Saint
Ed Tullett Lyrics


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Peel your thumb, a lace,
Pale, you stun away
May you shun a stray
Way you shone, a phrase, afraid of coming
You're not a saint, pyre,
You're not a way to covet me
You're not a saint, pyre,
You're not a way to covet me
Wear your pastel brace
Dark your bronze, a grey
Yield your calm, a grace
Air you palm, obey, obey and come in
You're not a saint, pyre,
You're not a way to covet me
You're not a saint, pyre,
You're not a way to covet me
Ricochet around
Wreath for your body
Your pretty vowels, dour sea
Hush the laic drown
Swoon through your eyelids
Your pretty mouth, your dowry
You're not a saint, liar,
You're not a saint, collider,
You're not afraid to covet me
You're not a saint, liar,




You're not a saint, collider,
You're not afraid to covet me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ed Tullett's song Saint seem to describe a conversation between two people that have passed each other by, with one person telling the other that they are not the perfect or idealized version of themselves that the other person may have imagined or hoped for. The song is filled with metaphors that at times may be hard to decipher but it seems to speak to the human tendency to put people on pedestals, to idolize them and then be disappointed when they fall short of those high expectations.


Beginning with "Peel your thumb, a lace, pale, you stun away" and "Wear your pastel brace, dark your bronze, a grey, yield your calm, a grace, air you palm, obey, obey and come in", the song's metaphors start right from the first line, describing how someone is trying to shed the skin or facade that they previously used to protect themselves. The lines "Ricochet around, Wreath for your body, Your pretty vowels, dour sea, Hush the laic drown, Swoon through your eyelids, Your pretty mouth, your dowry" continue with the same metaphorical language, with rich descriptions of beauty and death in equal measure.


The chorus of the song repeats "You're not a saint" several times, with additional lyrics added to create more emphasis and meaning in each repetition. In a way, the chorus serves to further underline the central theme of the song, that no one is perfect, and it's natural to feel disappointed when the people we admire fall short of those expectations.


Line by Line Meaning

Peel your thumb, a lace,
Remove your thumb from your mouth and undo your shoelace


Pale, you stun away
You are startled and move away quickly


May you shun a stray
You have the ability to avoid someone/something that is not wanted


Way you shone, a phrase, afraid of coming
You spoke beautifully but with hesitation and fear of being misunderstood


You're not a saint, pyre,
You are not a holy or revered figure or monument


You're not a way to covet me
You are not the path or method to obtain something desired


Wear your pastel brace
Put on your lightly colored brace/support


Dark your bronze, a grey
Your bronze color appears dark and almost grey


Yield your calm, a grace
Allow yourself to be calm and graceful


Air you palm, obey, obey and come in
Stretch out your hand and follow commands to enter


Ricochet around
Bounce or reflect off surfaces quickly and unpredictably


Wreath for your body
A circular band or garland laid on or worn around the body


Your pretty vowels, dour sea
Your attractive speech sounds contrast with the gloomy, lifeless sea


Hush the laic drown
Silence the non-religious people who are struggling or overwhelmed


Swoon through your eyelids
Experience faintness or take pleasure in what you see through your closed eyelids


Your pretty mouth, your dowry
Your attractive mouth is your only asset


You're not a saint, liar,
You are not virtuous, but instead dishonest


You're not a saint, collider,
You do not come into contact or harmonize with something or someone in a positive way


You're not afraid to covet me
You have no fear of wanting or desiring me




Contributed by Alice V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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