Cherub
Honeydogs Lyrics
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You wish they were silk
If you can't get cream
Settle for milk
Everything you touch
Seems to shatter
Egg shells and newsprint
There's a little boy with an arrow
You're so scared of
You shot the cherub
You shot the cherub
You finally got your [Incomprehensible]
On a sinking ship
Put your wild elephant to sleep
Eat your blue chip
There's a little boy with an arrow
You're so scared of
You shot the cherub
You shot the cherub
It's what it is and what it's not
Keep your guard up, get your shots
Take off your rose colored glasses
Your Sunday school classes are free
How we're screaming at you
Dangling on your knee
There's a little boy with an arrow
You're so scared of
You shot the cherub
You shot the cherub
You shot the cherub
You shot the cherub
You shot the cherub
You shot the cherub
Cherub, cherub
The Honeydogs’ song “Cherub” is a reflection on the impossibility of achieving what we truly desire in life. The verse “Lying on cotton sheets, you wish they were silk. If you can't get cream, settle for milk” speaks to the sense that our desires are always just out of reach, and that we must settle for what is available, rather than what we truly want. The second verse goes on to describe how everything the singer touches seems to shatter, including egg shells and newsprint, conveying a sense of fragility and disappointment.
The titular cherub is a symbol of the love and happiness that the singer longs for but is afraid of. The line “There's a little boy with an arrow you're so scared of” refers to Cupid, the Greek god of love who represents the end goal of the singer’s desires. However, the singer is so fearful of the pain and disappointment that come with love that they shoot the cherub, an act that symbolizes their rejection of the possibility of ever finding true love.
The song ends with a call to take off one’s rose-colored glasses and confront the realities of life. The line “How we're screaming at you, dangling on your knee” suggests that we are always seeking approval and validation from an external source, even when we know deep down that we will never find it. Overall, “Cherub” is a powerful reflection on the human condition and the often elusive nature of happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Lying on cotton sheets
You're resting on comfortable bedding
You wish they were silk
You desire something more luxurious
If you can't get cream
If you can't have the best, most desirable thing
Settle for milk
Be content with something of lesser quality
Everything you touch
Your actions often result in destruction
Seems to shatter
The things you touch often break
Egg shells and newsprint
Delicate and easily damaged things
Torn and tattered
Worn and damaged beyond repair
There's a little boy with an arrow
There is a force or influence that is feared
You're so scared of
You're afraid of the consequences
You shot the cherub
You've made a mistake by acting impulsively
You finally got your [Incomprehensible]
You've achieved something you've been wanting
On a sinking ship
In a doomed situation
Put your wild elephant to sleep
Constrain your wild tendencies and become docile
Eat your blue chip
Accept the best opportunity before it disappears
It's what it is and what it's not
The reality can be different from your perception
Keep your guard up, get your shots
Stay alert and be prepared
Take off your rose colored glasses
Remove your unrealistic viewpoint
Your Sunday school classes are free
You were taught morals and values for free
How we're screaming at you
How the world is trying to teach you through experience
Dangling on your knee
The world is waiting for your next move
You shot the cherub
You made a mistake again
Cherub, cherub
The mistake has consequences
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM L. LEVY, NOAH LEVY, THOMAS BORSCHEID, TRENT NORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind