Never Listen
Hollow Bones Lyrics

The song "Never Listen" by Hollow Bones depicts a complicated relationship where both parties are struggling to understand one another. The opening lines, "Imagine me, the same as you // I can feel you're curling up inside" show that the singer is empathetic and recognizes that they have some similarities with their partner. However, the next line "I burned your pictures long ago // Didn't you know? // You cut me open wide" suggests that there has been hurt and resentment in the past. The singer has tried to move on but is reminded of the pain inflicted by their partner.

The chorus is where the title of the song comes in, "I close my eyes I close the door // I close the door on you // My head is hard as wood // I've heard it all before // I'll never learn a thing from you." It seems that the singer has given up on trying to learn or understand their partner. They have closed the door on them and are unwilling to listen to anything they have to say. They have become stubborn and set in their ways, convinced that they know everything and cannot learn anything new from their partner.

The bridge depicts how both the singer and their partner have become stuck in a cycle, "I'll paint the pictures // I'll make the scene // But they're only re-runs, the same place // We never change // we never make // we stand with crutches our feet are nailed // To the floor." They both seem to be going through the motions, creating the same scenes over and over again without any real progress or change. The last line of the bridge, "To the floor," is particularly striking as it suggests that they are immobilized and unable to move forward.