"Bradley has a distinct voice that stands out and sticks with you the same way Nate Ruess' (Fun.) does. The song is infectious, playful, and just pleasing to the senses." - Buzznet
"Barely Blind relocated from Texas to Los Angeles to secure their musical destinies. Barely Blind is unlike most bands who do a geographic and nothing changes for them…this band truly has a bright future in front of them" - Daily Unsigned
"A talented and hard working bunch of guys that are a pleasure to work with" - producer Pierre De Reeder (Death Cab For Cutie, Vampire Weekend, Tokyo Police Club)
Pariah
Barely Blind Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Floating empty down a street
Your heart is just an organ
Nothing profound about it
So do what you think
We'll make you fail
As close to a human as people like you could be
Lily, you're the best
You showed me what a waste I've made
Of most everything
And honestly, I'd like to say that
The way you move, it makes me sick
What an awful mess you've made
You're the one
That burned my castle down
You gotta go right now
And you're not sorry
I was faced with opportunity
You gotta go right now
You gotta get away from me
Could I strap you to a street sign?
And stretch you till your skin grows cold
Till your bones explode
Cause you need it now
I'm not one to think like this
I'm usually not aware of myself
Or the things I say
So do what you think
We'll make you fail
As close to a human as people like you can…
You're the one
That burned my castle down
You gotta go right now
And you're not sorry
I was faced with opportunity
You gotta go right now
You gotta get away from me
Pariah
Pariah
Pariah
Pariah
Pariah!
Your soul is just a vessel
Floating empty down a street
Your heart is just an organ
Nothing profound about it
Wanna strap you to a street sign
Nail you to the street
Well this is what you wanted
Baby, wanted, baby
You're the one
That burned my castle down
You gotta go right now
And you're not sorry
Yeaaaaaaaa
I was faced with opportunity
You gotta go right now
You gotta get away from me
You gotta get away from me
You gotta get away from me
Cause you're not sorr
The lyrics to Barely Blind's song "Pariah" are intense, with a mix of anger, frustration, and contemplation. The singer seems to be addressing someone who they feel has wronged them and is now a pariah or outcast. The lines "Your soul is just a vessel/Floating empty down a street/Your heart is just an organ/Nothing profound about it" dehumanizes the person they are talking to, reducing them to mere physical components rather than acknowledging their humanity. The singer's anger increases as they contemplate the actions of this person, saying "You're the one/That burned my castle down/You gotta go right now/And you're not sorry." They seem to be seething with rage towards this person, vowing to get them away from them at all costs.
However, in the middle of the song, the tone shifts as the singer addresses someone named Lily, seemingly someone who has helped them see the error in their ways. They say "Lily, you're the best/You showed me what a waste I've made/Of most everything" and seem to express some regret over how they have treated people in the past. But then, the song shifts back to its angry tone with the repeated refrain of "You gotta go right now/You gotta get away from me."
Overall, the song seems to be grappling with themes of anger, regret, and the dehumanization of others. The singer seems to be both condemning someone for their actions and acknowledging their own flaws and mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
Your soul is just a vessel
The essence of your being is simply a temporary container
Floating empty down a street
Your existence feels aimless and void
Your heart is just an organ
Your emotions and feelings are reduced to mechanical processes
Nothing profound about it
There is no depth or substance behind your actions or intentions
So do what you think
Act based on your own judgment and impulses
We'll make you fail
We will ensure your downfall and defeat
As close to a human as people like you could be
You are barely capable of being considered human
Lily, you're the best
You are exceptional, Lily
You showed me what a waste I've made
You made me realize how much of my life I've wasted
Of most everything
Of most aspects of my life
And honestly, I'd like to say that
In all honesty, I want to express that
The way you move, it makes me sick
Your actions and behavior disgust me
What an awful mess you've made
You have caused a terrible chaos and disaster
You're the one
You are responsible
That burned my castle down
You destroyed what I held dear
You gotta go right now
You need to leave immediately
And you're not sorry
You have no remorse
I was faced with opportunity
I had a choice to make
Could I strap you to a street sign?
Is it possible for me to tie you to a signpost?
And stretch you till your skin grows cold
And pull your body until your skin feels cold and numb
Till your bones explode
Until your bones break and shatter
Cause you need it now
Because you deserve it
I'm not one to think like this
Normally, this type of thoughts does not cross my mind
I'm usually not aware of myself
I am usually not conscious of my own behavior or thoughts
Or the things I say
Or the impact of my words on others
Wanna strap you to a street sign
I desire to tie you up in public
Nail you to the street
I want to fasten you to the ground with nails
Well this is what you wanted
This is the consequence of your actions
Baby, wanted, baby
You asked for it
Pariah
Social outcast
Yeaaaaaaaa
Exclamation of anger or frustration
You gotta get away from me
You need to distance yourself from me
Cause you're not sorry
You have no remorse
Contributed by Callie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.