Volcano
Damien Rice Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't hold yourself like that
Cause You'll hurt your knees
Well I kissed your mouth, and back
But that's all I need
Don't build your world around
Volcanoes melt you down

And What I am to you is not real
What I am to you, you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask for the sea

Don't throw yourself like that
In front of me
I kissed your mouth, your back
Is that all you need?
Don't drag my love around
Volcanoes melt me down

What I am to you is not real
What I am to you, you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask

What I give to you
Is just what I'm going through
This is nothing new
No, no just another phase of finding
What I really need is what makes me bleed
But like a new disease
Lord, she's still too young to treat
Volcanoes melt you down
(She's still too young)
(What I am to you)
Volcanoes melt you down
(You do not need)
(She's still too young)
(What I am to you)
Volcanoes melt you down
(She's still too young)
(She's still too young)
(What I am to you)
Volcanoes melt you down
(She's still too young)
(She's still too young)
(What I am to you)
Volcanoes melt you down
(She's still too young)
(She's still too young)
(What I am to you)
Volcanoes melt you down
(She's still too young)
(She's still too young)
(What I am to you)
Volcanoes melt you down
(She's still too young)
(She's still too young)
(What I am to you)
Volcanoes melt you down
(She's still too young)
(What I am to you)
I kissed your mouth
I kissed your mouth
I kissed your mouth




I kissed your mouth
You do not need me

Overall Meaning

In "Volcano," Damien Rice warns an undefined "you" to take care and not put too much weight on their relationship since it's not what "you" actually need. The first verse serves as an invitation of sorts, with Rice kissing "your mouth and back," but cautioning "you" not to "hold yourself like that" since it will hurt "your knees." The second half of the verse is where the metaphor of the title comes in as Rice advises "you" not to "build your world around volcanoes" because they will "melt you down." This imagery is a metaphor for the potentially explosive and destructive nature of love and relationships.


The second verse repeats the same pattern as the first, with Rice telling "you" not to throw themselves in front of him and lamenting the fact that volcanoes "melt him down." The chorus then serves as Rice's declaration that what he is to "you" isn't real, and that he's not what "you" mean to him. He sings about how "you" give him "miles and miles of mountains" while he longs for the sea. In other words, while he appreciates what "you" offer, it's not what he actually wants or needs.


The third and final verse shifts perspective slightly, with Rice declaring that what he gives "you" is simply what he's going through and that it's "nothing new." He then sings that what he really needs is something that makes him bleed, something that's like "a new disease." Rice concludes the song by repeating the chorus, still asserting that "volcanoes melt you down" and that what "you" don't actually need him.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't hold yourself like that Cause You'll hurt your knees
Don't stand rigidly like that, it's uncomfortable and could be painful


Well I kissed your mouth, and back But that's all I need
We shared a moment, but I'm not looking for anything more


Don't build your world around Volcanoes melt you down
Don't rely on unstable things that could destroy you


And What I am to you is not real What I am to you, you do not need What I am to you is not what you mean to me You give me miles and miles of mountains And I'll ask for the sea
I feel insignificant to you, and I know I'm not essential in your life. What I get from you is great, but it's not the most important thing to me. I might even ask for something else later.


Don't throw yourself like that In front of me
Don't be so reckless and careless around me


I kissed your mouth, your back Is that all you need?
We made physical contact, but is that enough for you?


Don't drag my love around Volcanoes melt me down
Don't play with my heart and emotions, I'm vulnerable enough


What I give to you Is just what I'm going through This is nothing new No, no just another phase of finding What I really need is what makes me bleed But like a new disease Lord, she's still too young to treat
What I offer to you is just a temporary state I'm going through. I'm still looking for what I truly need, and it might be something that hurts me. But it's not fair to put that burden on someone so young and inexperienced.


Volcanoes melt you down (She's still too young) (What I am to you) Volcanoes melt you down (You do not need) (She's still too young) (What I am to you) Volcanoes melt you down (She's still too young) (She's still too young) (What I am to you) Volcanoes melt you down (She's still too young) (She's still too young) (What I am to you) Volcanoes melt you down (She's still too young) (She's still too young) (What I am to you) Volcanoes melt you down (She's still too young) (What I am to you)
Volatility and drama will destroy you, and it's not fair to put that on a young person. I cannot be something permanent and essential in your life.


I kissed your mouth I kissed your mouth I kissed your mouth I kissed your mouth You do not need me
We had an encounter, but you don't need me beyond that.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Damien George Rice, Brian Patrick Crosby, Dave Brian Geraghty, Paul Anthony Noonan, Dominic Michael Phillips

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@IProvideLyrics1924

[Verse 1: Damien Rice]
Don't hold yourself like that
You'll hurt your knees
Well I kissed your mouth and back
But that's all I need
Don't build your world around
Volcanoes melt you down

[Chorus: Damien Rice & Lisa Hannigan]
What I am to you is not real
What I am to you, you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask for the sea

[Verse 2: Lisa Hannigan]
Don't throw yourself like that
In front of me
I kissed your mouth, your back
Is that all you need?
Don't drag my love around
Volcanoes melt me down

[Chorus: Damien Rice & Lisa Hannigan]
What I am to you is not real
What I am to you, you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask . .

[Bridge: Damien Rice]
What I give to you
Is just what I'm going through
This is nothing new, no no
Just another phase of finding
What I really need
Is what makes me bleed
But like a new disease
Lord, she's still too young to treat

What I am to you (oh she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
Is not real, (she's still too young)
What I am to you, (oh she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
You do not need (she's still too young)
What I am to you (oh she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
Is not real, (she's still too young)
What I am to you, (oh she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
You do not need (she's still too young)
What I am to you (oh she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
Is not real, (she's still too young)
What I am to you, (oh she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
You do not need (she's still too young)
What I am to you (oh she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
Is not real, (she's still too young)
What I am to you, (oh she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
You do not need (she's still too young)

What I am to you (oh she's still too young)
(I kissed your mouth)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
Is not real, (she's still too young)
What I am to you, (oh she's still too young)
(I kissed your mouth)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
You do not need (she's still too young)
And what I am to you (oh she's still too young)
(I kissed your mouth)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
Is not real, (she's still too young)
What I am to you, (oh she's still too young)
(I kissed your mouth)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
You do not need (she's still too young)

You do not need me



@azy3929

LYRICS

Don't hold yourself like that
You'll hurt your knees
I kissed your mouth and back
But that's all I need
Don't build your world around volcanoes melt you down
What I am to you is not real
What I am to you you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask for the sea
Don't throw yourself like that
In front of me
I kissed your mouth your back
Is that all you need?
Don't drag my love around volcanoes melt me down
What I am to you is not real
What I am to you you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask for what I give to you
Is just what i'm going through
This is nothing new
No no just another phase of finding what I really need
Is what makes me bleed
And like a new disease she's still too young to treat
Volcanoes melt me down
She's still too young
I kissed your mouth
You do not need me



@Rol93

Don't hold yourself like that
You'll hurt your knees
I kissed your mouth and back
But that's all I need
Don't build your world around volcanoes melt you down
What I am to you is not real
What I am to you you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask for the sea
Don't throw yourself like that
In front of me
I kissed your mouth your back
Is that all you need?
Don't drag my love around volcanoes melt me down
What I am to you is not real
What I am to you you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask for what I give to you
Is just what i'm going through
This is nothing new
No no just another phase of finding what I really need
Is what makes me bleed
And like a new disease she's still too young to treat
Volcanoes melt me down
She's still too young
I kissed your mouth
You do not need me



All comments from YouTube:

@jenniferholub4044

10 years later, and this song still melts me down.

@nsa5678

@Metagnostic yes, 20 years later and it still does.

@tuanaalparslan9084

20 years

@user-qo2vf8cc1f

the best part of damien rice is that he doesn't write about love in the same fluffy way that most other singers do. he represents it in a really different light, which is something i really enjoy from him. when everyone else is singing about love more directly and really sexual, or just fluffed up... damien is singing about love when it's just raw and natural. there's no glam behind it and it's not done up. it's about the components of love and not just love itself, you know? he does it differently than everyone else. not just in the lyrical department, either. the strings and the piano are used a lot in his songs, and i admire it, because no matter what those two instruments will always be the most soothing for me instead of what i usually hear. i don't know i just really love damien rice thank you for reading this huge block of text

tldr damien sings about love 'raw' rather than 'glam' and his use of instruments is calming.

inb4 "pop is ok too sometimes" it sure is but i prefer this. have your own taste if you want

@VinylForest

He sings emotionally! I really feel it!

@1nfiniteSeek3r

it's almost like he sings about the failure to love, failing to live up to the ideal of love, his songs are honest.

@merlissamathurin309

Perfectly described why I love his music!!!

@dreamingofcottontails6601

I've been noticing lately that the majority of my favorite songs have that same essence to them. That rawness you can't quite put your finger on...that really hits the feels.
A lot of them also have cello & piano too, actually.

Re Damien...I feel like he kinda lost a lot when Lisa Flannigan stopped working with him. Such incredible harmonies. Her voice is something really special, feels
Ike it brought out the honesty & truth even more.

@vivekteega

I agree!! Even the lyrics of Blowers Daughter, the last line is so surprising(for a love song) and raw
"I can't take my mind
My mind my mind
'Til I find somebody new"

2 More Replies...

@Olafk93

Every once in a while I bump into this song by accident, and everytime I do I put it on replay for the rest of the day.

More Comments

More Versions