Hell to Pay
Converge Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Cheap lips, soft eyes, lost in the most blinding lights
As cold as those first nights alone
As the second best he'll become
Sleep deep, girl, dream well

That night, I think he cried himself to sleep
Just maybe, he felt more than we could ever know
And I think he pulled that trigger to empty that memory
I think he cut the weight to end the floods of you




Let him soar, let him ride as budding gravestones do
Just sleep, girl, just dream well

Overall Meaning

The song Hell to Pay by Converge is a melancholic and introspective piece that speaks to the pain and turmoil of a broken relationship. The opening lines of "cheap lips, soft eyes, lost in the most blinding lights" suggest the allure and superficiality of fame and success, which often come at the cost of personal connection and fulfillment. The next lines, "As cold as those first nights alone, as the second best he'll become," suggest that despite the glittering appearance of success, the singer is feeling lonely and undervalued. This sense of isolation is palpable in the next line, which says, "sleep deep, girl, dream well," as if the singer is talking to a former lover, wishing her happiness and peace.


The second verse is even more intense, and hints at the possibility of suicide. The line "that night, I think he cried himself to sleep" suggests that something traumatic has happened, and the later line, "I think he pulled that trigger to empty that memory, I think he cut the weight to end the floods of you," reinforces this idea that the singer has been struggling with a painful memory or loss. The final lines of the song, "let him soar, let him ride as budding gravestones do, just sleep, girl, just dream well," hint at a sense of acceptance or surrender, as if the singer has finally found release from his pain.


Line by Line Meaning

Cheap lips, soft eyes, lost in the most blinding lights
She's trying to fit in, but it's not genuine. She's lost in the shallow, superficial culture.


As cold as those first nights alone
Her heart is empty, vacant. She is able to feel as much emotion as she did when she was alone for the first time after moving out.


As the second best he'll become
She's with him, but her heart longs for someone else. He will always be the runner-up to the person she truly desires.


Sleep deep, girl, dream well
Despite the fact that she's not truly happy, she can still find temporary solace in her dreams.


That night, I think he cried himself to sleep
He's hurt, he's exhausted. Sometimes, he lets himself feel the pain.


Just maybe, he felt more than we could ever know
Maybe the depths of his emotions are beyond our understanding. We can't even grasp the true extent of his suffering.


And I think he pulled that trigger to empty that memory
He wants to get rid of the memory that is haunting him. He's trying to erase the pain from his life forever.


I think he cut the weight to end the floods of you
He tries to make peace with himself by getting rid of her memory. He's moving on and trying to let go of whatever qualities she brought into his life.


Let him soar, let him ride as budding gravestones do
Let him live, leave him in peace. Let him live like emerging gravestones and live his own happy life.


Just sleep, girl, just dream well
Even if they are both alone, they still have their own dreams to give them comfort at night.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

Rob Walsh

Fuck yeah.
As someone who was a fan of metallic hardcore and doom/stoner metal, this song made me all sorts of happy when I first picked up the album.

Bradley Martin

if you're listening to this unique, endearing song, you're a cool weirdo like me, I salute you.

Carlos Garcia

Nate Newtons bass lines on this album made hardcore/metal bass guitar what it is today...at least for me.

Jack Cravford

i also love his back up growls. that dude has some range

Rob Walsh

Nate is awesome, glad he's in Cave In now. He has a very grungy bass sound, I mean that in the best way possible. Like the Subpop/Jack Endino-grunge bass sound, not the crappy imitation grunge of later 90's.

d3athr0ck3r

Genuinely one of the most evil guitar riffs ever recorded. It sounds like what goes on in a serial killers mind

Paul Drums

Great track!

Jordan Khizroev

I love the bass line

Justin Fontes

Bought and built the Brutalist Jr after seeing them for the first time.. Fast forward to a few days ago to when I heard Nate Newton play this bass riff through his signature pickups and I had to buy those too lol. These guys just oozed tone.

Safto Vooey

Don't steal Satan's wig, or else there will be HELL TOUPE.

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