Room
Katie Graybeal Lyrics
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i'm suffocating
two hours in front of the tube
anticipating
another night waiting for you
and hesitating
that you can't pull through
i'm done staying here without you
just like the movies
a dress that would easily kill
red, black and scooping
neck, like the goddess unfurled
and you are swooping
in to take you punch
another bite another hunch
step back cause you're on the wire
it's live and dying
crazed as in summer-night fire
i can't help lying
to save myself
from this flirtation
it's understated
the grasp on
what i really want to say
is take a good look
and kindly turn away, go read a good book
the longer that you stay
i'll be reliving this again
i've gotta get out of this room
everything's new again
just for a moment
you saw my red hair and grinned
and you were hopeless
i'll wait around till ten
but them i'm taking the first cab out of here
i've tried to save face and smile
look how it's working
vanity fades for a while
it's just like jerking
the bull by the horns and red
little dress, fiery faking the stampede
i've gotta get out of this room
The lyrics to Katie Graybeal's "Room" describe a sense of suffocation and restlessness that the singer feels while trapped in a room, waiting for someone who may or may not show up. The singer is depicted as doing everything possible to distract herself from the boredom and frustration, including watching television for two hours and applying makeup and dressing up in a "red, black and scooping" dress. However, none of these distractions seem to provide real relief for her, as she continues to feel anxious and uncertain about the situation.
The second half of the song is more frenzied and passionate in tone, as the singer seems to be struggling against her own desire for the elusive other person. There are references to being "on the wire" and "live and dying," and an admission that she has been "lying" to herself in order to maintain some level of flirtation. However, the singer ultimately decides that she needs to leave the room and move on with her life, even if it means feeling uncertain and vulnerable.
One possible interpretation of this song is that it is about the difficulties of waiting for someone who may never arrive or reciprocate one's feelings. The focus on distraction and delusion in the first half of the song suggests that the singer is aware on some level that she is trying to avoid confronting her own disappointment and frustration. The more visceral and dangerous tone of the second half of the song suggests that the singer has started to lose control of her own feelings and desires, and may need to take drastic action in order to regain her sense of self.
Line by Line Meaning
i've gotta get out of this room
I need to leave this place because I feel trapped and suffocated here
i'm suffocating
I feel like I am unable to breathe or live my life fully in this space
two hours in front of the tube
I have spent hours watching TV, feeling unfulfilled and anticipating something more exciting
anticipating
I am looking forward to something that I hope will happen in the future
another night waiting for you
I have spent many nights alone, waiting for someone who may not even show up
and hesitating
I am unsure of what to do next, whether to wait or to leave
that you can't pull through
I doubt that the person I am waiting for will actually come, or that they are reliable
i'm done staying here without you
I don't want to be here anymore if you're not going to be here with me
there's make-up and pills and frills
This room is filled with superficial things that provide temporary pleasure, but not true fulfillment
just like the movies
These things are only here to create an illusion, like in a movie
a dress that would easily kill
This dress is so beautiful and alluring that it would be deadly for anyone who wears it
red, black and scooping
This dress is provocative and sexy, with red and black colors that catch your attention
neck, like the goddess unfurled
This dress is so amazing that it makes you feel like a goddess, confident and powerful
and you are swooping
You are coming towards me, looking captivated by this dress
in to take you punch
You are making a move to flirt with me or physically interact in some way
another bite another hunch
This is just another moment in a long line of flirtations and guesses about what will happen next
step back cause you're on the wire
You need to be careful because we are on the brink of something dangerous or risky
it's live and dying
This moment is intense and unpredictable, with its own unique energy that could end at any time
crazed as in summer-night fire
This moment is like a wild, out-of-control fire in the middle of a summer night
i can't help lying
I feel like I have to pretend or lie in order to save myself from a dangerous or uncomfortable situation
to save myself
I am doing whatever I can to protect myself from harm or discomfort
from this flirtation
I am experiencing a flirtatious moment that feels overwhelming and potentially dangerous
it's understated
This situation is not as simple or straightforward as it may seem
the grasp on
I am struggling to understand or articulate what I really want or what is happening
what i really want to say
There are things that I want to express, but I don't know how or if I should
is take a good look
I want you to think carefully and realistically about what is happening between us
and kindly turn away, go read a good book
I want you to leave me alone and find something else to occupy your time
the longer that you stay
The longer you are here, the more I will relive this moment and feel trapped and suffocated
i'll be reliving this again
I am afraid that this moment will repeat itself over and over, like a terrible cycle
everything's new again
As soon as you arrived, everything changed and became exciting again
just for a moment
This moment is fleeting and will not last forever
you saw my red hair and grinned
You noticed me and smiled because you found me attractive
and you were hopeless
You seemed captivated by me and unable to resist me
i'll wait around till ten
I am giving you a chance to arrive and meet me, but not waiting forever
but then i'm taking the first cab out of here
If you don't show up, I am leaving immediately and not looking back
i've tried to save face and smile
I have been pretending to be happy and confident, even though I am not
look how it's working
My attempts to hide my true feelings are not really working
vanity fades for a while
Superficial things like makeup and pretty clothes can make us feel good for a short time, but they don't last
it's just like jerking
This situation is like a quick, intense burst of pleasure that fades quickly
the bull by the horns and red
I am taking control of this situation, like grabbing a bull by its horns, and using the power of the color red to do so
little dress, fiery faking the stampede
I am using a sexy dress and a fiery attitude to create a sensation and create chaos in this situation
Contributed by Gavin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.