Harmful was originally a trio, founded in 1992 by members Aren Emirze, Chris Aidonopoulos and Nico Heimann. Their 2007 album 7 was produced by former Faith No More bassist and record producer Billy Gould who subsequently joined the band as a fourth member.
Album discography:
* 1995: Harmful (BluNoise)
* 1997: Apoplexy.136 (BluNoise)
* 2000: Counterbalance (Firestarter/BMG)
* 2001: Wromantic (Firestarter/BMG)
* 2003: Sanguine (Steamhammer/SPV)
* 2005: Sis Masis (Nois-o-Lution)
* 2007: 7 (Nois-o-Lution)
* 2010: Cause (PIAS)
Sadness
Harmful Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're around I'm always sad
All the distance keeps me near
What we've got is my worst fear
Take your fake for real
Erase my mind to clear
I can't find the strength to fight
Cut me out it's no surprise
Is the price we have to pay?
Paint your life dark grey and draw your sadness away
Think about stories with reason and rhyme
Think about people in their seasons and time
Why you never wonder why
Just to let it go on by
Paint your life dark grey and draw your sadness away
The lyrics of Harmful's song Sadness paint a picture of despair and hopelessness. The singer laments that every moment is a drag when the person they're singing about is around, as their presence only makes them sad. The distance between them paradoxically keeps them near, but what they have together is their worst fear. The singer implores the other person to take their fake for real and erase their mind to clear, suggesting that the other person is not genuine, and that the only way to cope with the situation is to forget it.
The singer feels powerless to fight and expects to be cut out, which doesn't come as a surprise. The lyrics indicate that every breath they take is a price they have to pay for whatever it is that's between them. The refrain paints a vivid picture of a dark and gloomy life, urging the listener to draw their sadness away by focusing on stories with reason and rhyme and people in their seasons and time. The final lines suggest that the listener should question why they're letting their life go by without doing anything to change it.
Overall, the song is a lamentation of a hopeless relationship, where the singer's efforts seem to be in vain, and they're left to face their despair alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Every moment's just a drag
Life seems dull and slow-paced all the time
When you're around I'm always sad
Being near you triggers negative emotions in me
All the distance keeps me near
Despite not physically being close, my feelings for you stay strong
What we've got is my worst fear
Our relationship is causing me great anxiety and stress
Take your fake for real
You're pretending to be someone you're not and I'm falling for it
Erase my mind to clear
I want to forget about you to ease the pain of loving you
I can't find the strength to fight
I'm too emotionally drained to keep trying to make things work
Cut me out it's no surprise
You leaving me would be expected and not a shock to me
Every breath I take today
Living in the present is a reminder of the struggles of our relationship
Is the price we have to pay?
Is it worth the emotional toll and pain to stay in this relationship?
Paint your life dark grey and draw your sadness away
Using art to express your emotions can help you cope with sadness
Think about stories with reason and rhyme
Reflecting on the meaning behind stories can bring clarity to your own situation
Think about people in their seasons and time
Everyone goes through different phases in life and it's important to remember that
Why you never wonder why
Why don't you question your own actions and how they affect our relationship?
Just to let it go on by
You're ignoring the issues in our relationship instead of confronting them
Paint your life dark grey and draw your sadness away
Art can be used as an outlet to process and release negative emotions
Contributed by Ellie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.