Eighteen
Forward Russia Lyrics


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Time to fall asleep
And take the fractions of emotions
That still litter your stale dreams like barley
I'm falling asleep

I'll bear this broken cross with you
Piece it together like you wanted me to
I'll protect your sense of right
I'll dissect your senses till you find me

I'm hurting myself
If the value won't depreciate
Appreciate it somewhere else
Leave me on the shelf

And though it still hurt to say
You always said that you wanted it that way
I'll protect your sense of right
I'll dissect your senses till you find me

And it's another obsidian bloodbath
But don't lie
When you said the Alps never would grow flat
You called wolf too many times

It's hard to save a life
When the dreams you enter fracture through
A million and one reflections
But tonight I'm saving a life

Through the hissing of watches and the ticking of clocks
I'll show the hours my open palm
I'll protect your sense of right
I'll dissect your senses till you find me

I'm falling asleep, I'm falling asleep
I'm falling asleep, I'm falling asleep
I'm falling asleep, I'm falling asleep

I'll protect your sense of right
I'll dissect your senses till you find me

And it's another obsidian bloodbath
But don't lie




When you said the Alps never would grow flat
You called wolf too many times, called wolf too many times

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Eighteen" by Forward Russia present a complex mix of emotions and themes. The opening lines suggest a state of vulnerability and surrender, as the singer prepares to fall asleep and confront the fragmented emotions that still haunt him or her. The usage of the metaphor of "barley" to describe those emotions suggests a sense of clutter and disorder, which may point to a past trauma or unresolved conflict.


The following lines introduce the theme of sacrifice, as the singer pledges to bear a "broken cross" with someone, presumably a lover or a friend. The entreaty to "Piece it together like you wanted me to" may suggest a past struggle or disagreement, and the singer's willingness to protect the other person's "sense of right" points to a deep commitment and loyalty. However, the use of language such as "I'll dissect your senses till you find me" may also hint at a possessive, controlling side to the relationship, underlining the complexity of the singer's motivations.


The song also contains moments of frustration and bitterness, as the singer laments feeling hurt and neglected. The lines "If the value won't depreciate, appreciate it somewhere else, leave me on the shelf" suggest a desire to be valued and cherished, but also a readiness to let go if those needs are not met. The repeated reference to "another obsidian bloodbath" may allude to a cycle of pain and trauma that the singer and the other person have gone through and that they may continue to face. The reference to "calling wolf too many times" may suggest a feeling of distrust or betrayal, as well as a potential loss of hope or faith.


Overall, "Eighteen" is a lyrical representation of a complex and fraught emotional landscape, exploring themes such as vulnerability, loyalty, control, sacrifice, frustration, and bitterness. Its use of poetic imagery and metaphors creates a vivid, evocative atmosphere that touches on both personal and universal themes, leaving room for interpretation and reflection.


Line by Line Meaning

Time to fall asleep
It's time to let go of the emotions and rest


And take the fractions of emotions
And acknowledge the bits of emotions that remain


That still litter your stale dreams like barley
That continue to haunt your dreams like a mess


I'm falling asleep
I'm succumbing to sleep


I'll bear this broken cross with you
I'll endure the burden with you


Piece it together like you wanted me to
Work on it to mend it like you asked of me


I'll protect your sense of right
I'll safeguard your moral compass


I'll dissect your senses till you find me
I'll help you comprehend your emotions till you understand me


I'm hurting myself
I'm causing harm to myself


If the value won't depreciate
If the worth won't decrease


Appreciate it somewhere else
Find value for it elsewhere


Leave me on the shelf
Do not involve me in this anymore


And though it still hurt to say
Even though it pains me to admit


You always said that you wanted it that way
You always wanted things to be this way


And it's another obsidian bloodbath
Another dark and chaotic situation


But don't lie
But don't pretend


When you said the Alps never would grow flat
When you declared impossible things would never occur


You called wolf too many times
You falsely cried out for help one too many times


It's hard to save a life
It's a challenge to rescue someone


When the dreams you enter fracture through
When the dreams you enter shatter at the seams


A million and one reflections
Numerous reflections


But tonight I'm saving a life
But tonight, I'm helping to rescue someone


Through the hissing of watches and the ticking of clocks
Amidst the noise of time


I'll show the hours my open palm
I'll reveal my vulnerability to time


I'm falling asleep, I'm falling asleep
I'm losing consciousness, I'm dropping off


And it's another obsidian bloodbath
And it's another dark and chaotic situation


But don't lie
But don't pretend


When you said the Alps never would grow flat
When you declared impossible things would never occur


You called wolf too many times, called wolf too many times
You falsely cried out for help often




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KATHRYN ROSE NICHOLLS, ROBERT FRANCIS CANNING, SAMUEL NICHOLLS, THOMAS DOMINIC WOODHEAD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@patrickmchugh9366

Grew up thinking twelve was their best hit. As an adult this song resonates tons more!

They really where great.

@patrickmchugh9366

Also that fucking synth build 🤘

@SkinnerIJA

I remember starting my first semester at a university and there were TVs around the food court tuned to MTV U and this song would be on rotation. Ugh, takes me back to those mornings of innocence.

@jackmccart5642

Anthemic AF 😃

@fujiwarataku

more people have to know this band.

@vaiority

took me a few listens to get used to the vocals, but forward russia is definitely amazing =)

@martintube24

Strong vibes of Bloc Party - Price of Gas involved in here. 😅

@LomoMop

Its hard to believe i saw this on MTV a coulpe years ago on a think called MTVU not the tv channel now but the widget made for the mac

@MalaikaJojo

great!:D

@DeepSpaceNetwork

Do I see the pigeon detectives in this video?

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