Finger Eleven is a Canadian rock band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1… Read Full Bio ↴Finger Eleven is a Canadian rock band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1989. They have currently released six studio albums. Best known for their songs One Thing, Slow Chemical and Paralyzer, Finger Eleven is an alternative rock band that has earned a devoted following. Their first album, Letters From Chutney, was recorded under the name Rainbow Butt Monkeys, with money won from a rock band search contest on local radio.

They changed their name to Finger Eleven for their breakthrough Tip, released on Mercury Records in Canada in 1997, and re-released by Wind-Up Records in the United States in 1998. The name Finger Eleven comes from an earlier version of the song Thin Spirits from the album Tip. Lead singer, Scott Anderson explains: "when everything is pushing you in one direction and your instinct drives you in another--that’s finger eleven."

A year later, drummer Rob Gommerman left the band and was replaced by Rich Beddoe. In 2000 they released The Greyest of Blue Skies. 2003's self-titled album Finger Eleven was a commercial success, spawning the single One Thing which reached #16 in the US. The band also recorded the song Slow Chemical for WWE superstar Kane and Daaam! (feat. Tha Alkaholiks) on the compilation album Loud Rocks.

Them vs. You vs. Me, was released on March 6, 2007 and contains the singles Paralyzer, Falling On, I'll Keep Your Memory Vague, and Talking To The Walls.

Their most recent album, Life Turns Electric was released on Oct 5, 2010. It featured singles Living in a Dream, Whatever Doesn't Kill Me, Stone Soul and finally Pieces Fit.

Band Line-up

* Scott Anderson (vocals)
* Rick Jackett (guitar)
* James Black (guitar)
* Sean Anderson (bass)
* Rich Beddoe (drums)

Broken Words
Finger Eleven Lyrics

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Your sweet little hands
Brush right past me
Sometimes you don't understand
Why you can't reach
I bite when I don't want to bend
How silent I can be
So she is silent too
She's the one who saw my words

Broken, Torn at the seams
And broken words were all she heard
Now she's walking away from me
Some never meant
And some meant well
The difference between us is so
Hard to tell
I was so shaken but now

All I see
Is everything she meant to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Finger Eleven's song "Broken Words" describe the end of a relationship due to communication breakdown. The singer reflects on his own shortcomings, how he can be biting and silent, which resulted in his partner walking away from him. The lines "Broken, Torn at the seams, And broken words were all she heard" illustrate how their words and conversations were not working, and the relationship had become damaged beyond repair. It's a sad realization that sometimes words cannot fix everything and how important it is to communicate effectively in relationships.

The song also touches on the complexity of relationships and how people's intentions can be hard to decipher. Some people may have good intentions, but their actions can still hurt others. The singer acknowledges this distinction between what was meant and what was not but ultimately understands that it doesn't change the reality of the situation.

Overall, "Broken Words" is a poignant song that captures the pain of losing someone due to communication breakdown, and the importance of recognizing one's own flaws and working to improve oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

Your sweet little hands
The hands of the person being addressed are described as sweet and little.

Brush right past me
Those hands move closely but without contact.

Sometimes you don't understand
Occasionally the person being addressed doesn't comprehend.

Why you can't reach
The person being addressed is unable to grasp or attain something.

I bite when I don't want to bend
Instead of yielding, the artist may react with aggression.

How silent I can be
The singer is capable of being very quiet.

So she is silent too
Perhaps to avoid conflict, the person being addressed refrains from talking.

She's the one who saw my words
The person being addressed is the one who interpreted a message conveyed by the artist, through spoken or written language.

Broken, Torn at the seams
That message was damaged, perhaps by misunderstanding or malice.

And broken words were all she heard
The entire message conveyed contained only damaged language.

Now she's walking away from me
The recipient is leaving, perhaps due to negative interactions with the singer.

Some never meant
Actions or words were unintentional.

And some meant well
Other actions or words were intended to be kind or helpful.

The difference between us is so
What separates the singer and the person being addressed is substantial.

Hard to tell
It is challenging to ascertain exactly what the difference is.

I was so shaken but now
The artist may have been emotionally impacted.

All I see
The artist's perception has changed.

Is everything she meant to me
The person who left behind the singer was important to them.

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: ARNOLD DAVID LANNI, JAMES RYAN BLACK, ROBERT SCOTT ANDERSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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