They were frequently classified as industrial rock, but were often quite different from many bands so dubbed. Tod A.'s lyrics were clever, snide and evocative (Art Black and David Sprague suggest that "Black humor beats black metal any day") and their "weirdly catchy" music which drew "on hot jazz and swing as much as clanging rock, emphasizing the group's stand-apart attitude."
The group had little mainstream success (scoring a few hits on college radio), despite tours with Iggy Pop and music videos on MTV's Headbanger's Ball and 120 Minutes (notably $10 Bill, featuring a number of little people). They retain a cult following, however, and their out-of-print releases sometimes sell for large amounts among fans.
It Only Hurts When I Breathe
Cop Shoot Cop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Those days have all gone by
You always walked a crooked line
And so did I
You read my thoughts, you knew my fears
Weren't as old as you appeared
But so much wiser than your years
And I was blind
I saw your heart and it was black
I finally found out what you lack
And that's a soul
You left a trail of rubber checks
Broken hearts and busted necks
What the fuck did I expect
I don't know
You can give your confession tomorrow
If you find a priest dumb enough to believe
It only hurts when I breathe
Purge and binge, binge and purge
Gorged on speed and bitter words
Found ourselves on be and 3rd
One more time
Feast and fast, burn and crash
Couldn't seem to make it last
You stole my confidence and cash
But I will survive
You can give your confession tomorrow
If you find a priest dumb enough to believe
It only hurts when I breathe
Tears and laughs, laughs and tears
Days are weeks and months are years
Up the on-ramp grinding gears
Away we go
Looking for a bar to burn
Waiting for the tide to turn
Some people never learn
And I should know
You can give your confession tomorrow
If you find a priest dumb enough to believe
And me I'll just beg steal and borrow
Because it only hurts when I breathe
It only hurts when I breathe
The lyrics of Cop Shoot Cop's song "It Only Hurts When I Breathe" can be interpreted as a reflection on a toxic relationship. The singer is addressing someone who has caused them pain - someone who always walked a crooked line and left a trail of destruction in their wake. The singer once loved this person, but has since come to realize that they lack a soul. The relationship seems to have been characterized by cycles of feast and fast, purge and binge, and tears and laughs. However, the singer maintains that they will survive and continue to do whatever it takes to get by, even if that means begging, stealing, or borrowing.
The phrase "it only hurts when I breathe" can be seen as a metaphor for the pain of simply existing, of being alive and vulnerable to the world around us. It suggests that the singer is feeling deeply wounded but is trying to keep going despite the pain. The line "you always walked a crooked line, and so did I" implies that the relationship was never healthy or stable from the start, and that both parties were complicit in causing harm.
The song is notable for its raw, emotional lyrics and its stark, industrial sound. The band blended elements of punk, noise rock, and industrial music to create a uniquely aggressive and confrontational sound. The song was included on Cop Shoot Cop's album "Ask Questions Later," which was released in 1993.
Line by Line Meaning
Was a time I would have cried
I used to be very emotional
Those days have all gone by
I've become more emotionally stable over time
You always walked a crooked line
You had a history of questionable actions
And so did I
I had also acted in dubious ways at times
You read my thoughts, you knew my fears
You were very familiar with my innermost thoughts and anxieties
Weren't as old as you appeared
You seemed younger than you actually were
But so much wiser than your years
Despite your apparent youthfulness, you were quite wise
And I was blind
I was oblivious or naive to certain things
If I mentioned love I take it back
I regret expressing any romantic feelings for you
I saw your heart and it was black
I realized that you were not a good person at your core
I finally found out what you lack
I discovered what you were missing, which is a soul
And that's a soul
You lack a conscience or moral center
You left a trail of rubber checks
You have a history of writing bad checks
Broken hearts and busted necks
You've caused emotional pain and physical harm to others
What the fuck did I expect
I'm not sure why I didn't see these warning signs earlier
I don't know
I'm at a loss
You can give your confession tomorrow
You can confess your sins to someone else at a later time
If you find a priest dumb enough to believe
Assuming you can find a gullible priest to listen to you
It only hurts when I breathe
I'm in a lot of pain, but I'm barely managing to cope
Purge and binge, binge and purge
We went through a cycle of indulging and then regretting our actions
Gorged on speed and bitter words
We consumed drugs and spoke bitterly to each other
Found ourselves on be and 3rd
We ended up in a certain location (Be and 3rd) for reasons unclear
One more time
Let's try this again
Feast and fast, burn and crash
We oscillated between indulgence and depletion, or success and failure
Couldn't seem to make it last
We couldn't sustain our highs, successes, or relationships
You stole my confidence and cash
You took away my self-assurance and money
But I will survive
I will persevere despite these challenges
Tears and laughs, laughs and tears
We experienced both joy and sorrow
Days are weeks and months are years
Time seems to pass very slowly
Up the on-ramp grinding gears
We were entering a highway, which required a lot of effort or force
Away we go
We embark on a new adventure or departure
Looking for a bar to burn
We are searching for a place to let loose or vent our frustrations
Waiting for the tide to turn
We are hoping for a change in circumstances or fortune
Some people never learn
Some individuals seem unable to change their behavior or improve their situation
And I should know
I have personally witnessed or experienced this fact
And me I'll just beg steal and borrow
I will resort to any means to survive
Because it only hurts when I breathe
I am in a lot of pain, but I am barely managing to cope
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER NANTZ, JAMES COLEMAN, PHILIP C. PULEO, STEVE MCMILLEN, TODD C. ASHLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind