Nightmare
Element of Crime Lyrics


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Crawling on all fours
On a sidewalk
I an unknown town
Try to get up
But you can?t
Weakness holds you down
Pretend to be looking for something
Lost in the ground

?cause people stare at you

This is a nightmare
This is a nightmare

Uniformed Children
Dancing around you
Stab on your hands
Cute little creatures
With the features
Of your best friends
They try to stem you
With marbles and chewing gum balls

You?re to weak to get out of there

This is a nightmare
This is a nightmare

Climb on the stairs
Of a house
That is rot by a storm
Higher higher
You?re tired
You crawl
like a weakend worm
there?s a raw on your ears
the voices appear
you are choking around
still creeping to nowhere

This is a nightmare

You rag yourself
From the resorted streets
Under a dusty Sun
Trying empty burrows, flats, stores
One by one
You're brothers, your friends,
All the others, where have they gone?
Is anybody there?





This is a nightmare
This is a nightmare

Overall Meaning

The song "Nightmare" by Element of Crime portrays a haunting, dream-like sequence of events that the singer experiences. The lyrics depict the singer crawling on all fours, weakened and unable to get up, while being stared at by people in an unknown town. The singer is then surrounded by uniformed children, who have the features of the singer's best friends and attempt to harm them with marbles and chewing gum balls.


The singer then climbs the stairs of a house that is rotting from a storm, feeling tired and weakened like a worm. They hear voices that cause them to choke, and they continue to creep to nowhere. The final stanza features the singer searching for their loved ones in empty burrows, flats, and stores, wondering where everyone has gone.


The lyrics of "Nightmare" can be interpreted as a representation of anxiety or the feeling of being lost and alone. The imagery of being surrounded by children who have the features of the singer's loved ones could represent the fear of losing those close to us, and not being able to find them in a confusing and ever-changing world. The repeated phrase "This is a nightmare" reinforces this sense of fear and unease throughout the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Crawling on all fours
Unable to walk properly


On a sidewalk
Walking on the pavement


I an unknown town
In a place that is unfamiliar


Try to get up
Attempting to stand


But you can?t
Unable to stand


Weakness holds you down
Feeling physically unable to move


Pretend to be looking for something
Feigning purposeful action


Lost in the ground
Unclear of surroundings


?cause people stare at you
Feeling self-conscious due to attention from others


This is a nightmare
Realizing the experience is unpleasant


Uniformed Children
Kids in matching outfits


Dancing around you
Moving joyfully nearby


Stab on your hands
Piercing your hands


Cute little creatures
Adorable animals


With the features
Sharing characteristics


Of your best friends
Like your closest companions


They try to stem you
Attempting to stop you


With marbles and chewing gum balls
Throwing small items


You?re too weak to get out of there
Unable to escape


Climb on the stairs
Moving upward


Of a house
In a residential building


That is rot by a storm
Damaged by severe weather


Higher higher
Continuing to ascend


You?re tired
Feeling fatigued


You crawl
Moving on hands and knees


Like a weakened worm
Moving similarly to an atrophied animal


There?s a raw on your ears
Hearing strange or painful noises


The voices appear
Auditory hallucinations


You are choking around
Experiencing difficulty breathing


Still creeping to nowhere
Continuing to move aimlessly


You rag yourself
Dragging oneself


From the resorted streets
Exiting the dilapidated area


Under a dusty Sun
In the desert amidst the heat


Trying empty burrows, flats, stores
Looking in vacant spaces


One by one
On a gradual basis


You're brothers, your friends,
Your male companions


All the others, where have they gone?
Questioning the whereabouts of others


Is anybody there?
Feeling isolated and abandoned




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEVE GRANT, ANNABELLA LWIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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