Metal Heart
Garbage Lyrics


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I wish I had a metal heart
I could cross the line
I wish that I was half as good
As you think I am

But now that we know for sure they´re telling lies when they say
No one gets hurt and therefore nobody dies
You know it´s hard to believe anything that you hear
They say the world is round

Wish I was as big as you
You´d have to tell the truth
I´d be nothing you could hurt
Nothing you could use

But now that we know for sure they´re telling lies when they say
No one gets hurt and therefore nobody dies
You know it´s hard to believe anything that you hear
They say the world is round
The world is round?

I want to be dependable, I want to be courageous and good
I want to be faithful so that I can be heroic and true
I want to be a friend you can rely on you can lean on and trust
I want to understand so I can forgive and be willing to love

I wish I wasn't flesh and blood
I would not be scared
Of bullets built with me in mind
For then I could be saved

My sweet lord take care of me for I think i´m done
Kiss my mother on her cheek and lay my burden down

But now that we know for sure they´re telling lies when they say
No one gets hurt and therefore nobody dies
You know it´s hard to believe anything that you hear
They say the world is round




The world is round?
The world is round?!

Overall Meaning

The Garbage song 'Metal Heart' speaks to the idea of being powerful and invincible. The lead singer wishes she had a 'metal heart', an indestructible heart that could allow her to cross any line, take on any challenge and ensure that she never gets hurt or used by anyone. She is envious of those who seem to have the power to make others believe in them without much effort, as she herself feels like she struggles to inspire faith in others. The second half of the song changes in tone as the lyrics become more lamentful and dark, discussing death, fear, and the unknown. The lyrics "But now that we know for sure they're telling lies when they say no one gets hurt and therefore nobody dies" suggest a darker truth that death is unavoidable, and one's pain or challenges cannot be avoided by simply being 'invincible.' The song ends with a plea for guidance from a higher power, and a sense of acceptance of what's to come.


Line by Line Meaning

I wish I had a metal heart
I desire a heart made of metal which would allow me to cross boundaries with ease.


I could cross the line
I would be able to surpass limitations and barriers created by society and life.


I wish that I was half as good
I aspire to possess half the qualities that others think I posses, for I feel flawed.


As you think I am
Others regard me as better than I feel I am.


But now that we know for sure they´re telling lies when they say
We now know that what we have been told in the past was false information.


No one gets hurt and therefore nobody dies
We cannot believe that there are no casualties in life for there will always be casualties.


You know it´s hard to believe anything that you hear
It is difficult to trust what is being said since the truth has been distorted in the past.


They say the world is round
People have been led to believe that the world is circular.


Wish I was as big as you
I wish I possessed a dominating presence as large as yours.


You´d have to tell the truth
If I was as influential as you, then you would have to speak the truth to me.


I´d be nothing you could hurt
I would be impenetrable to any pain or harm you could cause me.


Nothing you could use
You would be unable to manipulate or take advantage of me in any way.


I want to be dependable, I want to be courageous and good
My desire is to be reliable and to possess bravery and morally right actions.


I want to be faithful so that I can be heroic and true
So that I can enact virtuous and honorable behavior, I want to adhere to loyalty.


I want to be a friend you can rely on you can lean on and trust
I aspire to be a trustworthy confidant to those who need support in their lives.


I want to understand so I can forgive and be willing to love
I want to possess comprehension to be able to forgive and love others wholeheartedly.


I wish I wasn't flesh and blood
I regret being human with physical limitations and vulnerability.


I would not be scared
If I did not have a human body, I would not experience fear.


Of bullets built with me in mind
I would not fear bullets or mortal danger that could kill me because they would not target a human-made body.


For then I could be saved
I could be protected and rescued in the face of danger if I was not human.


My sweet lord take care of me for I think i´m done
A plea to a higher power for protection and guidance because the artist feels like they cannot continue.


Kiss my mother on her cheek and lay my burden down
If the artist cannot continue, they want their mother to be comforted, and they want to release their pain and worries.


The world is round?
A questioning of reality and the validity of past beliefs.


The world is round?
A questioning of reality and the validity of past beliefs.




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
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