(Soundbite of song, "Mongrel Heart")
BLOCK: I think you know where I'm going here. I'm thinking I'm watching a spaghetti Western right now.
Mr. MERCER: Sure.
Mr. BURTON: Right.
Mr. MERCER: Showdown.
BLOCK: Yeah?
Mr. BURTON: Yeah, I mean, that's a big influence of mine, musically. I think it is with James, too, and "Mongrel Heart" was a huge adventure of a song for us. It was in the middle of the recording process, and I think we spent a week, almost, on it.
The horn is what really puts it over the top, you know, and when the horn comes in...
BLOCK: It's just right there.
Mr. BURTON: You might as well, you know, really. It's not like we're trying to hide that it's this Morricone feel to it. I would hate to have not had it on there and then been, like, oh, but you've got to hear the version that had the horn on it. It was just over the top and crazy. So we just left it.
Mongrel Heart
Broken Bells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drawn by your mongrel heart again
If they don't answer, would you want to be found out?
You duck through the wind in your old blight on the town
Love is turning you out
Sliding worry round
I try to warn its waiting game
Would it be wrong
To clamp down on your racing heart? Love
And if they'd known, what sifted down to be found out?
It's not what you deserve
Love is turning you out
Sliding worry round
I try to warn its waiting game
To bring that specter down
Faster than you were going to allow
Turn out the lights or say get out
If you don't answer, would you want to be found, love?
Five days on, trapped by a wave
Love is turning you out
Sliding worry round
I try to warn this waiting game
To bring that specter down
Black corn was soaking
You'll be cut down in the seedy stairway
If you don't answer, would you want to be found now?
Sapped from the bed to the window
Looking back on that time
Starting in the minds
What it is to be twenty nine
Fame sets your life down
Would it be wrong
Would it be wrong
To disappoint you now
Disappoint you now
The lyrics to "Mongrel Heart" by Broken Bells is steeped in emotional turmoil and questioning whether it's worth it to hold on to love when it keeps turning you out. The singer is torn between their desire for love and the worry that comes with it, warning themselves of the waiting game that will eventually bring down the specter of heartbreak. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been hurt before and is hesitant to let love take control again, wondering if they should clamp down on their racing heart before it's too late.
The use of imagery throughout the song adds to the intensity of the emotions being expressed, describing the feeling of being trapped by a wave, being cut down in a seedy stairway, and looking back on that time starting in the minds. The repetitive chorus of "Love is turning you out, sliding worry round" highlights the internal struggle and conflict that the singer is facing, trying to balance their desire for love with their fear of getting hurt again.
Overall, "Mongrel Heart" is a powerful and introspective song that delves into the complexities of love and the risks that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Is it hard to wait?
Are you struggling with patience?
Drawn by your mongrel heart again
Your conflicting desires are pulling you in different directions.
If they don't answer, would you want to be found out?
Do you secretly desire to be caught or exposed?
You duck through the wind in your old blight on the town
You attempt to navigate your troubles and issues, avoiding confrontation.
Love is turning you out
Love is causing you to lose control and become vulnerable.
Sliding worry round
Anxiety and apprehension are creeping in.
I try to warn its waiting game
I am advising you that patience is necessary.
To bring that specter down
To defeat the ghostly presence of your fears and doubts.
Would it be wrong
Is it immoral or inappropriate?
To clamp down on your racing heart? Love
Is it a mistake to try to control your strong emotions caused by love?
And if they'd known, what sifted down to be found out?
What would be the result if others discovered your true feelings?
It's not what you deserve
You may not receive what you feel entitled to.
Faster than you were going to allow
Things are progressing more quickly than anticipated.
Turn out the lights or say get out
You must choose between committing or ending a relationship.
If you don't answer, would you want to be found, love?
Do you crave to be discovered or exposed by your lover?
Five days on, trapped by a wave
You have been stuck in a difficult situation for five days.
Black corn was soaking
The atmosphere is gloomy and somber.
You'll be cut down in the seedy stairway
Your risky behavior could lead to destructive consequences.
Sapped from the bed to the window
You are feeling drained and exhausted, unable to move from one place to another.
Looking back on that time
Reflecting on the past.
Starting in the minds
Memories begin in the brain.
What it is to be twenty nine
Experience and maturity gained at the age of twenty nine.
Fame sets your life down
Celebrity status shapes and defines your existence.
Would it be wrong
Is it unethical or improper?
Would it be wrong
Is it immoral or inappropriate?
To disappoint you now
To fail to meet your expectations at this moment.
Disappoint you now
To let you down at the present time.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRIAN BURTON, JAMES MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ninoartillero8217
Is it hard to wait?
Drawn by your mongrel heart again
If they don't answer, would you want to be found out?
You duck through the wind in your old blight on the town
Love is turning you out
Sliding worry round
I try to warn its waiting game
To bring that specter down
Would it be wrong
To clamp down on your racing heart? Love
And if they'd known, what sifted down to be found out?
It's not what you deserve
Love is turning you out
Sliding worry round
I try to warn its waiting game
To bring that specter down
Faster than you were going to allow
Turn out the lights or say get out
If you don't answer, would you want to be found, love?
Five days on, trapped by a wave
Love is turning you out
Sliding worry round
I try to warn this waiting game
To bring that specter down
Black corn was soaking
You'll be cut down in the seedy stairway
If you don't answer, would you want to be found now?
Sapped from the bed to the window
Looking back on that time
Starting in the minds
What it is to be twenty nine
Fame sets your life down
Would it be wrong
Would it be wrong
To disappoint you now
Disappoint you now
@danieljackson1272
Thanks KERW in Los Osos, CA for introducing me to this great song, and many others!
@analyse4430
I'm addicted to this song😍
@mello6533
congratulations for the amazing job 🥰
@Mynvmebedre
I am impressed.... WOW!
@bloomp7999
The ooohaaaooohaa in the background
@miwa5596
¡Art!
@octo5047
These are all old songs for anyone wondering
@llso-lovelightsoundoneness1606
Your music just I just feel like it totally vibes with me it's hard to explain and it's just so unusual yet completely and successfully and beautifully able to mix right into the mainstream. and I hope that it's beautiful uniqueness can just really help to wake up some people sleeping in certain parts of their lives. what else is music for but to inspire the magic that we manifest through our own divine abilities... Without music what would be our Muse those who love music with all their hearts that is....😘 Thx for letting me comment my loving nonsense. I'm feeling so good, so fine now... EVERYTHING is all GOOD...peace and love to all
@OSKAR7712
Que bonitas palabras para describir tu sensación y sobre todo aciertas en la proyección técnica de la banda con esta canción tan robusta, compleja y hermosa... Tú tono, timbre y pausas es para mí la poesía que me inspira y me revitaliza. Qué me invita saborear la melancolía para dotarme de valor. Te saludo con respeto y gusto desde mi pequeño cuarto en mi país... Estoy bien, con lo que tengo y también con lo que no. En fin viaje mental.
@konosxg7178
Wooooaaa after 10 months of patience we get 10 songs in a row !!!