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The Spine Song
Cake Bake Betty Lyrics
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You are dancing with men going around and around
And you're scared, and you're sure
That your spine will dissolve
You will fall to the floor
You will take what you need
And the headaches will come
There's the smoke fills your lungs
We will wait for the day
We'll rejoice when it comes
On your birthday
You woke up
The snow was on the ground
You opened books and peeked inside
They kissed you on your crown
With pins in your fingers
You held yourself up high
The picture peeled the person
They let themselves divide
You arrive at the place
It is not what you want
But it is what you chase
So you don't have to hold
All of the candles that burn on their own
You will steal all the smells
That cut through your nose and excite all your cells
When it's time to escape
You realize you've waited until it's too late
But your birthday inflated
The bones with which you creak
They stole your shoes and then brought you to
The caverns of their teeth
You pleaded, 'Oh kind sir
Please let me say goodbye'
Your soul ripped from your stomach
You gave an awful cry
A cry...
And when I have died
Will you use my spine
To swing from tree to tree in search of
Places pleasing to the eye?
I said
I'm sorry dear
But you don't listen
No you don't listen
You silly little girl
The Spine Song by Cake Bake Betty is a hauntingly beautiful piece that paints a vivid picture of someone who is lost and scared, but still trying to find their way. The song begins with the singer, who is seemingly down for the count, dancing with men as they go around and around. She is scared and sure that her spine will dissolve, and she will fall to the floor. This is a metaphorical representation of her feeling completely out of control and unable to stand on her own two feet.
The second verse talks about this person taking what they need to survive, even if it comes with headaches and other negative side effects. They are constantly seeking something, and the smoke from their vices fills their lungs. However, the day they have been waiting for will come, and they will rejoice.
The final verse is the most poignant and presents a fantastical narrative of the singer's life. She wakes up on her birthday with snow on the ground, and books that give her comfort in her hands. She holds herself up high with pins in her fingers, yet the picture of her peels away from her. Later, she arrives at a place that is not what she wants, but she chases it anyway. All the while, the candles burn on their own, and she steals the smells that cut through her nose, exciting her cells. However, when it's time to escape, she realizes she's waited too long.
The last few lines of the song ask a very curious question. When the singer dies, will the person whom this song is directed towards, use her spine to swing from tree to tree in search of "places pleasing to the eye?" This is a chilling inquiry that suggests that the singer's life will end, and the person whom this song is directed towards will have no regard for her even after her death.
Line by Line Meaning
And you're down for the count
You are defeated and unable to get up and continue.
You are dancing with men going around and around
You are caught in a cycle of life where you do the same things over and over again with people who are no different than you.
And you're scared, and you're sure
You are fearful and absolutely certain that something terribly wrong will occur.
That your spine will dissolve
That what makes you strong and able to stand will weaken and disappear.
You will fall to the floor
You will lose your balance and fall downwards.
You will take what you need
You will only take what is necessary for livelihood.
And the headaches will come
And in doing so, you will experience mental agony and discomfort.
But at least you can breathe
But as a result, you are able to breathe with ease.
There's the smoke fills your lungs
Despite the fact that the smoke fills your lungs, you remain calm.
We will wait for the day
Patiently, we will wait for that particular day.
We'll rejoice when it comes
When it comes, we will be overjoyed and excited.
On your birthday
On the anniversary of your birth.
You woke up
You awoke from your sleep.
The snow was on the ground
The snow covered the ground outside.
You opened books and peeked inside
You uncovered books and glanced within.
They kissed you on your crown
They showered you with love and admiration.
With pins in your fingers
With sharp, pointed objects in your fingers.
You held yourself up high
You elevated yourself to a higher level of achievement.
The picture peeled the person
The image of a person was removed or altered.
They let themselves divide
They allowed themselves to separate and become distant.
You arrive at the place
You have now made your way to your destination.
It is not what you want
It is different from what you desire or need.
But it is what you chase
It is the thing you are obsessed with and pursue relentlessly.
So you don't have to hold
So that you do not have to carry or bear the weight of.
All of the candles that burn on their own
All of the candles that burn independently or that belong to others.
You will steal all the smells
You will capture all the different scents.
That cut through your nose and excite all your cells
That provide a sensation of pleasure and excitement permeating throughout the body.
When it's time to escape
When the moment arrives to find a way out.
You realize you've waited until it's too late
You recognize that you have missed your chance of departure.
But your birthday inflated
But the celebration of your birth magnified.
The bones with which you creak
The bones in your body that make noise when you move.
They stole your shoes and then brought you to
They took your shoes and then took you to...
The caverns of their teeth
A dark, strange place that is frightening and risky.
You pleaded, 'Oh kind sir
You begged, hoping for mercy from a stranger.
Please let me say goodbye'
Please allow me to bid farewell to those that I love.
Your soul ripped from your stomach
Your very essence was taken from inside you.
You gave an awful cry
You screamed in agony and desperation.
A cry...
An outpouring of sorrow and emotion.
And when I have died
After I have passed away.
Will you use my spine
Will you take my backbone or strength.
To swing from tree to tree in search of
So that you can move rapidly and freely from one experience to another.
Places pleasing to the eye?
Attractive and captivating destinations.
I said
I spoke aloud.
I'm sorry dear
I apologize, my love.
But you don't listen
But you do not hear or understand what I am saying.
No you don't listen
You continue to ignore my words or warnings.
You silly little girl
You are acting foolishly, young woman.
Contributed by Miles F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
peenyweeny38
and you're down
for the count
you are dancing with men
going around and around
and you're scared
and you're sure
that your spine will dissolve
you will fall to the floor
you will take
what you need
and the headaches will come
but at least you can breathe
there's the smoke
fills your lungs
we will wait for the day
we'll rejoice when it comes
on your birthday
you woke up
the snow was on the ground
you opened books and peeked inside
they kissed you on your crown
with pins in your fingers
you held yourself up high
the picture peeled the person
they let themselves divide
you arrive
at the place
it is not what you want
but it is what you chase
so you don't
have to hold
all of the candles
that burn on their own
you will steal
all the smells
that cut through your nose and inside on your cells
when it's time
to escape
you realize you've waited until it's too late
but your birthday
inflated
the bones with which you creak
they stole your shoes and then brought you to
the caverns of their teeth
you pleaded
oh kind sir
please let me say goodbye
your soul ripped from your stomach
you gave an awful cry
a cry
and when I have died
will you use my spine
to swing from tree to tree in search of
places pleasing to the eye?
I said
I'm sorry dear
but you don't listen
no you don't listen
you silly little girl
tacotuesdayemily
i love this song and i will always. I love the part where she says "you will steal all the smells that cut through your noes and excite all your cells."
peenyweeny38
and you're down
for the count
you are dancing with men
going around and around
and you're scared
and you're sure
that your spine will dissolve
you will fall to the floor
you will take
what you need
and the headaches will come
but at least you can breathe
there's the smoke
fills your lungs
we will wait for the day
we'll rejoice when it comes
on your birthday
you woke up
the snow was on the ground
you opened books and peeked inside
they kissed you on your crown
with pins in your fingers
you held yourself up high
the picture peeled the person
they let themselves divide
you arrive
at the place
it is not what you want
but it is what you chase
so you don't
have to hold
all of the candles
that burn on their own
you will steal
all the smells
that cut through your nose and inside on your cells
when it's time
to escape
you realize you've waited until it's too late
but your birthday
inflated
the bones with which you creak
they stole your shoes and then brought you to
the caverns of their teeth
you pleaded
oh kind sir
please let me say goodbye
your soul ripped from your stomach
you gave an awful cry
a cry
and when I have died
will you use my spine
to swing from tree to tree in search of
places pleasing to the eye?
I said
I'm sorry dear
but you don't listen
no you don't listen
you silly little girl
mimi
she is so unusual... thanks for posting her music!
Barjack521
This is the song I use to get people hooked on CBB
qxANGELxp
PFFT.
mngwa999
she sounds so much like Regina Spektor and I love this so much
tally hal
oh dude right! i love this even more now omg
Lyrical Artist
I'm showing all my friends this.
Megan McDonald
thank you for this song :)
charity bayliff
this song is weird but i love itt