Me the Thief
Braves Lyrics


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Standing on a poor man's fortune
Riding out to greet the four horsemen
Death is in defeat
Bringing us back to life
You stole the keys from the warden
Cagebirds singing for the orphans
Zombies in the street
Bringing us back to life

Love
I can't explain it
I gotta taste it
To know it's real
Yeah, I know it's real
Love
I can't restrain it
You can't mistake it
You know it's real

Yeah, you know it's real

Deserted on the bottom of the ocean
Like castles that have never been broken
Rusting as you preach
Bringing us back to life
Tangled in the roots of the garden
I shook the devil's hand for a bargain
Said to me the thief
See you in paradise
Love
I can't explain it
I gotta taste it
To know it's real
Yeah, I know it's real
Love
I can't restrain it
You can't mistake it
You know it's real
Yeah, you know it's real

Love
I can't explain it
I gotta taste it
To know it's real
Yeah, I know it's real
Love
I can't restrain it
You can't mistake it
You know it's real
Yeah, you know it's real

Love
I can't explain it
I gotta taste it
To know it's real
Yeah, I know it's real
Love
I can't restrain it
You can't mistake it




You know it's real
Yeah, you know it's real

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Braves' song Me the Thief describe a journey of self-discovery and rebirth, filled with images of death and decay alongside hope and love. The singer finds themselves standing on a "poor man's fortune," a metaphor for the fragility and instability of their current situation. They ride out to "greet the four horsemen," which represents the inevitability of death and the singer's willingness to face it. However, death is defeated in the end, "bringing us back to life" and leading us to believe in the cyclical nature of existence.


The singer then describes a series of contrasting images, such as the "cagebirds singing for the orphans" versus the "zombies in the street." These images highlight the idea that amidst the ugliness and despair of life, there is also beauty and hope. The singer affirms the power of love to bring them back to life, stating that they can't explain it or restrain it but they know it's real.


The final lines of the song reference the biblical story of the thief on the cross who is promised paradise by Jesus despite his life of crime. The singer has clearly struggled with temptation and darkness, shaking the devil's hand for a bargain, but they believe in the possibility of redemption and salvation. The overarching theme of Me the Thief is the power of love and hope to conquer even the most daunting challenges and to bring us back to life.


Line by Line Meaning

Standing on a poor man's fortune
Despite having very little, we are still able to stand tall


Riding out to greet the four horsemen
We are facing danger head-on and aren't afraid to take on any challenges


Death is in defeat
Even in defeat, there is a sense of finality and closure


Bringing us back to life
Despite encountering obstacles, we are able to continue forward and push through


You stole the keys from the warden
We are breaking free from institutionalized control and taking matters into our own hands


Cagebirds singing for the orphans
Those who have been oppressed are beginning to find their voice and advocate for themselves


Zombies in the street
The world can sometimes feel surreal, but we keep moving forward


Love I can't explain it I gotta taste it To know it's real Yeah, I know it's real
Love is something that can't be fully explained or understood until it's experienced firsthand


Love I can't restrain it You can't mistake it You know it's real Yeah, you know it's real
Love is a force that cannot be tamed or faked, and it's undeniable when it's present


Deserted on the bottom of the ocean
Feeling isolated and alone, cut off from the rest of the world


Like castles that have never been broken
Some things may seem invincible or unbreakable, but everything has its weaknesses


Rusting as you preach
Even those who seem righteous may have hidden flaws or corrupt intentions


Tangled in the roots of the garden
Feeling stuck or trapped in a situation that seems to have no way out


I shook the devil's hand for a bargain
Making deals with the devil may seem like a good idea in the moment, but they often come with a heavy cost


Said to me the thief See you in paradise
Despite the sins we may have committed, there is still hope for redemption and forgiveness




Writer(s): Isaac Koren, John Humphrey, Thorry Koren

Contributed by Riley A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@something6673

This is unbelievably underrated

@MadLapine

When this song starts up and all you can do is smile...

@AhmieMommy

I concur with the Prince vibe expressed by an earlier commenter. Bookmarking this one for discussion in my Sociology of the Family class. Thanks for portraying so much diversity of the meaning of "love" here. Great song.

@Stallnig

Discovered this gem on a plane ride a week ago. This alone made my vacation worth while.

@dopeforqueen2869

THIS IS AMAZING just downloaded both EPs

@gavindalziel8214

a real Prince vibe to this..love it!

@jennacuriale9965

Love Christa 💜 Great song!

@genew

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just freaking mind blowing...this song, this video, BRAVES....!

@MayaA-wq2ce

This song on repeat, all day all week!!

@paulabalieiro2961

Best song by Braves.

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