Anthrax
Dawson Kimya Lyrics
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The sky is red and little kids are running, screaming in the street
I tried to run and save them but I had molasses feet
I keep having nightmares and I'm scared to go to sleep
If you fall in I'll jump down
And touch your face while we're both sinking
(stinking thinking) we won't drown
And what we're doing's too important
For our lives to end quite yet
In Montreal I got so mad, someone broke into the van
Stole my guitar and Aaron's bag
Then we turned on CNN, watched the towers fall again
And realized that our lives aren't so bad
This is just a test take it with love and you will pass
You will be rewarded if you do your very best
Nothing ever goes as planned so don't take anything for granted
If you do the world will kick your ass
The air is filled with computers and carpets
Skin and bones and telephones and file cabinets
Coke machines, firemen, landing gear, and cement
They say that it's okay but I say don't breathe in
The air is filled with computers and carpets
Skin and bones and telephones and file cabinets
Coke machines, firemen, landing gear, and cement
They say that it's okay but I say don't breathe that shit in
An angel named Gabriel is watching over you
He was a friend mistreated now he's dead so say you're sorry to him
When you say your prayers tonight if you make amends
The gates to heaven here on earth will open up again
If you fall in I'll jump down
And touch your face while we're both sinking
(stinking thinking) we won't drown
You are my friend
And what we're doing's too important
For our lives to end quite yet
The song "Anthrax" by Dawson Kimya is a deeply introspective and symbolic piece that explores themes of fear, loss, friendship, and resilience. The opening lines of the song set a scene of a nightmare in which the singer finds anthrax in an envelope and witnesses chaos and destruction around him. This imagery is a reference to the 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States, which left five people dead and many more infected. The song then shifts to a more personal reflection on the singer's fears and struggles, with lyrics like "I keep having nightmares and I'm scared to go to sleep."
The theme of friendship and support is also present in the song, with the chorus repeating the lines "If you fall in I'll jump down / And touch your face while we're both sinking." The idea of being there for someone in times of trouble is reiterated later in the song with the reference to the angel Gabriel watching over the listener and the suggestion to make amends with those who have passed away. The song ends with a message of hope and determination, urging the listener to keep going and not take anything for granted, even in the face of adversity.
Overall, "Anthrax" is a thought-provoking and poignant song that draws on real-world events and personal experiences to explore universal themes of fear, loss, and friendship.
Line by Line Meaning
There's anthrax in the envelope I opened in my dream
I had a nightmare where I opened an envelope filled with anthrax.
The sky is red and little kids are running, screaming in the street
In my dream, the sky was red and kids were running and screaming in the streets.
I tried to run and save them but I had molasses feet
Even though I wanted to save the kids, I couldn't because my feet were moving too slow.
I keep having nightmares and I'm scared to go to sleep
My constant nightmares have made me afraid of going to sleep.
If you fall in I'll jump down
And touch your face while we're both sinking
(stinking thinking) we won't drown
You are my friend
And what we're doing's too important
For our lives to end quite yet
I promise to be there for you even when we're both sinking. Our friendship and the work we're doing together matter too much for us to give up yet.
In Montreal I got so mad, someone broke into the van
Stole my guitar and Aaron's bag
When I was in Montreal, someone broke into our van and stole my guitar and my friend Aaron's bag.
Then we turned on CNN, watched the towers fall again
And realized that our lives aren't so bad
After watching the 9/11 attacks on CNN, we realized that our problems are small in comparison to what others have experienced.
This is just a test take it with love and you will pass
You will be rewarded if you do your very best
Nothing ever goes as planned so don't take anything for granted
If you do the world will kick your ass
Life is full of tests, and if you approach them with love and do your best, you'll be rewarded. However, don't take anything for granted because the world can be unforgiving.
The air is filled with computers and carpets
Skin and bones and telephones and file cabinets
Coke machines, firemen, landing gear, and cement
They say that it's okay but I say don't breathe in
The air we breathe is filled with various objects like computers, carpets, and firemen, and while people say it's okay to breathe it in, I disagree and think you shouldn't.
An angel named Gabriel is watching over you
He was a friend mistreated now he's dead so say you're sorry to him
When you say your prayers tonight if you make amends
The gates to heaven here on earth will open up again
An angel named Gabriel is watching over you, and he was a friend of ours who died after being mistreated. If you say sorry to him and make amends when you say your prayers tonight, the gates to a better life on earth will open up to us once again.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mrskimyadawson
That's a recording of The Moldy Peaches pre-show chant "One good turn deserves another", from the tour we were on when my guitar got stolen, when Aaron was in the band. The acoustic version of this song was recorded before Aaron died. I recorded this version after he died as a tribute to a friend that I bonded with over the love of a good powerballad.
@gracem.6979
Kimya Dawson I'm sorry to hear that, this song helps me cope with what demons are inside of me. I listen to it when I am troubled and questioning why I'm even here.
@tyler3196
So powerful. I always assumed it was some buddhist chant. The real story, in this cast, as is often the case, colors things so more vividly.
@henrychinaski2027
i sure hope youre not the real kimya, cos i always thought she'd be a more elegant writer.
@LorienVidal
Kimya, I just saw Meet Me in the Bathroom on my flight home from Puerto Rico (visiting my grandma) and was strangely blindsided by the inclusion of a lot of 9/11 images. It was strange in that I didn't consider that this docufilm would touch on that which touched ALL OF US who lived in NYC at that time. I was working downtown on that day; 2 blocks from the Spring Street station at 315 Hudson Street. This song played at the point in the 9/11 portion of the movie where I was just about done crying and was shaking my head the whole time (in agreement with your lyrics). It reminded me of the feeling of walking through Union Square Park amongst all the candles and "Missing" posters. Hugs and thank you.
@Chailes1
When I first heard this song, I had already listened to some of her other songs, and I liked them. I thought they were cute and polite. Then I heard this song and My life was altered. For an emotionally turned off teenager I thought back to that day and all of the emotions I had then and I shivered with chills. I couldnt stop wanting to go back and then I remembered who I am now and I returned. Now I shiver whenever I hear this song and I remember how I became me today. It, this song, fixes me.
@DeedKleptomaniac
This song always makes me teary-eyed because I heard right before I got a call that my boyfriend was in a really terrible accident. "This is just a test, take it with love and you will pass." I did, and he's fine today after spending 6 weeks in the hospital over a year ago. Oh, and we are still together and stronger than ever. "Don't take anything for granted" This song got me through all that shit. :)
@AgnesANutter
I've had this song on my ipod atleast a year and I'm just now falling in love with it. I've not heard the other version much but this one...this one I adore.
@user-kx7hr9dj1w
Discovered Kimya some time ago, and that's charming voice, I must say. I wish if my girlfriend has such a voice.
@markdodson1238
need a girlfriend first.