In My Bones
Elder Brother Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you don't know what it means
To be in my bones
To be in my bloodstream
And I started to whisper
You stare right back at me
In the silence I've found
I don't know who I believe
What if what you can't, you really can
Every now and then, would you call again?
I never wanted it all, I just wanted to pretend
That I was awake and you were listening
Were you listening to me?
And my hands still shake
But it's only in my head
From the side of the stage
I wish you broken legs
When I'm laying in bed
And the devils in my dreams
Will you take my hand?
Will you sit beside me?
What if what you can't, you really can
Every now and then, could you call again?
I never wanted it all, I just wanted to pretend
That I was awake and you were always listening
Were you listening to me?
Were you listening?
Were you listening to me?
In "In My Bones" by Elder Brother, the singer expresses their feelings of invisibility, of being a vessel for others to project their own ideas and emotions onto, rather than being seen for who they truly are. The use of the imagery of walking on water highlights this theme of seeming to have a certain power or ability, but ultimately not truly understanding what it means to be the person they are, to have their experiences and emotions running through their veins. In the chorus, the singer begs for acknowledgement, for someone to truly see and hear them, rather than just assuming they understand.
The second verse continues to explore the idea of wanting to be seen and heard, but feeling like their message is not being received. The use of physical sensations, such as shaking hands and wishing someone broken legs, show a sense of frustration and detachment from reality. The devil in the singer's dreams may also represent their inner struggles and fears that they want someone to acknowledge and help them through. The final lines of the song, "Were you listening to me?", are a poignant plea for validation and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
You can walk on water
You have the ability to do extraordinary things
But you don't know what it means
However, you may not fully comprehend the magnitude of your actions
To be in my bones
For something to have a deep and personal impact on me
To be in my bloodstream
To be an integral part of my identity
And I started to whisper
Quietly expressing my thoughts and emotions
You stare right back at me
Looking directly into my eyes without saying anything
In the silence I've found
Through the absence of noise, I have realized
I don't know who I believe
I am uncertain about which path to take
What if what you can't, you really can
What if the things you believe are impossible are actually achievable
Every now and then, would you call again?
Occasionally, could you reach out to me?
I never wanted it all, I just wanted to pretend
I didn't need everything, I just wanted to imagine having what I desired
That I was awake and you were listening
That I was fully conscious and you were paying attention to me
Were you listening to me?
Did you hear and understand what I was saying?
And my hands still shake
I am still nervous and uncertain
But it's only in my head
However, my anxiety may only be a product of my imagination
From the side of the stage
Watching but not participating
I wish you broken legs
I wish you bad luck
When I'm laying in bed
Late at night when I am alone with my thoughts
And the devils in my dreams
The demons and negative thoughts that plague my subconscious
Will you take my hand?
Will you support and guide me through my struggles?
Will you sit beside me?
Will you stay by my side through thick and thin?
Were you listening to me?
Did you truly hear and understand what I was saying?
Were you listening?
Did you pay attention and comprehend what I was trying to communicate?
Were you listening to me?
Did you fully acknowledge and internalize my message?
Contributed by Carson P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
renny conti
This guy has a great voice. Just really good.
Benji Yapp
That bass tone is trebly and gurgly I love it.
12345joshieboy
Criminally underrated album. Listened to it ever since they streamed it.
Beastradamus
This is really fucking good.
AnalFondue
The comment about this being a really fucking good song is a really fucking good comment.
Matt Cadena
Some of the best material i've heard from you guys so far. Thank you for your hard work, and fir all the other bands, songs and albums/eps.
Johnny Strachan
I swear to god Pure Noise hasn't signed a band I haven't loved. Holy hell!
Josh Jones
You guys will make this Warped Tour amazing!
paytin oravsky
I'm in love already. They need to put out more now!
Mallory Ward
Love this!