Stone Hard
Katie James Lyrics
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‘Cause when I was soft you cut me open
I’ve closed the doors, I’m safe inside
But now these walls cannot be broken
I learned not to dream
I learned not to scream
Watched my own heart bleedBut I would not show my need
How many times I wanted you but I didn’t say
I learned from you to turn my back and walk away
But every tear I didn’t cry turned to ice inside
I tried to kill you but each time I stabbed you
I died
I’ve made myself stone hard
‘Cause when I was soft you cut me open
I’ve closed the doors, I’m safe inside
But now these walls cannot be broken
I learned not to care
I learned not to despair
I believed my own lie
So scared to fall I did not fly
How many times
have I tried to love but I didn’t try?
I was too afraid to let someone in and see me cry
But every time I held it in, it grew stronger inside
I tried to forget you but each time I saw you,
I died
Katie James's song "Stone Hard" is a powerful anthem for anyone who has been hurt and learned to shut themselves off emotionally as a result. The lyrics describe the process of hardening oneself against the cruelty of others, starting with the pain of being vulnerable and the subsequent hurt that comes from being injured. The singer then describes how they have learned not to dream or scream, internalizing the pain and hiding their emotions from the world. They have become so isolated that they have closed themselves off completely - "these walls cannot be broken."
Despite this, the singer acknowledges that they still feel the pain and the need for connection that they have suppressed. They have tried to kill their emotions, but every time they see the person who hurt them, they are reminded of their own vulnerability and the hurt they carry inside. "Stone Hard" is a deeply personal song that speaks to the experience of many who have been hurt and feel they have no choice but to protect themselves by hardening their emotional armor.
Line by Line Meaning
I’ve made myself stone hard
I have become emotionally guarded and unfeeling to protect myself from being hurt again.
‘Cause when I was soft you cut me open
Being vulnerable left me open to being hurt by you.
I’ve closed the doors, I’m safe inside
I have shut out any possibility of being hurt emotionally by others by refusing to let anyone get close enough to hurt me.
But now these walls cannot be broken
My guardedness has become so strong that it feels impossible to let anyone in or to trust anyone enough to let them break down my walls.
I learned not to dream
I have stopped allowing myself to have hopes or aspirations because I have been let down too many times before.
I learned not to scream
I have suppressed my emotions and no longer allow myself to express them through yelling or other forms of verbal outburst.
Watched my own heart bleed
I have been hurt so deeply in the past that it feels as though my heart has been bleeding ever since.
But I would not show my need
I refuse to let anyone know how much I need them or how deeply I care because I fear it may result in being hurt again.
How many times I wanted you but I didn’t say
I have had many opportunities to express my feelings for you, but I have held back out of fear of being rejected or hurt.
I learned from you to turn my back and walk away
Your rejection of me taught me to detach myself emotionally from situations and people to avoid getting hurt.
But every tear I didn’t cry turned to ice inside
Every emotion that I suppressed and did not express has slowly built up inside me to the point that I no longer feel anything- I am cold and emotionless.
I tried to kill you but each time I stabbed you I died
Every time I have tried to push you away or hurt you, I have only ended up hurting myself more deeply in the process.
I learned not to care
I have stopped allowing myself to care about people or things in order to avoid being hurt by them.
I learned not to despair
I refuse to let myself feel hopeless or distressed because I fear the pain it may bring me.
I believed my own lie
I have convinced myself that I do not need anyone else and that I am better off emotionally alone to avoid being hurt again.
So scared to fall I did not fly
My fear of being hurt has left me too afraid to take any emotional risks or to allow myself to truly live my life to the fullest.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Katie James, Toño Castillo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind