Bum Bum
Bandshes Lyrics
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of lack of sleep,
the air we breath
is tired of our scent.
And from all that time we spent,
how much of it was wasted?
I've got a bag full of notebooks
They're my attempts at beauty,
my attempts at understanding.
My attempts,
my attempts,
how many of them failures?
Well if you believe it,
then I guess it's true to you,
well if you believe it
then I guess it's true to you.
It's these people
all around me.
These people,
they destroy me.
These people,
all crumbling too;
destroying our world,
these people.
Well if you believe it,
then I guess it's true to you,
well if you believe it
then I guess it's true to you.
Who am I to say otherwise?
In "Bum Bum," Bandshes describes a sense of exhaustion and disillusionment in the world around her. The house in which she finds herself "reeks of lack of sleep," suggesting a place where people have been worn down by the pressures of everyday life. The air is "tired of our scent," perhaps a metaphor for the way we have polluted the environment with our constant activity and consumption. All of the time we have spent, Bandshes wonders how much of it was actually wasted, suggesting that we may be running in circles without any real direction or purpose.
The singer then references a bag full of notebooks full of words she's strung together, which are her attempts at creating something beautiful or finding understanding in the world around her. But she questions how many of those attempts have been failures, hinting at a sense of self-doubt or a feeling that her efforts may be in vain. The refrain "if you believe it, then I guess it's true to you" reinforces the idea that our perceptions of reality are subjective and can be shaped by our beliefs.
The song then turns to the people around her, who "destroy" her and are "all crumbling too." This may be a commentary on the way societal pressures and expectations can wear people down and lead to a sense of hopelessness or despair. The final line, "who am I to say otherwise?" suggests a feeling of powerlessness or resignation in the face of these larger forces.
Line by Line Meaning
This house reeks
The atmosphere in this living space is not pleasant
of lack of sleep,
There is an apparent lack of rest or restful environment here
the air we breath
The air quality in this environment is not favorable
is tired of our scent.
The air in the room has an unpleasant smell due to our presence
And from all that time we spent,
We have spent a lot of time together
how much of it was wasted?
We question how much of that time was useful
I've got a bag full of notebooks
I have a collection of notebooks
full of words I've strung together.
These pages are filled with my attempts at creating something beautiful
They're my attempts at beauty,
The words I have written aim to capture something aesthetically pleasing
my attempts at understanding.
These writings also aim to capture something meaningful or insightful
My attempts,
These pages are the result of my efforts
my attempts,
These pages document my attempts at creating something meaningful or beautiful
how many of them failures?
I question how many of my attempts fell short of my goals
Well if you believe it,
If you choose to believe something, it becomes true for you
then I guess it's true to you,
Your perception of reality is subjective
It's these people
The people around me
all around me.
The people I interact with or observe
These people,
The individuals around me
they destroy me.
Their actions or behavior negatively affect me
These people,
The individuals around me
all crumbling too;
Their own lives or circumstances may also be in a state of disarray
destroying our world,
Their actions or impact contribute to the destruction of our society or environment
these people.
The individuals around me
Who am I to say otherwise?
I acknowledge that I may not have the authority or capacity to offer a different perspective
Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.