source:Bargain Music's Myspace
Crank
Bargain Music Lyrics
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And promised me she wouldn't cry
I said something
I don't remember what
But she made a face like hitler
Turned around and ran away
It was just like when I met her
Nothings changed much since that day
She gets by on codeine
Says it helps her when she sleeps
I got by on knowing
At least I didn't make her flesh green
I like the color of her eyes
She always so cheap
A pretty crank when she would vise
She's so cruel
When she shines
She's so cool
In her mind
The lyrics to Bargain Music's song "Crank" depict a relationship that is strained and troubled, and the aftermath of a breakup. The singer begins by stating that his partner has said goodbye and promised not to cry, and he admits that he said something to her but can't recall what. The image of his partner's reaction to his words, with her face contorting like Hitler's, is jarring and unsettling. The fact that the singer can't remember what he said suggests that tension and bad communication are underlying problems in the relationship. The line "it was just like when I met her" implies a sense of stagnation in their relationship, as if they never really progressed beyond the initial stage of infatuation.
Later in the song, the singer describes his partner's reliance on codeine, which he believes helps her sleep. In contrast, he says that he "got by on knowing" that he didn't make her "flesh green," suggesting some sort of toxic or harmful behavior on his end. It's unclear what this means, but it adds to the overall sense of dysfunction and toxicity in the relationship. The singer also has mixed feelings about his partner, admiring the color of her eyes but derisively describing her as a "pretty crank." The final lines of the song refer to his partner's cruelty and also her coolness, perhaps suggesting that these traits are intertwined and that she uses her emotional distance as a way of lashing out.
Overall, "Crank" portrays a relationship that is marked by poor communication, emotional distance, substance abuse, and a sense of being stuck in an unhealthy pattern. The singer seems to have some degree of self-awareness about his own shortcomings, but he also appears resigned to the fact that nothing has really changed in their dynamic. The song is a bleak but compelling portrayal of a relationship on the brink.
Line by Line Meaning
She said goodbye
The girl broke up with the singer, causing him pain.
And promised me she wouldn't cry
The girl promised not to cry, but the singer isn't sure if she kept that promise.
I said something
The singer spoke but doesn't remember what he said.
I don't remember what
The singer forgot what he said, indicating his emotional state at the time.
But she made a face like hitler
The girl made an angry and contorted expression that reminded the singer of Hitler.
Turned around and ran away
The girl left the situation quickly, leaving the singer to deal with his emotions.
It was just like when I met her
The negative experience was reminiscent of when the singer first met the girl.
Nothings changed much since that day
The implied meaning is that the singer's relationship with the girl has always been unstable or inconsistent.
She gets by on codeine
The girl uses codeine to help her sleep.
Says it helps her when she sleeps
The girl believes codeine helps her sleep better.
I got by on knowing
The singer found solace in his own understanding of the situation.
At least I didn't make her flesh green
The singer is relieved that he didn't harm the girl physically.
I like the color of her eyes
The singer is still drawn to the girl and finds her attractive.
She always so cheap
The girl is often easy to manipulate or use sexually.
A pretty crank when she would vise
The girl is attractive and alluring when using drugs, specifically the vise-like tool.
She's so cruel
The girl can behave in a hurtful and malicious manner.
When she shines
The girl is self-assured and confident.
She's so cool
The girl has a magnetic and alluring presence.
In her mind
The attractiveness and allure of the girl is perhaps a facade, only existing in her own thoughts.
Contributed by Ian H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.