Sticks and Stones
Kat Felicis Ioco Lyrics


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The world seems silent, screaming deep inside
Presenting tranquility, but only on the outside
The lie from childhood, ingrained so deep inside
That words are harmless 'cause they don't wound on the outside

Here to cut me down again—sink your words in deeper
Here to take my will again—stab your words in harder
Your words are far, far worse than sticks and stones could ever be
The nursery rhyme has lied once again
I've tried so hard to understand,
But I only realize time and time again
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will cut me deeper

They still deny it—"there's nothing deep inside"
They only listen to evidence on the outside in blood

Here to break me down again—sink your words in deeper
Here to tear me down again—stab your words in harder

Your words are far, far worse than sticks and stones could ever be
The nursery rhyme has lied once again
I've tried so hard to understand,
But I only realize time and time again
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will cut me deeper

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will cut me deeper"

Sticks and stones might break or save my bones
Words might prevent my harming
Or make it worse when it comes

Your words are far, far worse than sticks and stones could ever be
The nursery rhyme has lied once again
I've tried so hard to understand,
But I only realize time and time again
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will cut me deeper





"Sticks and stones may break my bones
But words will never harm me" - But words can kill me

Overall Meaning

In the song "Sticks and Stones" by Kat Felicis Ioco, the lyrics highlight the impact of words on a person's emotional state. The first verse speaks to the idea that on the surface, everything appears calm, but deep inside the person is screaming due to the hurtful impact of words that they have internalized. The second verse refers to the childhood adage, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me" and how it's a lie because words can be far more damaging than physical pain.


The chorus emphasizes the point that words can cut deeper than sticks and stones, and that the rhyme is a falsehood. The bridge acknowledges that words can have a positive impact, but only when they are used for good. The final repetition of the chorus drives home the idea that words can do harm, that they can be fatal, even if the person uttering them doesn't fully grasp their impact.


Overall, the song addresses the ongoing struggle of dealing with people's hurtful words and how they can leave a lasting emotional wound despite the physical body being intact.


Line by Line Meaning

The world seems silent, screaming deep inside
Externally, everything seems calm and peaceful, but internally there is turmoil and pain.


Presenting tranquility, but only on the outside
Despite appearances of calm, there is inner chaos.


The lie from childhood, ingrained so deep inside
The falsehoods we learn in our younger years can be embedded within us and difficult to overcome.


That words are harmless 'cause they don't wound on the outside
We are taught that words cannot harm us physically, so we assume they cannot cause us harm in any other way.


Here to cut me down again—sink your words in deeper
The repeated use of harmful words wears us down, and the deeper they penetrate, the more lasting the impact.


Here to take my will again—stab your words in harder
Words can affect our mental and emotional state, and ongoing negativity can lead to a loss of personal agency.


Your words are far, far worse than sticks and stones could ever be
While physical harm is more noticeable, the effects of emotional and mental harm can last longer and be far more damaging.


The nursery rhyme has lied once again
The childhood rhyme about sticks and stones is a misrepresentation of the real impact of words on an individual.


I've tried so hard to understand,
The singer has attempted to rationalize the hurt caused by words.


But I only realize time and time again
Despite numerous attempts, the damaging impact of words remains a consistent realization.


Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will cut me deeper
The traditional saying is inaccurate, and in reality, words are often more damaging than physical harm.


They still deny it—"there's nothing deep inside"
There are those who are reluctant to acknowledge the impact of words on deeper, internal emotions.


They only listen to evidence on the outside in blood
When it comes to acknowledging harm, some people only respond to visible physical evidence, such as bruises or cuts.


Here to break me down again—sink your words in deeper
A repeated pattern of harm through words can lead to a lasting impact on mental and emotional health.


Here to tear me down again—stab your words in harder
The use of particularly harmful language can create a more lasting and damaging impact on an individual's sense of self.


"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will cut me deeper"
The traditional rhyme is untrue, and words have the potential to be far more harmful than physical harm.


Sticks and stones might break or save my bones
Physical harm may be harmful or even life-saving.


Words might prevent my harming
Encouraging and positive language may help prevent self-harming behavior.


Or make it worse when it comes
Negative language can exacerbate feelings of self-loathing and lead to self-harm.




Contributed by Noah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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