Cancer
Bullshit Detector Vol. 1 Lyrics


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Turn away
If you could get me a drink
Of water 'cause my lips are chapped and faded
Call my aunt Marie
Help her gather all my things
And bury me in all my favorite colors
My sisters and my brothers, still
I will not kiss you
'Cause the hardest part of this is leaving you

I will not kiss you (kiss you)
Lips are chapped and faded
Call my (turn away)
Lips are chapped and faded (faded)
Kiss you (kiss you)
Lips are chapped and faded
Call my (turn away)
Lips are chapped and faded (faded)

Turn away
'Cause I'm awful just to see
And all my hairs abandoned all my body
All my agony
Know that I will never marry
Baby, I'm just soggy from the chemo
I'm counting down the days to go
This just ain't livin'
And I just hope you know

I will not kiss you (kiss you)
Lips are chapped and faded
Call my (turn away)
Lips are chapped and faded (faded)
Kiss you (kiss you)
Lips are chapped and faded
Call my (turn away)
Lips are chapped and faded (faded)

If you say (if you say)
Goodbye today (goodbye today)
I'll ask you to be true (I'll ask you to be true)
'Cause the hardest part of this is leaving you
Yes, the hardest part of this

I will not kiss you (kiss you)
Lips are chapped and faded
Call my (call my)
Lips are chapped and faded (faded)
Kiss you (kiss you)
Lips are chapped and faded




Call my (call my)
Lips are chapped and faded (faded)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the song "Cancer" by Bullshit Detector Vol. 1 explore the emotional struggles and pain of a person who is facing a terminal illness. The opening lines of the song express a desire for comfort and basic necessities, as the singer asks for a drink of water to soothe their chapped and faded lips. They also mention calling their aunt Marie to gather their belongings and to be buried in their favorite colors, implying a sense of personalization and closure in their final moments.


The next lines reveal a heartbreaking decision, as the singer declares that they will not kiss their loved one. This decision stems from the difficulty of leaving their loved one behind, highlighting the emotional toll of their impending departure. The repetition of the line emphasizes their determination to remain detached, perhaps to ease the pain for both themselves and their loved ones.


The subsequent verses delve deeper into the singer's internal struggles. They describe themselves as someone who is hard to look at, possibly a result of physical changes due to the impacts of chemotherapy. This image conveys the physical and emotional toll that the illness has taken on their body. The lyrics touch on the longing for a married life that they will never experience, indicating the dreams and plans that are shattered by their condition.


The lyrics convey the singer's emotional state, mentioning their soggy and weakened state due to chemotherapy. They express a sense of longing for an end to their suffering, counting down the days until their release from pain. This highlights the toll that the illness has taken on their quality of life and the desire for a better outcome.


In the chorus, the singer reaffirms their decision not to kiss their loved one, emphasizing their chapped and faded lips as a physical representation of their condition. They continue to confront the difficulty of leaving their loved one, acknowledging that saying goodbye is the hardest part of their journey.


Overall, "Cancer" portrays the emotional turmoil and physical challenges that come with facing a terminal illness. The lyrics sensitively capture the pain, loss, and hopelessness that can accompany such a difficult experience.


Line by Line Meaning

Turn away
Avoid looking at me or acknowledging my presence


If you could get me a drink
If it's possible for you to bring me a beverage


Of water 'cause my lips are chapped and faded
Specifically water, as my lips are dry and losing color


Call my aunt Marie
Contact my aunt named Marie


Help her gather all my things
Assist her in collecting all my belongings


And bury me in all my favorite colors
And lay me to rest surrounded by the hues I adore


My sisters and my brothers, still
My siblings, who are still alive


I will not kiss you
I refuse to engage in a romantic gesture with you


'Cause the hardest part of this is leaving you
Because the most difficult aspect of my situation is saying goodbye to you


Turn away
Avert your eyes and walk away


'Cause I'm awful just to see
Because my appearance is unpleasant to witness


And all my hairs abandoned all my body
And all my hair has fallen out from my entire body


