Dusted
Belly Lyrics


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Baby's playing dead in cellar
Gave her water, just got paler
Grass stains, back burns
She's a screamer
She's just dusted, leave her

If you see her, don't upset her
Never seems to get much better
Grass stains, back burns
She's a screamer
She's just dusted, leave her

Her hmm hmm goes to your heart
Her hmm hmm sticks in your head

Baby's playing dead in cellar
Gave her water, just got paler
Grass stains, back burns




She's a screamer
She's just dusted, leave her

Overall Meaning

The first verse of Belly's "Dusted" describes a haunting scene of a baby playing dead in a cellar. The imagery of the "grass stains" and "back burns" indicate that the child may have been mistreated or abused. The singer of the song may have found the child and offered her water, but it only made her appear sicker. The line "she's just dusted, leave her" suggests that the child may have ingested drugs or some kind of substance that caused her condition. The second verse repeats the description of the child's injuries and illness, and warns others not to upset her.


The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the haunting effect of the child's screams and the impact it has on the listener. The "hmm hmm" sound is difficult to ignore and seems to stay with the listener long after the song is over. The repetition of the phrase "she's just dusted, leave her" reinforces the idea that the child is beyond help and that the best thing to do is to let her be.


The mood of the song is eerie and unsettling, and the lyrics suggest a sense of hopelessness and desperation. It is unclear who the singer is or how they are connected to the child, but the emphasis on the child's injuries and condition indicates that it is a serious issue.


Line by Line Meaning

Baby's playing dead in cellar
A woman, perhaps trapped or hiding, is behaving as if she is dead in a cellar.


Gave her water, just got paler
Despite trying to revive her with water, the woman's condition has deteriorated and she appears even more pale.


Grass stains, back burns
There are visible marks or injuries on the woman's body, specifically grass stains and burns on her back.


She's a screamer
The woman is prone to screaming, perhaps indicating distress or pain.


She's just dusted, leave her
The woman is under the influence of drugs and should be left alone.


If you see her, don't upset her
If the woman is encountered, it is advised not to provoke or agitate her.


Never seems to get much better
The woman's condition or situation is seemingly unchanging or stagnant despite attempts to improve it.


Her hmm hmm goes to your heart
The woman's voice or sound affects the listener on an emotional level, touching their heart.


Her hmm hmm sticks in your head
The woman's voice or sound lingers in the listener's mind long after they have heard it.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TANYA DONELLY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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