feelings of anger, despair, and helplessness that they have experienced throughout their life. The repeated sounds of "ba ba ba" create an eerie and unsettling atmosphere, underscoring the darkness of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Years ago they tried to throw me in a payphone
In the past, they attempted to trap and confine me in a small and outdated public telephone booth.
All I made was a penny and a black eye, ba ba ba
Despite my circumstances, all I was able to obtain was a single cent and a bruised eye due to the violence inflicted upon me.
A pen and a black swan came and took my
Suddenly, a writing tool and a mysterious black bird appeared and took possession of something that belonged to me.
Years ago they tried to cut me with a chainsaw
In the past, they tried to harm and mutilate me with a dangerous cutting tool.
All I had was pen and a crayon, ba ba ba ba ba
At that time, my only possessions were a writing instrument and a wax drawing tool, leaving me defenseless against my attackers.
I drowned my own son in a cold river
Regrettably, I caused the death of my own child by immersing them in a frigid body of water.
Jammed my head in a generator, ba ba ba
I intentionally put my own head into a machine that generates electrical power, likely as an act of self-harm.
Do do widzenia proszę
A polite way to say goodbye in Polish, which may or may not have relevance to the song's overall meaning.
Dja dja dja dja dja Dziękuję
A repeated phrase that likely has no literal translation, but possibly serves as a vocalization for the song's upbeat, frantic tone.
Do do do widzenia
Another farewell in Polish, again possibly having no direct correlation to the rest of the song.
Dja dja dja dja dja Dziękuję
Repeating the same vocalization as before, likely to maintain the song's frenzied energy until the end.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Morgan Simpson, Cameron Overeynder, Geordie Greep, Matthew Anthony Kwasniwski-Kelvin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind