37 I've Been Eating
Bright Eyes Lyrics


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So, I'm just the medicine
You take when you're sick
You get well and that's it
I'm put back on the shelf in your mirror

And it isn't exceptional
The course of our fate
So people love and they hate
And I guess it?s just our turn to hate

Yeah, you were just some song I wrote
A poem on a page
A sculpture I made out of clay
Desire was the flame

But now you're more of a basketball
Boys just pass you around
They bounce you hard on the ground
And dribble, and then we all get high fives

And you think I'm an asshole now
Well, you're probably right
But at least I'm not blind
To the facts I've been wishing were lies

But still I hope you get everything
That you care to possess
And unbelievable sex
With him or any one of my friends

But just don't ask about my appetite
I didn't lose it tonight




No, it?s been gone half my life
It?s just act, I've been eating for you

Overall Meaning

The Bright Eyes song "I've Been Eating for You" tells the story of a fading relationship that has lost its spark. Conor Oberst, the lead singer and songwriter, compares their love to a medicine that is only needed in times of sickness. The singer is likened to medicine, who is only taken when the other person needs him. Once they get better, the singer is put back on the shelf in the other person's mirror, forgotten and unused.


The song also touches on the theme of fate and the inevitability of love and hate in a relationship. The singer acknowledges their shared turn for hatred and seems resigned to the fact that this is just the course of their relationship. The song then takes a darker turn when Conor sings about how the other person has become like a basketball, being passed around and used by boys. The singer used to desire the other person, but now that they're nothing more than a sexual object, he doesn't care about them as much.


Despite his negative feelings, he still wants the other person to have everything they want, including great sex with anyone they desire. The song ends with Conor confessing that he's been eating for the other person, and he hasn't lost his appetite, contrary to what he'd have them believe.


Overall, "I've Been Eating for You" is a melancholic song about the fading of love and the recognition that sometimes two people simply aren't meant to be together. It's a bittersweet realization that can be hard to come to terms with, but ultimately necessary for moving on.


Line by Line Meaning

So, I'm just the medicine
I'm someone who provides a temporary fix to make you feel better.


You take when you're sick
You come to me when you're in need of help or comfort.


You get well and that's it
Once you're feeling better, you no longer need me.


I'm put back on the shelf in your mirror
You put me aside and forget about me until you need me again.


And it isn't exceptional
This is not an unusual situation.


The course of our fate
Our lives are predetermined and we have no control over them.


So people love and they hate
People have strong feelings of love and hate towards others.


And I guess it?s just our turn to hate
It seems like it's our turn to feel hatred towards each other.


Yeah, you were just some song I wrote
You were once just some inspiration for my creative output.


A poem on a page
You were once a beautiful and meaningful piece of art, just like a poem on a page.


A sculpture I made out of clay
You were once a work of art that I lovingly created, like a sculpture out of clay.


Desire was the flame
My passion and desire for you was what fueled my creativity.


But now you're more of a basketball
You are now just an object that boys play with and pass around like a basketball.


Boys just pass you around
Boys use you for their own pleasure and entertainment.


They bounce you hard on the ground
They treat you roughly and carelessly, throwing you around like a toy.


And dribble, and then we all get high fives
They use you as a means of impressing their friends and then celebrate their success together.


And you think I'm an asshole now
You think I'm a bad person now because of the way I'm treating you.


Well, you're probably right
You might be correct in your assessment of me.


But at least I'm not blind
I'm able to see and understand the wrongs I'm committing.


To the facts I've been wishing were lies
I know that the things I've been hoping were not true, indeed are.


But still I hope you get everything
Despite how I treat you, I want the best for you.


That you care to possess
I hope you are able to attain all the things that you desire.


And unbelievable sex
I hope you have amazing and passionate sexual experiences with others.


With him or any one of my friends
I don't care who else you do it with, as long as you're happy.


But just don't ask about my appetite
Don't inquire about my own sexual desires or interests.


I didn't lose it tonight
My loss of sexual appetite is not a new development.


No, it?s been gone half my life
I've been struggling with this for a long time.


It?s just act, I've been eating for you
I'm pretending to still be interested in sex in order to please you.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Slothiger Wawawa

If you hate the taste of wine
Why do you drink it 'til you're blind?
And if you swear that there's no truth and who cares
How come you say it like you're right?
Why are you scared to dream of God
When it's salvation that you want?
You see stars that clear have been dead for years
But the idea just lives on
In our wheels that roll around
As we move over the ground
And all day it seems we've been in between
The past and future town
We are nowhere, and it's now
We are nowhere, and it's now
And like a ten minute dream in the passenger seat
While the world was flying by
I haven't been gone very long
But it feels like a lifetime
I've been sleeping so strange at night
Side effects they don't advertise
I've been sleeping so strange
With a head full of pesticide
I've got no plans and too much time
I feel too restless to unwind
I'm always lost in thought as I walk a block
To my favorite neon sign
Where the waitress looks concerned
But she never says a word
Just turns the jukebox on and we hum along
And I smile back at her
And my friend comes after work
When the features start to blur
She says these bars are filled with things that kill
By now you probably should have learned
Did you forget that yellow bird?
How could you forget your yellow bird?
She took a small silver wreath and pinned it on to me
She said, "This one will bring you love"
And I don't know if it's true
But I keep it for good luck



All comments from YouTube:

Slothiger Wawawa

If you hate the taste of wine
Why do you drink it 'til you're blind?
And if you swear that there's no truth and who cares
How come you say it like you're right?
Why are you scared to dream of God
When it's salvation that you want?
You see stars that clear have been dead for years
But the idea just lives on
In our wheels that roll around
As we move over the ground
And all day it seems we've been in between
The past and future town
We are nowhere, and it's now
We are nowhere, and it's now
And like a ten minute dream in the passenger seat
While the world was flying by
I haven't been gone very long
But it feels like a lifetime
I've been sleeping so strange at night
Side effects they don't advertise
I've been sleeping so strange
With a head full of pesticide
I've got no plans and too much time
I feel too restless to unwind
I'm always lost in thought as I walk a block
To my favorite neon sign
Where the waitress looks concerned
But she never says a word
Just turns the jukebox on and we hum along
And I smile back at her
And my friend comes after work
When the features start to blur
She says these bars are filled with things that kill
By now you probably should have learned
Did you forget that yellow bird?
How could you forget your yellow bird?
She took a small silver wreath and pinned it on to me
She said, "This one will bring you love"
And I don't know if it's true
But I keep it for good luck

D

This song...after so many years it's still my favourite.
Maybe I'm just a sad person, but it's always cheered me up in a strange way.
I'm drunk and I'll be heading to my favourite neon sign. Hopefully someone will hum with me.

Francesco Podestà

this is a fantastic song! Bright Eyes <3

Carlos Lopez

I havent heard this in soooooo long... Just as amazing as the first time.

RadioFreeLondon

Its like a  ten minute dream in the passenger seat while the world goes flying by. I haven't been gone very long but it feels like a lifetime.

Ryan Ainsworth

finally, a beautiful song with an undeniable truth.

No Fixed Address by know hope

This is poetic butter for the toasted soul

Melanie Jones

such a brilliant writer!...

Keely

"I've been sleeping so strange at night 
Side effects they don't advertise
I've been sleeping so strange
With a head full of pesticide
I got no plans and too much time
I feel too restless to unwind
I'm always lost in thought
As I walk a block to my favourite neon sign"

Tyler Godwin

I've got no plans and to much time

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