Hurting And Shoving
Glassjaw Lyrics


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"When I get back"
Pre-break of dawn
Hear the ring it's me
Live from a pay phone
Talking in the rain.

Things pan out exactly as I say they will.
Will I be less happy
When I get back?

Two hand in one glove
As if we were poor.
The hard up make the soup from stones
Like the poor before them did before.

You say the waiting could crush your heart.

But it's nothing new to me
Have you crave me so desperately
But I know
How when you need me you bleed for me,

Though now I'm gone you fill my shoes with new
Fans.
Always and forever
We are apart and may she see

She'd be free rejoicing in distance
If she only let me sleep.

"Will things make less happy
When I get back?"

Absence makes the heart grow still.
Abuse the hunt; confuse the kill.
I know, I know.

Make the dead feel deader
Deader.
Make the dead sleep nights with a razor
Waiting.
Kill the prey.

I'll hold my child's head underwater.
If it's a boy, I was joking
If it's a daughter, I'll say I did what I did
Because I had to...
And if you find my kid later
Tell her I laughed too.

We just might work out fine
Because I love you enough
To let you give the pain that I want
... And when you do

I just might fuck you
Enough to love you.
Once upon my night stand
Lied letters piled in columns




Postmarked Middle Island
Out east in the country of Solemn.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Glassjaw's song "Hurting And Shoving (She Should Have Let Me Sleep)" explore the dynamics of a strained relationship. The song opens with a call from a payphone in the early hours of the morning as the singer discusses the way things are going to play out with his partner. The character seems confident that his prediction will come true, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he'll be happy with the outcome. The lyrics touch on themes of manipulation, control, and pain, with the lines "You crave me so desperately, but I know how when you need me you bleed for me" and "I love you enough to let you give the pain that I want."


The lyrics also contain a particularly controversial passage that suggests violence toward a possible future child. The lines "I'll hold my child's head underwater. If it's a boy, I was joking. If it's a daughter, I'll say I did what I did because I had to" have been interpreted in various ways, with some speculating that they're a reference to abortion or to the experience of growing up in a broken home.


Line by Line Meaning

When I get back
I have complete control over the events that will unfold


Pre-break of dawn
At the time right before the sun rises


Hear the ring it's me
I am the person who is calling you


Live from a pay phone
I am calling you from a public telephone


Talking in the rain.
Speaking while surrounded by falling water droplets


Things pan out exactly as I say they will.
I have predicted the events that will come to be


Will I be less happy
Will my happiness decrease


Two hand in one glove
Two hands sharing one glove


As if we were poor.
As if we were not wealthy


The hard up make the soup from stones
When there is no food or little food, the poor use whatever they can to make a meal, including stones


Like the poor before them did before.
The poor have always used what resources they have to survive


You say the waiting could crush your heart.
You think waiting could be extremely difficult and affect you negatively


But it's nothing new to me
I am familiar with this feeling


Have you crave me so desperately
Do you want me so intensely


But I know
I understand


How when you need me you bleed for me,
When you require my assistance, it can be emotionally painful for you


Though now I'm gone you fill my shoes with new
Although I am no longer present, you have replaced me with someone else


Fans.
Admirers


Always and forever
Forever and ever


We are apart and may she see
We are separated and perhaps she will understand


She'd be free rejoicing in distance
She would be liberated and happy living far away


If she only let me sleep.
If only she allowed me to rest


Absence makes the heart grow still.
When someone is gone, the heart's emotions subside


Abuse the hunt; confuse the kill.
Unfairly using one's power to get what they want, and making the objective more difficult than necessary


I know, I know.
I understand


Make the dead feel deader
Intensify the sensation of being dead


Deader.
More dead


Make the dead sleep nights with a razor
Cause the dead to suffer even more by giving them the tool to harm themselves


Waiting.
Anticipating and ready for action


Kill the prey.
End the life of the target


I'll hold my child's head underwater.
I will submerge the head of my offspring in water


If it's a boy, I was joking
If my child is male, my prior statement was not serious


If it's a daughter, I'll say I did what I did
If my child is female, I will justify my action


Because I had to...
I performed the action out of necessity


And if you find my kid later
If at a later time someone locates my child


Tell her I laughed too.
Inform my child that I found humor in the incident


We just might work out fine
We could have a successful relationship


Because I love you enough
Because I have enough affection for you


To let you give the pain that I want
I am willing to allow you to cause me the suffering that I desire


... And when you do
When you take action


I just might fuck you
I may engage in sexual intercourse with you


Enough to love you.
Enough that I can have romantic feelings for you


Once upon my night stand
On my night table at one point in the past


Lied letters piled in columns
Stacks of letters were stored there


Postmarked Middle Island
Marked with a stamp indicating it was sent from Middle Island


Out east in the country of Solemn.
An area located to the east in the region of Solemn




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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