Some of Talan's recurring lyrical motifs include celestial objects, nature, and various historical figures (e.g., Marc Chagall in "Painting By Chagall", Amelia Earhart in "Thinking Amelia", and Vincent van Gogh in "Vincent").
To The Bone
Deb Talan Lyrics
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You just burnt my bed and tore out the stars
and kissed my forehead.
Now I am an ache, that fell into a hole
and you were the sky, you opened wide
soaked to the bone, I'm so cold.
you said you loved being near me too
so why are you determined to run?
Is it still night inside your heart
too soon for the sun?
Or do you feel like a rabbit loving a gun
never know when the shot will come
and leave you cold.
Your smile pierced my skin and traveled out again.
A rogue bullet passing through every vital organ.
I wish you'd let me in, I'm bleeding here outside your door.
Did the snows fall heavy in your house
from bedroom to kitchen
and you can't find me anymore.
You're too cold.
Can't say goodbye, we never really met.
The opening lines of Deb Talan's song "To the Bone" express a feeling of confusion and heartbreak. The singer speaks to an unnamed person who has caused them pain, but they never really "met." Perhaps this person was so fleeting in the singer's life that they never even had the chance to have a proper goodbye. They describe how this person "burnt my bed and tore out the stars," which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the destruction of their world and the loss of hope. Despite this, the person still managed to kiss the singer's forehead, which adds another layer of complexity to their relationship.
The second verse is even more visceral, with the singer saying they feel like an "ache" that has fallen into a hole. The person they are addressing is described as the "sky" that opened wide, but despite that, the singer is "soaked to the bone" and "so cold." This could symbolize the emotional toll that this person has taken on the singer, leaving them feeling lost, alone, and miserable. The singer still remembers fondly being near this person, but they are now determined to run away for reasons that are unclear. The final lines of the verse are particularly poignant when the singer asks if it's "still night inside your heart," suggesting that this person might not be ready for love or happiness in their life.
The final verse is a desperate plea from the singer, begging this person to let them in. They describe how the person's smile "pierced [their] skin and traveled out again," which is a beautiful and powerful image that captures the pain of unrequited love. The singer is bleeding outside their door, but the person inside seems to be indifferent to their suffering. The snow falling heavily in their house adds to the sense of isolation and despair, with the person unable to find their way back to the singer. The final line circles back to the opening, emphasizing the theme of never really meeting this person, despite the profound impact they have had on the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't say goodbye, we never really met.
We never officially parted ways since we never really had an established relationship or met each other.
You just burnt my bed and tore out the stars and kissed my forehead.
You caused chaos and destruction in my life, but also showed me some affection in the midst of it.
Now I am an ache, that fell into a hole and you were the sky, you opened wide soaked to the bone, I'm so cold.
I'm hurt and lost, and you gave me hope and shelter, but now I'm left exposed and vulnerable, physically and emotionally.
I loved being nearer you you said you loved being near me too so why are you determined to run?
We had a mutual attraction and connection, so why are you trying to distance yourself from me?
Is it still night inside your heart too soon for the sun? Or do you feel like a rabbit loving a gun never know when the shot will come and leave you cold.
Do you still carry pain and darkness inside you that prevents you from opening up to me? Or do you fear getting hurt and letting your guard down?
Your smile pierced my skin and traveled out again. A rogue bullet passing through every vital organ.
Your smile affected me deeply, but then disappeared and caused widespread damage to my emotional wellbeing.
I wish you'd let me in, I'm bleeding here outside your door. Did the snows fall heavy in your house from bedroom to kitchen and you can't find me anymore. You're too cold.
I want to be close to you, but you're shutting me out and leaving me in pain. Have you become buried in your own issues and lost touch with how much I care about you?
Contributed by Grayson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.