When Anger Shows
Editors Lyrics


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It creeps all over you like a dull ache
Think of all the things your hands could make
It pulls you to the ground like soaking wet gloves
The change in your face when anger shows

[Bridge:]
In that moment you realize that
Something you thought would always be there
Will die like everything else

[Chorus:]
These thoughts I must not think of
Dreams I can't make sense of
I need you to tell me it's okay
These thoughts I must not think of
Dreams I can't make sense of
I need you to tell me it's okay

You are a sleeping lion
In your bed I will not wake you
You're the moment love has passed
We all must learn to hate you
You're a memory from before
Please, don't let me forget you
You're the wolves at my door

[Bridge]

[Chorus]

How can you know what things are worth if your hands won't move to do a days work?
How can you know what things are worth if your hands won't move to do a days work?
How can you know what things are worth if your hands won't move to do a days work?
How can you know what things are worth if your hands won't move to do a days work?
How can you know what things are worth if your hands won't move to do a days work?
How can you know what things are worth if your hands won't move to do a days work?
How can you know...

How can you know...
How can you know...

These thoughts I must not think of/
Dreams I can't make sense of
I need you to tell me it's okay
These thoughts I must not think of




Dreams I can't make sense of
I just need you to tell me it's okay

Overall Meaning

The song “When Anger Shows” by Editors features powerful and haunting lyrics that explore the dark and tumultuous emotions that can come with anger. The opening lines, “It creeps all over you like a dull ache / Think of all the things your hands could make / It pulls you to the ground like soaking wet gloves,” suggest that the feeling of anger is a heavy burden that can weigh you down and hold you back. The line “The change in your face when anger shows” hints at the damage that anger can do, both to oneself and to others.


The chorus speaks to the internal struggle that anger can create: “These thoughts I must not think of / Dreams I can't make sense of / I need you to tell me it's okay.” The repetition of “These thoughts I must not think of” suggests that the singer is stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts, unable to break free from the grip of anger. The repeated plea for someone to tell them “it's okay” highlights the desperate need for reassurance and validation that often comes with intense emotional turmoil.


The verses take a more narrative approach, painting a vivid picture of the various forms that anger can take. In the lines “You are a sleeping lion / In your bed I will not wake you / You're the moment love has passed / We all must learn to hate you,” anger is personified as a powerful force that must be both respected and feared. The final lines of the song, “How can you know what things are worth if your hands won't move to do a day's work? / How can you know…” reinforce the sense of paralysis and helplessness that can come with anger.


Overall, “When Anger Shows” is a haunting and poignant exploration of a complex emotion, delivered through evocative and thought-provoking lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

It creeps all over you like a dull ache
Anger comes slowly and gradually until it completely envelops and discourages you


Think of all the things your hands could make
Reflect on your capability to create and manifest things in your life


It pulls you to the ground like soaking wet gloves
Anger is heavy and oppressive, making you feel helpless and exhausted


The change in your face when anger shows
Anger transforms you and makes visible the darker aspects of your personality


In that moment you realize that
The experience of anger causes epiphanies about life and the ephemeral nature of existence


Something you thought would always be there
The belief that certain things in life are secure and unchanging


Will die like everything else
But everything is eventually subject to change and loss


These thoughts I must not think of
For sanity's sake, I should avoid dwelling on certain troubling thoughts


Dreams I can't make sense of
Unexplained, unclear or otherwise puzzling aspirations


I need you to tell me it's okay
I require reassurance and validation from others to know that everything will be alright


You are a sleeping lion
Your power and influence in the world is dormant and inactive


In your bed I will not wake you
I will not disturb or interfere with your lack of action


You're the moment love has passed
You represent the loss of romantic love and its fleeting nature


We all must learn to hate you
But we must also come to terms with that loss and eventually release our anger and bitterness


You're a memory from before
You're a reminder of what once was, but is no longer present


Please, don't let me forget you
But even painful memories need to be remembered and processed to move on from them


You're the wolves at my door
You symbolize the constant, looming threat of danger, fear or temptation


How can you know what things are worth if your hands won't move to do a days work?
One's sense of value and meaning in life is tied to their ability to work hard and create


These thoughts I must not think of
The repetition of this line emphasizes the importance of avoiding certain thoughts


Dreams I can't make sense of
Repeated for extra emphasis on the frustration of unclear aspirations


I just need you to tell me it's okay
Again, the importance of external validation and emotional support is highlighted




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher Dominic Urbanowicz, Edward Owen Lay, Russell Leetch, Thomas Michael Smith

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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