Vindicated
Dashboard Confessional Lyrics

Hope dangles on a string
Hope, like a weight on a string, can be pulled up or down, ebbing and flowing depending on one's circumstances.

Like slow-spinning redemption
As time passes, it is possible for redemption from one's past mistakes to occur.

Winding in and winding out
The hope of redemption is twisting and turning, sometimes appearing achievable, sometimes out of reach.

The shine of it has caught my eye
The shimmer of hope is something that has caught the singer's attention, creating an alluring feeling.

And roped me in, so mesmerizing, so hypnotizing
Hope is an alluring and hypnotizing force that has captured the attention of the singer.

I am captivated
The singer is entranced by the idea of redemption and the hope that it brings.

I am Vindicated
The singer feels justified in their belief that they were right all along and that their mistakes do not define them entirely.

I am selfish, I am wrong
The singer acknowledges their flaws, including being self-centered and making mistakes in the past.

I am right, I swear I'm right
Despite their flaws and past mistakes, the singer is confident in their current beliefs and opinions.

Swear I knew it all along
The singer feels that they have had a deep understanding of the situation from the beginning, much like instinct or intuition.

And I am flawed
The singer continues to recognize their imperfections and errors.

But I am cleaning up so well
The singer is making an effort to grow past their flaws and become a better person.

I am seeing in me now
The singer is beginning to recognize their own strengths and worth.

The things you swore you saw yourself
The singer was able to see in themself the things that someone else had seen in them earlier.

So clear, like the diamond in your ring
The singer's newfound self-worth is so clear and sparkles like a diamond in a ring.

Cut to mirror your intention
The diamond in the ring is intentionally cut and crafted to reflect the wearer's desires and intentions.

Oversized and overwhelmed
The diamond in the ring has perhaps grown too large, becoming overwhelming in its weight and symbolism.

The shine of which has caught my eye
The brightness of the diamond has caught the singer's attention, symbolizing their craving for worth and validation.

And rendered me so isolated
The symbolism of the diamond and the attention it brings has isolated the singer, who is only now realizing their past mistakes and flaws.

So motivated
The isolation has spurred the singer on to make an effort to change and become a better person.

I am certain now that
The singer has come to a place of certainty and clarity about themselves and their future.

So turn up the corners of your lips
The singer is appealing to someone else to smile and show their approval or admiration.

Part them and feel my fingertips
The singer is reaching out to this person, hoping for a physical connection.

Trace the moment, fall forever
If the other person agrees to be with the singer, it will be an unforgettable moment that they will both remember forever.

Defense is paper thin
The other person has very few defenses and could easily be persuaded to be with the singer.

Just one touch and I'd be in too deep now
Once things progress physically, the singer feels that they would be committed to the other person.

To ever swim against the current
There would be no turning back or changing their course once things have progressed this far.

So let me slip away
The singer is recognizing that they should back away from this situation before it is too late.

So let me slip against the current
The singer is asking the other person to let them change course and move away from the situation.