Semi-Mental
Biffy Clyro Lyrics
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To numb the pain and stop the world spinning round and round
But how was I to know that in my mind I'm not so pure?
Look into my eyes, you can see I'm many different people
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
I force it down to throw it up and start all over again
But I will climb a tower just to stick my flag on top
And look down on everyone, help me to salute the people
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
You have tried to resist the pain but you know you're not alone
But you know you're not alone
I have tried to resist the pain but now I'm all alone
And now I'm all alone
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
Biffy Clyro's song "Semi-Mental" is a haunting and powerful song that touches on the themes of substance abuse, mental health struggles, and the search for salvation. The lyrics describe the singer's reliance on drugs and alcohol to numb their pain and quiet their mind. They express a feeling of being fractured into many different selves, unable to find a center or a sense of clarity.
The refrain, "You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental," can be interpreted in a few different ways. On one hand, it could be read as a message of gratitude or love to someone who has helped the singer see their way through the darkness. On the other hand, the line could be read with a sense of irony, as if to say that the singer has seen something they cannot unsee and is now doomed to see the world through an overly sentimental lens.
Overall, the song is bleak and melancholy, but with a glimmer of hope or desperation near the end. It's an evocative meditation on the ways in which we struggle to cope with our pain and our demons, and the fleeting moments of grace or redemption that can help us carry on.
Line by Line Meaning
I smoke my face in, night after night
I consistently smoke drugs to escape from life's difficulties and challenges.
To numb the pain and stop the world spinning round and round
I use drugs to numb emotional pain and stop the constant chaos of life from overwhelming me.
But how was I to know that in my mind I'm not so pure?
I did not realize that my drug use would lead me to question my morals and my own sense of self.
Look into my eyes, you can see I'm many different people
If you look closely, you will see that I have different personas and emotional states within me.
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
You have positively impacted my life and now I am filled with emotion and nostalgia.
I'm not a drinker, I try it every night
I do not consider myself a drinker, but still consume alcohol every night.
I force it down to throw it up and start all over again
I drink to the point of vomiting in order to experience the feeling of starting over.
But I will climb a tower just to stick my flag on top
I will go to great lengths to assert my dominance or proclaim my achievements.
And look down on everyone, help me to salute the people
From my elevated position, I want to symbolically greet and acknowledge those below me.
You have tried to resist the pain but you know you're not alone
You have made efforts to overcome emotional pain, and though it may seem isolating, remember that others share this struggle.
I have tried to resist the pain but now I'm all alone
I have attempted to overcome my emotional pain, but now feel disconnected from others.
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
Your impact on my life has evoked deep feelings of sentimentality and longing.
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
Your impact on my life has evoked deep feelings of sentimentality and longing.
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
Your impact on my life has evoked deep feelings of sentimentality and longing.
You shone a light on my life, now I'm just sentimental
Your impact on my life has evoked deep feelings of sentimentality and longing.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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Ravver
man I listened to this a lot in 2007 when they dropped this as a single before the album, absolute banger.
William Randle
2 year anniversary of my mates death, this song and the album in general, got me through. You shone a light on my life Oz.
Red Letters Tv
Such a great track!
Marvel And Music Fan
It is.
Bradley Roe
This is my favourite song but never heard it live ☹️
Sandy Nekic
They NEED to post a Live VERSION of this song in HD .. It rocks :)
Fae Utero
love the song! love the video! love biffy clyro!
Ted Ryan
this should have so many more views...
Tomás Benjamín GM
fr
A
HAIL THE BIFFY!!!!!!!!!! seen them soooooooooo many times, and got 2 more tickets between now and november. yeh boiiiiii; the best band to have ever existed :-P