All my agony
All the pain and suffering I endure


Know that I will never marry
Understand that I won't ever enter into wedlock


Baby, I'm just soggy from the chemo
Darling, I'm consistently damp due to the chemotherapy treatment


I'm counting down the days to go
I'm keeping track of the remaining days until the end


This just ain't livin'
This existence is far from fulfilling or enjoyable


And I just hope you know
And I simply wish for you to understand


If you say goodbye today
If you bid farewell to me today


I'll ask you to be true
I'll request for you to be honest and sincere


'Cause the hardest part of this is leaving you
Because the most challenging aspect of my situation is departing from you


Yes, the hardest part of this
Indeed, the most arduous aspect of this


Lips are chapped and faded
My lips are dry and lacking color


Call my
Get in touch with me


Lips are chapped and faded
My lips are dry and lacking color


Kiss you
Engage in a romantic gesture with you


Lips are chapped and faded
My lips are dry and lacking color


Call my
Get in touch with me


Lips are chapped and faded
My lips are dry and lacking color




Lyrics © BLOW THE DOORS OFF CHICAGO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob Bryar, Frank Iero, Gerard Way, Michael Way, Ray Toro

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@jeffsims8270

So glad some uploaded this compilation LP! I finally became a proud owner a decade ago and prior to that I had ordered a cassette copy of this and BS 2 and played them both to the extreme since I loved it so much and wanted it all embedded in my brain!!! Once I was able to order the first one from discogs then I eventually got all 4 of em and probably love the first 2 the best but I truly love em all!! Some many great bands and obscure performances on these recordings and I am so very proud that they're all part of my vinyl collection!!! Thx CRASS and Crass Records!!

@rickweber7734

..I had this LP back, in, I'm thinking when I was about 16yrs old, so that would've been 1984-85, something like that, I really enjoyed it, and about that time, I had my own punk band, we made demo's of this type quality, on audio tape, and distributed it locally in the Cols, Ohio area, I still play guitar and write poetry and song lyrics, and occasionally jam with my friends..so, this is great to have uploaded on here, I appreciate it, thanks for putting on here, it's like a walk down memory lane, via vinyl time machine, HG Wells with spiky hair, attitude and unemployment..with dreams of changing the world, thru music and content..

@MyKharli

fair play m8ty

@chrisjennings7189

This was never about talent. It was about being young and rebellious and hating the system. It was about a sound that was unique to us, that made us stand out and be heard. I loved this, and now as a 56 year old man, I still do. "we don't need that shit, we got our own shit. Good shit, bad shit it's all shit but it's us, it's we, it's ourselves doing it... so do it, fucking do it!" OUR punk was the original. Our punk lead the way. We didn't change the world, but we left a mark.

@stueybhoy5630

Awesome. I was in The Sucks, track called three (it starts at about 30mins in) I think I've got the original pre recorded white label copy in my loft, may have to dig it out!

@actionsteed

Hey there Stuart !!!!!! Gosh,I would love to hear more of The Sucks material !!!!! The first time I heard this comp was in '83....well after the fact of course...I tried writing to all the bands involved with this comp with no luck....:( I do have a cassette compilation called "Composed Bananas" with The Sinyx and APF Brigade and assorted)..and to this day I love this material !!!!!!!!! I just wish that I could listen to some of these bands' old basement demos! I'm sure they are impossible to find,but if somebody has them,regardless of sound quality,I would love to hear them !!!!!!!!! Would love to hear more of The Sucks material definitely !!!!! Please let me know !!!!! Cheers Stuart !!!!! A Lifelong Fan......Chris from Detroit......

@chrisjennings7189

@@actionsteed Hey Chris, did you ever hear more??

@actionsteed

@@chrisjennings7189 Unfortunately,no.

@vodaploda

i always wanted to hear more from The Sucks...did you record more?

@StarletAndTheHoods

been looking for this for 25 years... couldn't find it, forgot the name... and now finally !!! thanx

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