Breathe Deeply
Bird York Lyrics


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Girl scattered
Ripped to pieces by her brother's murder
One thought too many
One thought too much

Her gentle levy burst
Lives with her mother in a basement
With their seventeen years of blame
Can't stop the knawing

"I should have's" clawing
It is the circle of her pain
Breathe deeply you're not alone
Breathe deeply now

Breathe deeply he's safe with god
Rest your head now
She has no father, no hero husband
To help her gather her ends

So she imagines the dj loves her
Lives for the music he spins
Radio humming, two fingers drumming
Over the red scar bracelet she once made

Her mind keeps playing her brothers slaying
And she's scattering once again
Breathe deeply you're not alone
Breathe deeply now

Breathe deeply he's safe with god
Rest your head now
She says, "I dream, I dream about him
He is lost and all alone

How can I sleep until I free him"
She keeps stumbling under the weight of his ghost
Breathe deeply you're not alone
Breathe deeply now

Breathe deeply he's safe with god
Rest your head now
Breathe deeply you're not alone
Breathe deeply now

Breathe deeply he's safe with god
Rest your head now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bird York's "Breathe Deeply" tells the story of a girl who is struggling to cope with the trauma of her brother's murder. Her mental state is unraveling, and she feels the weight of guilt and regret for things she could have done differently. The song describes her living in a basement with her mother, where the haunting memories of her brother's death constantly plague her mind. She has no father or husband to help support her through this difficult time.


The song speaks to the idea of trauma, loss, and how we respond to these difficult situations. The girl in the song is struggling to come to terms with her brother's death and is feeling lost and alone. However, the song provides a sense of hope, with the repeated chorus of "Breathe deeply, you're not alone," suggesting that even in the darkest of times, there is still a way forward.


Overall, "Breathe Deeply" is a poignant and deeply emotional song that captures the pain and complexity of trauma and loss. It provides a powerful message of hope and resilience, reminding us that even in the midst of pain and suffering, we can find a path forward.


Line by Line Meaning

Girl scattered
The girl is emotionally overwhelmed and scattered.


Ripped to pieces by her brother's murder
The girl's mental state is torn apart by the traumatic experience of her brother's murder.


One thought too many
The girl's mind is racing with too many thoughts to handle.


One thought too much
The girl's mind is consumed with one thought that is too much for her to bear.


Her gentle levy burst
The girl's emotional walls have broken down and she is overwhelmed by her feelings.


Lives with her mother in a basement
The girl and her mother live in a difficult and challenging environment.


With their seventeen years of blame
The girl and her mother have spent many years blaming themselves for what happened to the brother.


Can't stop the knawing
The girl cannot escape the painful feeling that is gnawing at her.


"I should have's" clawing
The girl is tormented by thoughts of "should haves" and what she could have done differently.


It is the circle of her pain
The girl is trapped in a vicious cycle of pain and suffering.


Breathe deeply you're not alone
The song offers a message of comfort and hope, urging the girl to take deep breaths and remember she is not alone.


Breathe deeply now
The song encourages the girl to take immediate action and focus on her breathing.


Breathe deeply he's safe with god
The song implies that the girl's brother is in a better place and she should take comfort in that.


Rest your head now
The song suggests that the girl should try to relax and rest her head, even in the midst of her pain.


She has no father, no hero husband
The girl has no male figure in her life to help guide and support her.


To help her gather her ends
The girl has no one to help her put her life back together and find direction.


So she imagines the dj loves her
The girl creates a fantasy world where a DJ loves her and she finds solace in music.


Lives for the music he spins
Music is the one thing that brings the girl joy and helps her cope with her pain.


Radio humming, two fingers drumming
The girl taps her fingers and hums along to a song playing on the radio.


Over the red scar bracelet she once made
The girl fidgets with a red bracelet she made, which reminds her of her brother's death.


Her mind keeps playing her brothers slaying
The girl cannot get the image of her brother's murder out of her mind.


And she's scattering once again
The girl begins to feel overwhelmed and scattered once again.


She says, "I dream, I dream about him
The girl confesses that she has dreams about her brother, which keep her from finding peace.


He is lost and all alone
The girl's dream portrays her brother as lost and alone, which adds to her grief.


How can I sleep until I free him"
The girl is determined to find a way to free her brother from her dreams and her grief.


She keeps stumbling under the weight of his ghost
The girl feels weighed down by the memory of her brother and cannot find a way to move on.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@shirinf333

Thought you had
all the answers
to rest your heart upon.
But something happens,
don't see it coming, now
you can't stop yourself.
Now you're out there swimming...
In the deep.
In the deep.

Life keeps tumbling your heart in circles
till you... Let go.
Till you shed your pride, and you climb to heaven,
and you throw yourself off.
Now you're out there spinning...
In the deep.
In the deep.
In the deep.
In the deep.

And now you're out there spinning...
And now you're out there spinning...
In the deep.
In the deep.
In the deep.

In the silence,
all your secrets, will
raise their worried heads.
Well, you can pin yourself back together,
to who you thought you were.
Now you're out there livin'...
In the deep.
In the deep.
In the deep.

In the deep...

Now you're out there spinning...
Now you're out there swimming...
Now you're out there spinning...
In the deep.
In the deep.
In the deep.
In the deep...



All comments from YouTube:

@PeterDitto-k2v

I've wanted this song 🎵 sung at my burial since 2005! Peter D.

@davidmachado432

The movie Crash really brings this song and performance home to its real meaning to me.

@gtbwi

Why does this song make me cry every time I hear it?? I'm a 50 year old working stiff!!! But it just gets me every single time....it's so beautiful.....

@patriciobeiza6428

it's because your wounds have not healed yet, the memory of what hurt you is still alive and that song reminds you of that. try to listen after this song some other that gives you hope and heal your wounds, hopes of better times and so live happily. is my advice to you my friend

@glenninskeep7523

@@patriciobeiza6428 She was the woman of my dreams and she broke my heart.

@creatinganewworld

@@glenninskeep7523 she does'nt broke your heart, she reminds you of your unhealed wounds... u should heal yourself ❤

@pleganter1313

I know exactly what you mean. I'm 70 years old and listening to it makes me cry. I don't know why.

@cherls15

@@pleganter1313 reading that you are 70 and that you are so moved by this song has moved me now. You touched my heart today.

3 More Replies...

@kenanderson637

Beautiful, beautiful voice, lyrics, piano, composition, beautiful song.

@raevenphillips417

Yes must see with the House Season 2 Episode 2 “Autopsy” to fully appreciate this. It helped tonight. Thx! - Steven

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