Shadow Puppets
Bracket Lyrics


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Shadow puppets on the wall
Comfort to me when I call
Everyone thinks I'm insane
My shadow puppets think the same

But, they are my friends
And they don't follow senseless trends
And they have a mind of their own
They all give me company
They ___________________

Shadow puppets on my wall
Comfort to me when I call
People think that I'm insane
My shadow puppets are to blame

But, I'm startin' to find
That they gain control of my mind
So they can remind everyone
They always seem to understand
What I'm doing with my hands
They __________________

I like how girls stick around(?) (x3)

Shadow puppets on my wall
Comfort to me when I call
Everyone thinks I'm insane
My shadow puppets play the game

But, they're dying to be/pee(?)
And, if they want, I'll set them free
So, they can have a life of their own

Every girl ________________ ways




I'll be lonely for the rest of my days
And, I will dream of yesterday

Overall Meaning

The song Shadow Puppets by the American rock band Bracket is about the singer's imaginary friends, the shadow puppets, who bring him comfort and companionship. The first verse talks about how people around him think he's insane for talking to imaginary friends, but he finds solace in the fact that his shadow puppets are his true friends who don't judge him based on senseless trends. He finds that they have a mind of their own and all of them give him company.


The second verse brings in a twist where the singer realizes that his imaginary friends might be controlling his mind. He finds that they always seem to understand what he's doing with his hands, and he's starting to lose control over his thoughts. He likes how they stick around, but he's starting to feel like they're not his friends anymore but maybe more like a part of him. He's confused about this and wants to set them free, so they can have a life of their own.


The third verse suggests that the singer might be in a relationship, but he's struggling to keep up with the girl's ways. He's lonely and finds comfort in dreaming of the past, where he had his shadow puppets as his friends. The song ends on a melancholic note, where the singer comes to terms with the fact that he might never be able to get over his imaginary friends and his past.


Line by Line Meaning

Shadow puppets on the wall
The singer uses shadow puppets on the wall as a source of comfort.


Comfort to me when I call
The shadow puppets provide the singer with emotional solace.


Everyone thinks I'm insane
The singer feels judged by others, but finds understanding from their shadow puppets.


My shadow puppets think the same
The shadow puppets understand the artist's perspective and support them.


But, they are my friends
The artist considers the shadow puppets as companions.


And they don't follow senseless trends
The singer feels disconnected from external cultural norms, but the shadow puppets are not affected by them.


And they have a mind of their own
The singer perceives the shadow puppets as individuals with unique personalities and thoughts.


They all give me company
The artist finds comfort in the company of the shadow puppets.


They
The artist implies that the shadow puppets will always offer understanding and support.


But, I'm startin' to find
The artist realizes that they might be losing control over their thoughts and actions to the shadow puppets.


That they gain control of my mind
The shadow puppets start to influence the singer's perception, changing their perspective.


So they can remind everyone
The shadow puppets want others to recognize the artist's position.


They always seem to understand
The singer perceives the shadow puppets as better understanders of the singer's emotions than people.


What I'm doing with my hands
The singer uses their hands to control the shadow puppets as a form of self-expression.


They
The singer indicates that the shadow puppets offer comfort during solitude.


I like how girls stick around(?) (x3)
The artist might be using the phrase to express their discomfort around people and prefer the company of the shadow puppets over others.


People think that I'm insane
The artist feels misunderstood by society as they do not accept their way of processing emotions.


My shadow puppets are to blame
The singer expresses responsibility for relying too much on the shadow puppets for emotional support.


But, I'm starting to find
The singer realizes that their relationship with the shadow puppets has deteriorated and is causing emotional distress.


That they gain control of my mind
The shadow puppets start to commandeer the artist's mind and influence their perspective.


So they can remind everyone
The shadow puppets want others to recognize the artist's perspective.


They always seem to understand
The artist perceives the shadow puppets as better support specialists than humans.


What I'm doing with my hands
The singer realizes that using the shadow puppets is causing them to lose touch with the real world.


They
The artist implies that the shadow puppets are their only reliable support system.


But, they're dying to be/pee(?)
The singer projects their desire to be free of their over-reliance on the shadow puppets onto the shadow puppets.


And, if they want, I'll set them free
The singer offers the shadow puppets the freedom to leave, indicating the singer's willingness to change.


So, they can have a life of their own
The singer desires to free the shadow puppets from captivity so that they may live independently.


Every girl ________________ ways
The artist externalizes feelings of alienation from society and desires acceptance from others.


I'll be lonely for the rest of my days
The artist worries that their over-reliance on the shadow puppets will lead to permanent isolation from others.


And, I will dream of yesterday
The singer's desire to live in the past suggests emotional turmoil and regret over their current situation.




Contributed by Jordyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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