Hoping to build on the Billboard Hot 100 success of previous single, "Why Do You Love Me", the album's title track failed to make an impact in the States; it stalled in the top 30 of the Modern Rock Tracks chart. In early autumn of the same year, remixes of "Bleed Like Me" reached the top 10 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
"Bleed Like Me" was written in 2004 at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin. Inspired by the movie "Thirteen", singer Shirley Manson overcame writer's block and wrote the lyrics to the track; one of the first songs the band wrote after reforming from a temporary three-month split in October 2003.
Name checking a number of her childhood friends; as well as J.T. LeRoy in the lyrics, Shirley recalled, "It’s about a search for empathy. We can forget so easily that people are the same regardless of their sexuality, religion, colour or moral values. Regardless of the differences between people – their colour, creed, sexuality or how they behave and express themselves – essentially we are exactly the same. It’s about how when you are dealing with other people you have to remember that they are all carrying with them their own baggage." Manson also referenced Gloria Gaynor's empowerment anthem "I Will Survive" (The first time a Garbage song directly referenced another musical composition).
Bleed Like Me
Garbage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She starves herself to rid herself of sin
And the kick is so divine when she sees bones beneath her skin
And she says:
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me
Chrissie's all dressed up and acting coy
He's trying to figure out if he's a girl or he's a boy
He says:
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me
Doodle takes dad's scissors to her skin
And when she does relief comes setting in
While she hides the scars she's making underneath her pretty clothes
She sings:
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me
Therapy is speedie's brand new drug
Dancing with the devil's past has never been too fun
It's better off than trying to take a bullet from a gun
And she cries:
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me
It's gets all fucked up in some karaoke bar
After two drinks he's a loser after three drinks he's a star
Getting all nostalgic as he sings 'I will survive'
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me
You should see my scars
You should see my scars
You should see my scars
You should see my scars
And try to comprehend that which you'll never comprehend
The lyrics to Garbage's song Bleed Like Me paint a picture of four different characters who all engage in various forms of self-harm or destructive behavior. Avalanche is described as being too thin and starving herself to rid herself of sin, finding a divine kick in seeing her bones beneath her skin. Chrissie is painted up like a new toy and trying to figure out their gender identity. Doodle takes scissors to her skin for relief and hides her scars under pretty clothes. Speedie turns to therapy as her new drug to dance with the devil's past instead of taking a bullet from a gun.
All of these characters are seeking someone to relate to and ask if they can bleed like they do. There's a sense of longing for connection and validation in their actions. The chorus repeats, asking the listener if they can bleed like the characters, almost inviting them into this world of pain and suffering. The final line of the song is a plea for understanding: "You should see my scars and try to comprehend that which you'll never comprehend."
These lyrics are powerful and poignant, shining a light on the struggles that people go through with mental health and self-harm. The song does not glorify these actions but instead presents them as ways that people cope with their pain. It asks the listener to understand and empathize with those who engage in self-harm rather than judge them.
Line by Line Meaning
Avalanche is sullen and too thin
Avalanche is depressed and excessively skinny.
She starves herself to rid herself of sin
She stops eating to feel pure or cleanse herself of a wrongdoing.
And the kick is so divine when she sees bones beneath her skin
She gets a pleasurable feeling from seeing her skeletal frame.
And she says:
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me
She asks if others share her emotional turmoil and self-harm tendencies.
Chrissie's all dressed up and acting coy
Chrissie is dressed up and deliberately flirtatious.
Painted like a brand new Christmas toy
She has put on makeup and other forms of adornment.
He's trying to figure out if he's a girl or he's a boy
Chrissie is struggling with their gender identity.
He says:
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me
Chrissie asks if others have their same doubts and uncertainties.
Doodle takes dad's scissors to her skin
Doodle cuts herself with her dad's scissors.
And when she does relief comes setting in
She feels better after self-harming.
While she hides the scars she's making underneath her pretty clothes
She conceals her self-harm scars.
She sings:
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me
Doodle asks if others understand her coping mechanism.
Therapy is speedie's brand new drug
Speedie finds therapy to be a new form of addiction.
Dancing with the devil's past has never been too fun
Addressing past traumas is unfavorable.
It's better off than trying to take a bullet from a gun
He would rather face emotional pain than physical danger.
And she cries:
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me
Speedie asks if others can relate to her therapies and struggles.
It's gets all fucked up in some karaoke bar
A karaoke bar becomes a chaotic scene.
After two drinks he's a loser after three drinks he's a star
After some drinks, his status changes drastically.
Getting all nostalgic as he sings 'I will survive'
He becomes emotional while singing a classic song.
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me
He asks if others share his emotional turmoil and possibly addictive tendencies.
You should see my scars
You should see my scars
You should see my scars
You should see my scars
And try to comprehend that which you'll never comprehend
The scars serve as a reminder of their shared experiences but cannot be truly understood by others.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DOUGLAS ELWIN ERICKSON, SHIRLEY ANN MANSON, STEVE W. MARKER, BRYAN DAVID VIG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Shoe0nHead
still such an amazing song and such an amazing face god damn it shirley manson i love you.
@leona172
Shoe0nHead Seeing your comment on here was so unexpected. Love your content!
@trianglemangler
holy fucq! shoe!
@lemonskilledmyson9862
Shoe0nHead omg you are everywhere
@KriboRX
I thought you hate feminists. (btw just joking)
@t3h_d00dzone2
Word.
@Stiggy333
"After 2 drinks he's a loser, after 3 drinks he's a star" I always thought that line was brilliant.
@angelacheng9259
Victims of self-violence and outsiders on the fringes of mainstream society needs a uniting voice like this to set them free, imploring all to "try to comprehend what you'd never". There are many great artists out there with corny lyrics, but Shirley is both poet and philosopher.
@jamesian-allen8725
She is just...beyond words. Incendiary and artiste' are 2 words that come to mind though. :)
@stinkymadamholly
For sure, I'm in a major "crisis", the 3rd of my life, BPD which I usually manage pretty well having a good mindfullness but when I'm close to getting outta control, all I need is hearing her voice, playing the band songs all day long, especialy "I Think I'm paranoïd", as if the lyrics were written by myself, or for me.