Bruised Orange
Justin Vernon Lyrics


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My heart's in the ice house, come hill or come valley
Like a long ago Sunday when I walked through the alley
On a cold winter's morning to a church house
Just to shovel some snow
I heard sirens on the train track, howl naked gettin' under
An altar boy's been hit by a local commuter
Just from walking with his back turned
To the train that was coming so slow
You can gaze out the window, get mad and get madder
Throw your hands in the air, say "What does it matter?"
But it don't do no good to get angry
So help me, I know
For a heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter
You become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there
Wrapped up in a trap of your very own
Chain of sorrow
I been brought down to zero, pulled out and put back there
I sat on a park bench, kissed the girl with the black hair
And my head shouted down to my heart
"You better look out below!"
Hey, it ain't such a long drop, don't stammer, don't stutter
From the diamonds in the sidewalk to the dirt in the gutter
And you carry those bruises
To remind you wherever you go
You can gaze out the window, get mad and get madder
Throw your hands in the air, say "What does it matter?"
But it don't do no good to get angry
So help me, I know
For a heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter
You become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there
Wrapped up in a trap of your very own
Chain of sorrow
My heart's in the ice house, come hill or come valley
Like a long ago Sunday when I walked through the alley




On a cold winter's morning to a church house
Just to shovel some snow

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Justin Vernon's song Bruised Orange describe the feeling of being trapped in one's own negative emotions and the importance of finding a way to break free from them. The imagery of the heart being in an ice house highlights the idea of being frozen or stuck in a certain state, unable to move forward or let go of past hurt. The reference to a long ago Sunday and shoveling snow suggests the idea of the cyclical nature of life and the need to keep moving forward despite obstacles.


The second verse tells the story of a tragic accident, with an altar boy being hit by a train due to his own carelessness. This event serves as a metaphor for the danger of letting one's negative emotions control them, and the importance of being aware of one's surroundings and actions. The chorus, which exhorts the listener to avoid anger and bitterness, is a reminder to focus on the positive and to find ways to move forward despite hardships.


The final verse offers a glimmer of hope, with the singer being lifted out of his despair by a kiss from a girl with black hair. This image represents the transformative power of human connection, and the importance of finding love and support in our lives. Ultimately, the song offers a message of hope and resilience in the face of hardship, urging us to keep moving forward and not give up.


Line by Line Meaning

My heart's in the ice house, come hill or come valley
My emotions are trapped and cold; no matter how high or low I feel.


Like a long ago Sunday when I walked through the alley
Flashback to a past memory when anything could happen.


On a cold winter's morning to a church house
Going through the motions of everyday in search for peace.


Just to shovel some snow
It's the small things that help you forget the bigger picture.


I heard sirens on the train track, howl naked gettin' under
Reality hits hard and unexpectedly.


An altar boy's been hit by a local commuter
Innocent people sometimes get hurt without reason.


Just from walking with his back turned
Not seeing the danger in front of you can lead to tragedy.


To the train that was coming so slow
Even slow-moving problems can cause harm.


You can gaze out the window, get mad and get madder
Anger is a natural response but not always productive.


Throw your hands in the air, say "What does it matter?"
Feeling hopeless and defeated. What's the point of trying?


But it don't do no good to get angry
Anger only hurts, never helps.


So help me, I know
Experience has taught me this lesson.


For a heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter
Holding onto anger only makes you weaker and sadder.


You become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there
Holding onto negative emotions traps you in a cycle of misery.


Wrapped up in a trap of your very own
You created this situation for yourself.


Chain of sorrow
A never-ending cycle of sadness and pain.


I been brought down to zero, pulled out and put back there
Feeling like you've hit rock bottom and then being reset to start over again.


I sat on a park bench, kissed the girl with the black hair
Finding joy in the midst of chaos and pain.


And my head shouted down to my heart
There's conflict between your mind and your emotions.


"You better look out below!"
Be careful, you're about to take a risk.


Hey, it ain't such a long drop, don't stammer, don't stutter
Taking risks doesn't have to be scary; be confident.


From the diamonds in the sidewalk to the dirt in the gutter
Life is full of ups and downs.


And you carry those bruises
Those ups and downs leave emotional scars.


To remind you wherever you go
Those scars are a constant reminder of what you've been through.




Contributed by Tyler T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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