The band is led by singer-songwriter Mike Edwards. They have released six studio albums, with the latest, 'Culture Vulture', published through Mi5 Recordings in 2004. They also have made two live albums and continue to tour. For more information, see their official website here.
Tongue Tied
Jesus Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Held hostage by my friends
Tripped up by meaning
Taking a road just to get to it`s end
Tongue Tied
It's killing me
I want to see things for the first time
Show you things that are brighter, darker, sharper, softer
Thoughts like paper over fire
There's a hole in my world
That makes me talk like a liar
Over there I see a fist fight
A woman in a care full of toys smokes a cigarette
Conversations twist and turn
I get the feeling I am learning more than ever before
This is the first time
Tongue Tied
It's killing me
The song "Tongue Tied" by Jesus Jones explores the frustration of being trapped in words and struggling to express oneself effectively. The singer feels held hostage by their friends and tripped up by the meaning of their own words. Despite wanting to show someone the world in all its complexity, they feel struck dumb and dead, their thoughts like paper over fire. They are unable to convey their true thoughts and feelings, feeling like they are talking like a liar. Despite this, they see the world around them with a keen eye, noticing small details like a woman smoking a cigarette and conversations twisting and turning. The singer gets the feeling that they are learning more than ever before, despite feeling silenced by their own tongue.
The lyrics of the song reflect a common human experience: the struggle to communicate effectively and authentically. The frustration of wanting to express oneself but being unable to find the right words is something many people can relate to. The song also touches upon the idea that sometimes, despite our struggles with language, we can still learn and grow from the world around us, even if we can't articulate everything we see and feel.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm trapped in words
I feel confined and unable to express myself clearly with language.
Held hostage by my friends
My friends' expectations and demands on my communication hold me back and cause me anxiety.
Tripped up by meaning
I struggle to find the right words to capture the complex meanings and nuances of my thoughts and experiences.
Taking a road just to get to it's end
I feel like I'm just going through the motions and following a predictable path, without a clear sense of purpose or direction.
Tongue Tied
My inability to express myself is causing me significant distress and frustration.
It's killing me
My inability to express myself is having a significant negative impact on my mental and emotional well-being.
I want to see things for the first time
I long to have fresh, new perspectives on the world around me and to experience things in a more open, unfiltered way.
Show you things that are brighter, darker, sharper, softer
I want to share my unique perspective and insights with others, and to help them see the world in new and nuanced ways.
But I'm struck dumb and dead
Despite my desire to communicate, I feel completely unable to do so and overwhelmed with a sense of hopelessness and despair.
Thoughts like paper over fire
My thoughts are fleeting and ephemeral, like a piece of paper that quickly disintegrates when exposed to heat.
There's a hole in my world
I feel like there's a significant void or emptiness in my life, and I'm struggling to find meaning or purpose.
That makes me talk like a liar
My inability to be honest and authentic with my words makes me feel like I'm not being true to myself or others.
Over there I see a fist fight
I observe conflicts and struggles in the world around me, including physical and emotional violence.
A woman in a car full of toys smokes a cigarette
I witness people engaging in seemingly contradictory or unexpected behaviors that challenge my assumptions and expectations.
Conversations twist and turn
Interactions with others can be unpredictable and complex, leading to unexpected outcomes and perspectives.
I get the feeling I am learning more than ever before
Despite my communication difficulties, I feel like I'm gaining new insights and understandings about the world and myself.
This is the first time
Despite my previous experiences and interactions, I feel like I'm encountering the world in a completely new and novel way.
Tongue Tied
My continued inability to communicate effectively is causing me significant distress and frustration.
It's killing me
My lack of ability to communicate is leading to significant emotional and psychological distress and suffering.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL EDWARDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind