Elephant Tree are a new band, just about to start cutting their teeth in th… Read Full Bio ↴Elephant Tree are a new band, just about to start cutting their teeth in the London metal scene. Having moved down and taken in many many gigs and shows the guys have been influenced to start making their own music. Linking up with Pete of Trippy Wicked & the Cosmic Children of the Knight and Stubb in early January and Riley 'Sitar Wizard' MacIntyre soon after, things are snowballing quickly with more songs in the pipelines. Recording in the summer for their first EP, the guys have been hard at work playing gigs over the south of England with a mini tour of the North of England in the works.

Members:
Jack Townley (Guitar, Vocals)
Peter Holland (Bass, Vocals)
Riley MacIntyre (Sitar, Vocals)
Sam Hart (Percussion)

Broken Nails
Elephant Tree Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

won't you save us
save us
from the light bleeding outwards
outwards
we've got nothing to show you
show you
we broke our nails on your shoulders.

you could save us
save us
from your world passing our way
our way
we laid everything before you
for you
we broke our backs in your shadows.

when time runs out
from the first to last
your old and young

your eyes fall down
the consequence of what you've done.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Elephant Tree's song Broken Nails speak to the desperation and helplessness that comes with feeling powerless in the face of overwhelming forces. The plea to "save us from the light bleeding outwards" suggests a desire to be rescued from some form of danger or harm. The repetition of the phrase "we broke our nails on your shoulders" emphasizes the idea of a physical struggle, as if the singer has clawed and scratched their way to some cold, hard truth, only to find that they are still trapped and powerless.

The second verse deepens the feelings of desperation, invoking a sense of futility and resignation with the phrase "we broke our backs in your shadows." Here, it seems that the singer has accepted their powerlessness and is resigned to their fate. The final lines of the song, "when time runs out / from the first to last / your old and young / your eyes fall down / the consequence of what you've done," suggest a sense of inevitability and finality. It's a dark and haunting image, one that highlights the idea that our actions have consequences that outlast us.

Line by Line Meaning

won't you save us
Asking for assistance

save us
Repeating previous request for help

from the light bleeding outwards
Preventing the spreading of something negative

outwards
Emphasizing direction

we've got nothing to show you
Lacking evidence or accomplishments

show you
Emphasizing the desire for recognition

we broke our nails on your shoulders.
Suffering pain and difficulty while supporting or carrying another's burden

you could save us
Acknowledging the other's ability to help

from your world passing our way
Being negatively affected by the other's actions or influence

our way
Emphasizing personal perspective

we laid everything before you
Being vulnerable and open