Half Life
IAMX / Sneaker Pimps Lyrics
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It's funny how your bee sting touch never leaves me whole
It's not enough to stay here almost trying
You keep your last laugh watch this dying
It's just half time vertigo
And if you want an answer I don't know
If you had completed me
Don't think I'd compete with you
With half of me to take
Half life nothing I'd call home
It's lucky how these phantom limb bee stings never show
It's not enough to leave this falling kindly
You burn my star down twice as brightly
It's just your half light undertow
But if you need forgiveness I don't know
Half light breaks with nothing wrong
Just a corner of my bed where you don't belong
It's kind of you to notice no one's dying
You choked your last laugh almost crying
It's just your half life long to know
And if you need a reason so it goes
The song Half Life by IAMX / Sneaker Pimps explores the theme of a relationship that was only half-lived, and never fully realized or completed. The lyrics suggest that the relationship was characterized by a series of bee sting touches that left the singer only partially satisfied. The phrase "half life" refers to the idea that something is only partially alive, or has a limited lifespan before it inevitably dies or fades away.
The singer seems to be struggling with the idea that if the relationship had been brought to completion, it would not have been enough for them. They express a sense of half-heartedness towards the relationship, and a desire to move on rather than continue to linger in an unfulfilled state. There is also a sense of regret and longing for what could have been, but the singer admits they do not have all the answers.
Line by Line Meaning
Half life wastes before it goes
Time flies by quickly without being fully utilized, just like how relationships can end abruptly if not taken care of properly.
It's funny how your bee sting touch never leaves me whole
Even though the relationship is over, the memory of how the other person hurt them still lingers on and affects them deeply.
It's not enough to stay here almost trying
Just trying to make things work isn't enough to sustain a dying relationship.
You keep your last laugh watch this dying
The other person is satisfied with watching the relationship crumble and fall apart, finding some sort of twisted pleasure in their own victory.
It's just half time vertigo
The uncertainty and confusion of a halftime break in a sports game metaphorically represents the state of the relationship.
And if you want an answer I don't know
The singer doesn't have all the answers regarding the relationship and the other person's actions.
If you had completed me
If the other person had taken care of and completed the relationship, things might have turned out differently.
Don't think I'd be pleased with you
However, the artist wouldn't simply be content with being completed, they need more than that from their partner.
Don't think I'd compete with you
The artist doesn't necessarily want to compete with their partner, instead, they want to work together equally to maintain the relationship.
With half of me to take
The artist feels like they only have half of themselves to offer since the other person has hurt them so much.
Half life nothing I'd call home
Despite the singer's efforts, the relationship is not a place where they feel welcome or at home anymore.
It's lucky how these phantom limb bee stings never show
The other person's hurts and actions have left invisible marks on the artist's mind, but no physical scars remain.
It's not enough to leave this falling kindly
Breaking up is never easy, but simply ‘being nice’ and staying in the relationship just for the sake of it is not a solution either.
You burn my star down twice as brightly
The other person's actions and betrayal have hurt the singer twice as much as they would have initially expected.
It's just your half light undertow
The other person's presence and influence are still felt by the singer but it is much weaker than before, like a half-hearted last attempt at maintaining control over things.
But if you need forgiveness I don't know
The artist doesn't know if they are willing or able to forgive the other person for everything that has happened, leaving the situation up in the air.
Half light breaks with nothing wrong
The delicate balance of the relationship falls apart even without any obvious wrongdoings, just the accumulation of small disregard and disrespect.
Just a corner of my bed where you don't belong
The other person has not only lost the trust and respect of the singer but their physical presence is no longer wanted in their life either.
It's kind of you to notice no one's dying
The other person's attempts at saving face are kind of pathetic and do not change the fact that the relationship is over.
You choked your last laugh almost crying
The other person's twisted pleasure has turned into despair as they realize the magnitude of what they have lost.
It's just your half life long to know
The other person's journey of self-discovery and moving on from this relationship is going to take a while to complete, long after the artist has moved on.
And if you need a reason so it goes
If the other person is still desperate for reasons why the relationship is over, the artist cannot provide them with a straightforward answer.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS CORNER, IAN PICKERING, LIAM COVERDALE-HOWE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind