The Bride Wore White
Blades Lyrics


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There are a lot of things, a lot of us are scared to mention

Of pain and breaking down and silly rules we call to measure

The open secret quickly turn to an ugly rumour

Another scandal
Living in a world that makes me sad

I’m living in a world that makes me dream

I’m living in a world that makes me mad

This world makes me scream

He hopes, she thinks

There’s no danger

Turn out the light

Happy couples

Who’s that stranger?

The bride wore white

Donations handed out, somebody else’s poor relations

Try to be absent when they’re giving out the invitations

In sickness and in health, in poverty or deep depression

What could be better?

Living in a world that makes me sad

I’m living in a world that makes me dream

I’m living in a world that makes me mad

This world makes me scream

He hopes, she thinks

There’s no danger

Turn out the light

Happy couples

Who’s that stranger?

The bride wore white

He drinks, she shows no resistance

It’s cold tonight

Girl, boy

Who cares? What’s the difference?





The bride wore white x3

Overall Meaning

In "The Bride Wore White," Blades discusses the many fears and insecurities that come with living in a society where scandal and rumor run rampant. He brings to light the pain of breaking down and the pressure to conform to societal expectations, represented by the "silly rules we call to measure." The open secret becomes an ugly rumor, and people are quick to judge and condemn. Even the happy couples are not immune to the dangers of this world, with strangers lurking in the shadows.


Blades then turns his attention to the wedding ceremony, where social status and wealth often dictate who is invited and who is not. Those who are less fortunate may try to avoid the situation altogether, knowing they will feel out of place or unwanted. The vows recited by the bride and groom promise to stay together through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, but Blades questions whether this is really the best option. Living in a world where sadness, dreams, madness, and screams are all too common, is there really any hope for a successful marriage?


Overall, "The Bride Wore White" is a melancholic reflection on the difficulties and complexities of modern society. It delves into the fears and insecurities that exist just beneath the surface, and highlights the struggles of trying to live up to societal expectations while maintaining one's own sense of self.


Line by Line Meaning

There are a lot of things, a lot of us are scared to mention
Many of us fear speaking about things like pain, vulnerability, and societal expectations and norms.


Of pain and breaking down and silly rules we call to measure
Some of the fears we have are related to enduring hardship and the rigid standards we feel the need to conform to.


The open secret quickly turn to an ugly rumour
Information that is known by many people can easily become distorted or malicious gossip.


Another scandal
The occurrence of scandalous events is not uncommon, and the cycle may repeat itself.


Living in a world that makes me sad
The state of the world can be disheartening and cause negative emotions such as sadness.


I’m living in a world that makes me dream
Despite the negativity in the world, there is still room for hope and aspirations.


I’m living in a world that makes me mad
The injustices and wrongs in the world can also provoke anger and frustration.


This world makes me scream
The state of the world can be so overwhelming that one may feel the need to express it through vocal protest.


He hopes, she thinks
The perspectives of two people can differ despite being in the same situation.


There’s no danger
One may perceive a situation as non-threatening despite the possibility of risks.


Turn out the light
The physical act of turning off a light can symbolize the ending of a certain period or phase.


Happy couples
The societal standard of a romantic partnership being the key to happiness and fulfillment.


Who’s that stranger?
One may question the identity or motives of someone who is unfamiliar or out of place in a certain situation.


The bride wore white
The traditional garb of a bride on her wedding day.


Donations handed out, somebody else’s poor relations
Charitable donations can be given to those who are not directly related, and are seen as financially struggling.


Try to be absent when they’re giving out the invitations
One may try to avoid being left out or rejected by not partaking in social gatherings or events.


In sickness and in health, in poverty or deep depression
The vows one utters during a marriage, pledging to stand by their partner during both good times and bad.


What could be better?
Rhetorical questioning of the idea that a life partnership and marriage is the ultimate goal, and perhaps the reality is not as perfect as it seems.


He drinks, she shows no resistance
A gendered power dynamic and expectation that men should drink alcohol and women should not show opposition or assertiveness.


It’s cold tonight
A statement about the physical environment, but can also symbolize an emotional or interpersonal distance between people.


Girl, boy
A simple and reductive way to refer to people, reducing them to their gender identity rather than their full personhood.


Who cares? What’s the difference?
A rhetorical question asking the listener to consider why gender or social expectations matter, and that people should be accepted regardless of those labels.




Lyrics © Reekus Music Ireland, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul Cleary

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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