Monument
Jane Child Lyrics


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Pasted labels on my days
Well, I was wandering faster than science
Going over the greenery
Where often just a change of stance
Could have us looking like a Christ

But there is hardly any more imagination
Ambushing the habits that I have lately fallen into
Well, I could sit for days like a statue
Even though I try not to do the same things twice

So throw a cloth around the shaking
Shoulders of the statues that you've built
You've built yourself into a monument
A monument
You'd even pray to it
While it was yawning

And just like zero in its constant emptiness
I was uttering the words of some
Useless unwritten scripture
Where often just a change of words
Could have us talking like a Christ

So throw a cloth around the shaking
Shoulders of the statues that you've built
You've built yourself into a monument
A monument
You'd even pray to it
While it was it yawning

Throw a little money in the
Paper cups of all those things that you are not
You've built yourself into a monument
A monument




You'd even pray to it
While it was yawning.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jane Child's "Monument" talk about the idea of self-imposed limitations and the struggle to break free from them. The song starts off by referring to how the singer's life has become a routine, without much room for creativity and spontaneity. They talk about how sometimes just a change of stance or a change of words could lead to a different outcome, but they feel trapped in their habits.


The chorus of the song has the singer addressing the listener or perhaps themselves, asking them to throw a cloth around the shaking shoulders of the "statues" they've built. The statues here seem to represent the limitations the singer has imposed upon themselves. By calling them "monuments," the song suggests that these limitations have become larger than life and are difficult to break out of. The singer also mentions that the listener would pray to these statues, even while they're yawning, suggesting that sometimes we are blindly devoted to our own limitations, even when they're making us unhappy.


Towards the end of the song, the singer suggests throwing a little money in the paper cups of all those things that you are not, perhaps implying that we should invest in new experiences and try to break free from our limitations. Overall, the song seems to be a call to action, urging the listener to break out of their routine and strive towards something more fulfilling.


Line by Line Meaning

Pasted labels on my days
I've established routine and order in my life with a sense of repetition.


Well, I was wandering faster than science
I was aimlessly moving around without direction.


Going over the greenery
Traveling through natural scenery.


Where often just a change of stance
Small actions can have a significant impact.


Could have us looking like a Christ
Our actions can be Christ-like in nature.


But there is hardly any more imagination
I'm finding it hard to be creative or come up with new ideas.


Ambushing the habits that I have lately fallen into
I'm trying to change the habits I've formed recently.


Well, I could sit for days like a statue
I could sit for extended periods without moving or making a change.


Even though I try not to do the same things twice
I strive to avoid repeating past actions.


So throw a cloth around the shaking
Cover the trembling body of the statue.


Shoulders of the statues that you've built
The image I've constructed for myself through my habits and actions.


You've built yourself into a monument
I've constructed an image of myself like a significant monument.


A monument
A representation of myself through my habits and actions.


You'd even pray to it
How deeply rooted my habits and self-image are part of me.


While it was yawning
Even though the monument seemed weary and tiring.


And just like zero in its constant emptiness
Feeling empty and unfulfilled as zero doesn't add value to calculations.


I was uttering the words of some
Saying less meaningful and pointless things.


Useless unwritten scripture
Talking about mere words without any practicality or value.


Where often just a change of words
Small changes in word choices can make a meaningful impact.


Could have us talking like a Christ
Our words can have a Christ-like impact.


Throw a little money in the
Contribute small amounts to things that need financial assistance.


Paper cups of all those things that you are not
Helping those causes that don't align with your image.


You've built yourself into a monument
The image of myself that I've constructed previously.


A monument
A significant representation of myself through my habits and actions.


You'd even pray to it
How much my self-image has become ingrained within me.


While it was yawning
Even though the monument felt fatigued and exhausted.




Contributed by Evelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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