Do you listen to yourself?
Never live for someone else
Do you like the way you feel?
Nothing hurts when no one's real
She wants to shake this scene
Yeah, she wants to shake with me
She's not looking for the holes in all their lies

I wanna bullet proof your soul
Would you like to lose control?
I won't let you fall until you tell me so

What are we?
(Whatcha wanna be?)
Everything
(That ya wanna be)
All I need
(Right in front of me)
I've know before

Would you come my way
Or did you burn out to the end?
Would you come my way
Should have listened when you called my name

Yeah, she wants to tear you down
And she leaves without a sound
It's like fallin' backwards into no one's arms

You're a bullet through my soul
And I'll never let you know
I won't let you fall until you let it go

What are we?
(Whatcha wanna be?)
Everything
(That ya wanna be)
All I need
(Right in front of me)
I've know before

Would you come my way
Or did you burn out to the end?
Would you come my way
Should have listened when you called my name

Would you come my way
Or did you burn out to the end?
Would you come my way
Should have listened when you called my name
Should have listened when you called my name
Should have listened when you called my name

Overall Meaning

The Goo Goo Dolls' "Bullet Proof" is a poignant reflection on the importance of personal authenticity and the necessity of staying true to oneself. The opening lines, "Do you listen to yourself? Never live for someone else," set the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer encourages the listener to embrace their individuality and reject societal expectations. The lines "She's not looking for the holes in all their lies" suggest that the singer of the song is determined to see through the facades of those around her, preferring instead to seek out genuine connections with those who share her values.

The chorus, which begins with the line "I wanna bullet proof your soul," reinforces this message of self-empowerment, as the singer promises to protect the listener's most vulnerable aspects, both physical and emotional. The refrain "What are we? Everything. All I need. I've known before" is a reminder that the singer has found his own sense of purpose and belonging, and encourages the listener to do the same.

In the second verse, the focus shifts to a specific relationship, with the singer asking "Would you come my way?" and lamenting that the other person did not "listen when you called my name." The song ends on this note of missed opportunity, with the singer regretting that a deeper connection was not forged. Ultimately, though, "Bullet Proof" remains a rallying cry for self-expression and individuality, urging listeners to "lose control" and embrace their own unique path.

Line by Line Meaning

Do you listen to yourself?
Are you aware of your own thoughts and feelings?

Never live for someone else
Don't let anyone else dictate your life or choices

Do you like the way you feel?
Are you happy with yourself and your emotions?

Nothing hurts when no one's real
When no one is truly connected or genuine, there is no emotional pain

She wants to shake this scene
She desires to break free from the current environment or situation

Yeah, she wants to shake with me
She wants to share the experience of breaking free with the singer

She's not looking for the holes in all their lies
She is not interested in finding flaws in the falsehoods told by others

I wanna bullet proof your soul
I want to protect you from emotional damage or harm

Would you like to lose control?
Are you willing to let go and surrender to emotions?

I won't let you fall until you tell me so
I will support you until you are ready to move forward on your own

What are we?
What kind of relationship or connection do we have?

(Whatcha wanna be?)
(What do you aspire to become?)

Everything
All-encompassing and fulfilling

(That ya wanna be)
(What you truly desire and strive for)

All I need
The singer only requires the person they are addressing for happiness

(Right in front of me)
(You are already within my reach)

I've known before
The artist has felt this way before and recognizes it now

Would you come my way
Are you willing to move forward in a shared direction?

Or did you burn out to the end?
Did you become exhausted or depleted from a previous experience?

Should have listened when you called my name
The artist regrets not heeding the person's call earlier

Yeah, she wants to tear you down
Another person desires to hurt and break the person down emotionally

And she leaves without a sound
This person does so without any explanation or closure

It's like falling backwards into no one's arms
The emotional pain feels like falling backwards without any support or safety

You're a bullet through my soul
The person has a strong emotional effect on the artist

And I'll never let you know
The singer keeps their emotions hidden from the person

I won't let you fall until you let it go
The singer will support the person until they are ready to move forward and let go of their emotional baggage

Should have listened when you called my name
The singer regrets not heeding the person's call earlier

Should have listened when you called my name
The artist again expresses regret for not responding to the person's call

Should have listened when you called my name
The artist repeats this sentiment to show the depth of their regret

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