I'm a Sucker for a Kind Word
Copeland Lyrics


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I'd be hangin' on their words
Like they almost meant a thing
And the only lullaby I heard
The sirens blaring, singing me to sleep
Holding my loved one tight...

On the softness of her laugh,
I could almost make my bed
But the racket of her absence draw in
The sirens blaring, ringing in my head
Holding nothing tight, holding nothing tight
With my eyes so wide

And I'll slip out a back door
I was looking for a fire escape
And I'll be rippin' up the floorboards
Just trying to get away
From this sleeplessness, sleeplessness, sleeplessness

She'd be hangin' on my words
Like I almost meant a thing
And I'd give anything not to let her down
But finally sleep through just one more tonight
Holding her so tight, holding her so tight

But my eyes are wide

And I'll slip out a back door
I was looking for a fire escape
And I'll be rippin' up the floorboards
Just trying to get away
From this sleeplessness
Sleeplessness, sleeplessness

'Cause my mind just can't stop movin', I think I know why
Oooh, I know why
It's sad, but I'm a sucker for a kind word
And I'll just hurt until I find one
I'll just hurt until I find one

And I've been tryin' all the windows
And I've been runnin' up the staircase
In a house without a backdoor...

Sleeplessness, sleeplessness, sleeplessness
In a house without a backdoor (Sleeplessness)
I was lookin' for a fire escape (Sleeplessness)




And I'd be rippin' up the floorboards (Sleeplessness)
Just tryin' to get away...

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Copeland's "I'm a Sucker for a Kind Word" suggests that the singer of the song is in a desperate state of mind, eager for even the smallest sign of compassion or kindness from anyone. The line "I'd be hangin' on their words like they almost meant a thing" portrays the thirst for validation that the singer feels, as if their life revolves around the approval of others, no matter how fleeting it may be. Copeland uses the metaphor of sirens as a lullaby to signify the chaos and noise that surrounds the singer constantly, making it hard for them to find peace and rest.


The second verse seems to shift focus to the singer's relationship with their loved one. The line "On the softness of her laugh, I could almost make my bed" highlights the comfort and security that their lover brings to them. However, the bittersweet tone of the song returns as the singer mentions the "racket of her absence" and the "sirens blaring, ringing in my head", signifying that despite being in a loving partnership, they are unable to shake off their anxieties and insecurities. Copeland repeats the lines "Holding nothing tight, holding nothing tight, with my eyes so wide" to emphasize the emptiness that the singer feels despite being with their loved one.


Finally, the chorus brings everything together by stating the central theme of the song: the singer's sleeplessness is a result of their constant need for validation and kindness from others. The line "my mind just can't stop movin', I think I know why" indicates that the singer is aware of their own pattern of behavior, yet they cannot help themselves. The song ends with the singer still desperately searching for a way out of their sleepless and anxious state, resorting to desperate measures like "tryin' all the windows" and "runnin' up the staircase" in a house without a backdoor.


Line by Line Meaning

I'd be hangin' on their words Like they almost meant a thing And the only lullaby I heard The sirens blaring, singing me to sleep
I give too much weight to the words of others, as if their opinions almost define me. The only thing I find comfort in is the constant blaring of sirens.


Holding my loved one tight... On the softness of her laugh, I could almost make my bed But the racket of her absence draw in The sirens blaring, ringing in my head Holding nothing tight, holding nothing tight With my eyes so wide
When I am with my loved one, I find solace in their laughter and feel a sense of home. But when they're gone, even the noise of the sirens can't drown out the pain of their absence. I am left alone, holding nothing and feeling empty.


And I'll slip out a back door I was looking for a fire escape And I'll be rippin' up the floorboards Just trying to get away From this sleeplessness, sleeplessness, sleeplessness
My mind is constantly racing, and I feel trapped in my own head. I search for a way out, tearing up floors and looking for escape routes. But no matter what I do, I can't escape the constant feeling of being restless and unable to sleep.


She'd be hangin' on my words Like I almost meant a thing And I'd give anything not to let her down But finally sleep through just one more tonight Holding her so tight, holding her so tight But my eyes are wide
My loved one would listen to me and it felt like my words carried weight with them. I desperately want to live up to their expectations and not disappoint them. But even when I hold them close, I can't shake the feeling of being wide awake and restless.


'Cause my mind just can't stop movin', I think I know why Oooh, I know why It's sad, but I'm a sucker for a kind word And I'll just hurt until I find one I'll just hurt until I find one
I am constantly plagued by racing thoughts and can't seem to quiet my mind. It's a sad truth, but I am always searching for validation and affirmation from others. I'll continue to feel hurt until I receive that kindness from someone else.


And I've been tryin' all the windows And I've been runnin' up the staircase In a house without a backdoor... Sleeplessness, sleeplessness, sleeplessness In a house without a backdoor (Sleeplessness) I was lookin' for a fire escape (Sleeplessness) And I'd be rippin' up the floorboards (Sleeplessness) Just tryin' to get away...
I feel trapped in my own mind, searching for a way out but finding no escape route. It's like being stuck in a house with no exit, desperately tearing up floors and trying every window and staircase to find a way out. But no matter what I do, I am consumed by an overwhelming feeling of restlessness and sleeplessness.




Contributed by Alexis N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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