Formerly known as Shaky Hands, the band decided to change their name due to a threat of legal action from a similarly-named American band (The Shaky Hands). As their EP was intended to be titled "Cut Off Your Hands", they simply decided to switch their artist name with the EP title.
February 2009 saw the departure of original guitarist Michael Ramirez. February also saw Brent Harris depart, due to continuing hearing problems. He will rejoin the band in 12 months.
Hollowed Out
Cut Off Your Hands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see it in your eyes, you've been hollowed out inside
You've been cut down to size
You've been howling at the sky
You've been pleading for a muse but you know you still can't make no sense
And you know this world's an awful mess if you're really honest,
But who's honest at all
'Seems an age since you felt high, smothered by the violence of our time
Hit you like a twisting of a knife
Taught you only hatred for your kind, but
If you won't fake it you won't shake it, you won't shape up
Your skin is bare and nobody wants that these days
Oh these hollow drums, that we've become, they're beaten numb
Oh as hollow drums with deflated lungs, we come undone
All our wasted time, we swallow lies, we're rendered numb
All our wasted time, we fall in line, to come undone
Oh these hollow drums, they're beaten numb, we've come undone.
In the song "Hollowed Out" by Cut Off Your Hands, the lyrics describe the feeling of emptiness and disconnection that the singer is experiencing. The opening lines set the stage for this by describing how the singer can see the hollowness in the other person's eyes. They are also "cut down to size" and feeling persecuted or attacked by the violence of the world around them. The singer sees that they have been crying out for help or inspiration, but they are unable to find any real sense or meaning in their life.
The second verse continues this theme of feeling lost and disconnected, describing how the singer has been beaten down by the violence and hatred that surrounds them. They feel like they are trapped in a cycle of negativity and have lost touch with their own humanity. Despite their best efforts, they are unable to find any sense of hope or purpose, and they are left feeling numb and disillusioned.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, as it describes the hollowness and emptiness that has taken hold of the world. The drums are described as "hollow," and they have been stripped of their vitality and energy. The repetition of the phrase "we come undone" emphasizes the sense of collapse and disintegration that is taking place. Overall, the song is a powerful meditation on the sense of loneliness and hopelessness that can sometimes come over us, and it encourages us to keep searching for meaning and purpose even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see it in your eyes, you've been hollowed out inside
The singer notices that the listener has become inwardly empty and lifeless.
You've been cut down to size
The listener has been diminished and made small by their experiences.
You've been howling at the sky
The listener has been expressing their pain and frustration openly to the universe.
You've been pleading for a muse but you know you still can't make no sense
The listener seeks inspiration, but even with it they aren't able to find meaning or purpose.
And you know this world's an awful mess if you're really honest,
The listener knows that the state of the world is truly chaotic and terrible if they face it honestly.
But who's honest at all
The singer suggests that it's difficult to find genuine honesty in people these days.
'Seems an age since you felt high, smothered by the violence of our time
It feels like it's been a long time since the listener felt truly happy, and they feel suffocated by the violent state of the world.
Hit you like a twisting of a knife
The violence and chaos of the world has been deeply painful and traumatic for the listener.
Taught you only hatred for your kind, but
The listener has learned to only feel animosity toward their own kind due to the violence and chaos they've experienced.
If you won't fake it you won't shake it, you won't shape up
If the listener doesn't pretend or put on a facade, they won't be able to change or improve their situation.
Your skin is bare and nobody wants that these days
The listener feels exposed and vulnerable, but it's difficult to find acceptance and understanding from others.
Oh these hollow drums, that we've become, they're beaten numb
The artist sees both themselves and the listener as instruments that have become hollow and lifeless, beaten down by their experiences.
Oh as hollow drums with deflated lungs, we come undone
Like an empty drum with no breath in it, the singer and listener are falling apart and losing their vitality.
All our wasted time, we swallow lies, we're rendered numb
The singer laments the amount of time they and the listener have spent on things that ultimately weren't true or important, leaving them feeling empty and desensitized.
All our wasted time, we fall in line, to come undone
The listener has followed along with societal expectations and norms, even though they've ultimately led to an unraveling of their sense of self.
Oh these hollow drums, they're beaten numb, we've come undone.
The artist and listener have both become lifeless, empty shells of their former selves, beaten down by the chaos of the world and their own internal struggles.
Contributed by Camden N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.