Newborn
Elbow Lyrics
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Useless
I'll be as deaf as a post
If you hold me like a newborn
Whisper what you feel
My badly strung declaration to you
You'll spend the end of your days
Whisper what you feel
Love not by degrees
Press your lips to my eyes
Taste my tears on your tongue
Pull the blinds
Play our song
Nothing's changed
Nothing could be wrong
Scream in the night
Kick and strike like a newborn
Holding me shaking awake in the dark
All of these promises kept and unbroken
Tracing the scars
Tracing the scars
Even and cold as we both become older
Your arms bound about me
The hush in your voice
The warmth of your fingers entwined around mine
In the eve of our lives
Never a choice
The lyrics of Elbow's song 'Newborn' is open to interpretation but to me, the song seems to be about the vulnerable nature of love, and the different ways it can be expressed. The opening lines are abstract, describing the singer's willingness to be anything in the eyes of his lover, including a corpse in the bathtub or as useless as a deaf post. This shows the singer's willingness to be anything for his love. The lines "If you hold me like a newborn, whispered what you feel" may symbolize a sort of rebirth or a fresh start in a relationship, where both parties are vulnerable and open with each other.
The second verse paints a picture of a love that has grown old together. It describes the emotional intimacy in a relationship, and the different ways that intimacy can be expressed: "Press your lips to my eyes, taste my tears on your tongue". However, even with all the promises made and love shared, there is still the possibility of conflict; represented in the lines "Scream in the night, kick and strike like a newborn, holding me shaking awake in the dark". But even with the possibility of conflict, there is still a sense of security and comfort, as seen in the line "Nothing could be wrong".
The chorus seems to be a statement about the nature of love: it cannot be quantified or measured in degrees. It is an all-encompassing emotion that can only be felt and experienced through touch and intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be the corpse in your bathtub
I will be lifeless in your presence, useless and without value.
Useless
I will be lifeless in your presence, offering you no benefit or advantage.
I'll be as deaf as a post
I will be immune to anything else in the world when you hold me.
If you hold me like a newborn
If you treat me with the nurturing and delicate care that you would a newborn baby.
Whisper what you feel
Tell me everything you feel with soft, gentle words.
My badly strung declaration to you
My words may not be eloquent, but they are my honest expression of love for you.
You'll spend the end of your days
You will spend the rest of your life.
Gently smiling like a newborn
Smiling softly and contentedly like a newborn baby.
Love not by degrees
Love without any measurement or calculation, simply giving and receiving in full.
Press your lips to my eyes
Kiss my eyelids softly.
Taste my tears on your tongue
Let the taste of my tears linger on your tongue.
Pull the blinds
Close the window coverings to seclude ourselves from the world.
Play our song
Listen to the music that is special for us.
Nothing's changed
Despite time passing, our love remains the same.
Nothing could be wrong
Everything is perfect between us.
Scream in the night
Cry out loudly in the darkness of the night.
Kick and strike like a newborn
Lash out in anger and frustration, like a newborn kicking and striking with no coordination.
Holding me shaking awake in the dark
Embracing me tightly when I am woken up suddenly.
All of these promises kept and unbroken
The promises we made to each other have been fulfilled and remain unbroken.
Tracing the scars
Gently running fingers over the physical and emotional scars that have been left behind.
Even and cold as we both become older
As we both age, we become stoic and unemotional, unaffected by the rest of the world.
Your arms bound about me
Holding me tightly and not letting go.
The hush in your voice
The soft, muted tone of your voice.
The warmth of your fingers entwined around mine
The comforting and loving sensation of your warm hand holding mine.
In the eve of our lives
In the later years of our lives.
Never a choice
Our love was never a choice - it was always a given.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Peter James Turner, Richard Barry Jupp, Craig Lee Potter, Mark Potter, Guy Edward John Garvey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SoulGunMetal
Can't quite believe they missed out the climax to this song. It's so powerful...
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!!!
Scream in the night
Kick and strike
Like a newborn
Holding me shaking
Awake in the dark
All of these promises
Kept and unbroken
Tracing the scars
Tracing the scars
Even and cold
As we both become older.
Your arms bound about me
The hush in your voice.
The warmth of your fingers
Entwined around mine
In the eve of our lives
Never a choice.
@jonathankarakas5354
met them at the bar at the show they played in toronto at one of their first north american shows in 2002 (?) they were chillin at the bar watching Doves who were the headliner. There was max 500 people at this tiny ballroom. great days.
@fonixland
I met them in Boston during the same tour. My friend's roommate brought the bassist home that night!
@jarnartharn
Many moons ago, I was given some free tickets to a BBC Radio 1 gig at the Carling Academy in Birmingham City Centre. The headliner was Starsailor - with Electric Soft Parade and a band I'd never heard of, Elbow, on before them. Needless to say, Elbow and in particular this song blew me away...that voice...the emotion!!! I didn't stay to hear many Starsailor songs because they just didn't compare. I've hunted the internet in recent years trying to find footage from that gig or one similar that shows the raw emotion Guy belted out while singing this song...but alas, still haven't found anything close.
@darrenmaguire10
Harry Kane is one talented guy! Sings just as well as he plays football. In all seriousness though I love this album. Asleep in the back is my favourite song.
@birdiesneagles
he launched it into the top corner right after this...like a newborn
@debut71
😂😂
@MrSilbilly
Having a band like Elbow in the World makes it a better place - I can't say better than that
@a3poify
This song is one of the best songs of all time.
@eldrito29
Awesone song. Although I will say it's difficult to catch the meanings behind the words to all Elbow songs but the melodies carry me so I just let it do what it will. How can anyone not be moved by this song?
@nobodyyouwouldknow1
This was the track I learnt to put my contact lenses in to!