Nothing Is True
Jim Carroll Lyrics


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You get nothin' back for all you've saved
Just eternity and a spacious grave
She said, "Nothing is true, everything is permitted"



Things just go from bad to worse
Starts like a kiss and ends like a curse
But nothing's true, she said everything is permitted

She got jewels on her tongue to time the stars
She drives all morning in unmarked cars
But nothing's true, it is all permitted

She got these special tools just to keep things tight
They robbed her eyes long ago of light
But nothing's true, she told me it's all permitted

She got inscrutable poise and nihilist charms
She gets her sleep through tubes in her arm
She said nothing is true, she said everything is permitted

She nods on graves, the marble's cold and white,
Her dreams surround the sun like a satellite
She said nothin' is true, she told me it's all permitted

The spiders [milk?] her thigh, it does not phase her
She cleans her skin with a krypton laser
Nothing is true, everything is permitted

She got heels so high, she got a gown so thin
Her eyes stop the whip before it tames her sin
She says nothin' is true, everything is permitted

Until they perfect the techniques to clone




You all better remember you're all alone
Because nothing is true, she said everything is permitted

Overall Meaning

The song "Nothing Is True" by Jim Carroll is a hauntingly beautiful piece that delves into the themes of nihilism and existentialism. The lyrics speak of the futility of life and the emptiness that it brings. The first line, "You get nothing back for all you've saved" speaks to the idea that life is ultimately meaningless, that no matter how much one strives and toils, they will ultimately end up in the same place: a spacious grave. This notion is reinforced by the recurring line "Nothing is true, everything is permitted," which suggests that there are no moral absolutes, no objective truths, and that anything is permissible.


The singer describes a woman who embodies this nihilistic perspective. She is a mystery, driving in unmarked cars, with jewels on her tongue to time the stars. She is also physically damaged, with eyes robbed of light and sleep delivered through tubes in her arm. She is simultaneously numb to the world and highly sensitive to its every nuance. She can withstand spider bites while using a krypton laser to cleanse her skin. She also wears revealing clothing and walks in high heels, but these are mere trappings of an existence that is ultimately pointless. The final line of the song suggests that even the hope of cloning oneself is empty, and that life is inherently solitary.


Overall, "Nothing Is True" challenges listeners to question the meaning of their own existence, to confront the inevitability of death, and to consider whether there is any purpose to be found in a world that is ultimately indifferent to our struggles.


Line by Line Meaning

You get nothin' back for all you've saved
Even if you work hard and save much, you will ultimately receive nothing in return - except an eternity in the grave.


Just eternity and a spacious grave
When we die, all we can expect is endless nothingness in a large tomb.


She said, "Nothing is true, everything is permitted"
The singer recounts a conversation with someone who claimed that all truth is relative, and all actions are permissible.


Things just go from bad to worse
Life is full of a series of unfortunate events that just continue to get worse.


Starts like a kiss and ends like a curse
The prospect of something good can quickly turn into something terrible and disappointing.


But nothing's true, she said everything is permitted
The same person reiterated their philosophy of there being no objective truth, and therefore no objective morality or limitations on human behavior.


She got jewels on her tongue to time the stars
The subject of the song has some kind of cosmic awareness, symbolized by precious stones covering her tongue to count the movements of the night sky.


She drives all morning in unmarked cars
The person described is secretive and elusive, choosing to travel incognito to avoid detection.


She got these special tools just to keep things tight
The artist describes the subject using tools to maintain control over their life, though it is unclear what they are or how they work.


They robbed her eyes long ago of light
For some reason, the person being described has lost their sense of sight or has had it forcibly taken from them to render them powerless.


She got inscrutable poise and nihilist charms
The object of the song exudes a sense of apathy and indifference that draws others to her, despite the fact that she doesn't believe in anything.


She gets her sleep through tubes in her arm
The person may be physically or chemically dependent on a substance, which is helping them to get through life in some way.


She nods on graves, the marble's cold and white
The person spends time in cemeteries and is able to rest near the graves of the deceased.


Her dreams surround the sun like a satellite
She is so powerful that even her dreams easily encompass the largest, most radiant object in our sky.


The spiders [milk?] her thigh, it does not phase her
The song describes an instance where spiders are crawling on the person's body, yet they are unaffected by their presence.


She cleans her skin with a krypton laser
The person uses an advanced tool to manage their personal hygiene.


She got heels so high, she got a gown so thin
The person is described as fashionable or glamorous, wearing expensive or daring clothing.


Her eyes stop the whip before it tames her sin
The singer describes the person as being very attractive and charming, making it hard for anyone to reprimand or criticize them.


Until they perfect the techniques to clone
The song implies that in the future, we may be able to create exact replicas of ourselves using advanced technology.


You all better remember you're all alone
Despite the possibility of cloning, we still experience loneliness and isolation as individuals.


Because nothing is true, she said everything is permitted
The final line of the song is a reiteration of the person's belief that we live in a world where there is no objective truth, and thus no objective morality governing our actions.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Brian Ladd Linsley, Jim Dennis Carroll

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Timothy Boucher

Jim Carroll was one of the true great creative geniuses of our time and he will be sorely missed.

Creed Bratton

my neighbor gave me an old box of records. i had to go buy a turntable to listen to them. this is how i found out about the jim carroll band.

Sandy Robertson

Interviewed him when this came out after I gave the album a rave review.

Bill Plate

Best neighbor ever !!

bif3578

A truly classic album--one of my all-time favorites.

DRpretorius39

Thanks for posting....r.i.p.Jim! Thanks again for this awesome album.Every song is good from first to last.Thanks for posting!

sdushdiu

Wry literate lyrics and one of the tightest bands in rock history....

Malte Laurids Brigge

I remember it seemed they came out of nowhere and were amazingly good and already themselves. I loved that album.

Lydieluck 77

“ Until they perfect the techniques of clone y’all had better all remember you’re all alone” love it 😂

jenni swiff

Su voz es genial.

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