Clean
Lampshade Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

i go wash my clothes
take a shower
scrub my skin till it hurts
wash my face
brush my teeth
i clean my room

drink lots of water lots of water
turn on the fan
but i can't get it off
it won't dissolve
black is all i see

i can't cure
can't purify
oh come come come surprize me

you can do what i can't
you're all i need
all i need

pen on my paper
making a list
of things i need to do
before sundown
i try to make it

try to be good
but the race makes me mad
i can never cure myself


i can't cure
can't purify
oh come come come surprize me
you can do what i can't
you're all i need





all i need

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lampshade's song Clean seem to describe a person going through a cleansing and purification process both physically and mentally. The opening lines of the song describe the persona washing their clothes, taking a shower, scrubbing their skin until it hurts, and cleaning their room. These actions are symbolic of a process of cleansing the external to ensure the internal purity. The persona is taking physical measures to ensure purity, but as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the internal purification is elusive.


The persona talks about drinking lots of water and turning on the fan, trying to get rid of something that won't dissolve. The phrase "black is all I see" suggests that the persona is struggling with something that they cannot see clearly. They are looking for something to purify or cleanse them from this feeling. The latter part of the song suggests that the persona is making a list of things they need to do before sundown, probably symbolic of meeting some deadline. They acknowledge that they can't cure themselves or purify themselves but are waiting for someone to surprise them and fulfill this need. The last line of the song suggests that the persona realizes that the thing they need to cure and purify them is someone else, saying "You can do what I can't, you're all I need."


Overall, the song describes a person struggling with their internal demons and seeking a cure, acknowledging that they can't do it themselves and hoping that someone else can surprise them.


Line by Line Meaning

i go wash my clothes
I engage in the activity of cleaning my clothes


take a shower
I cleanse my body under running water


scrub my skin till it hurts
I apply force to my skin while washing it with the intention of making it clean


wash my face
I clean my facial skin


brush my teeth
I clean my teeth using a toothbrush


i clean my room
I make an effort to tidy up and remove dirt from my living space


drink lots of water lots of water
I consume a large amount of water


turn on the fan
I activate a device that circulates air


but i can't get it off
I am unable to remove a particular substance or feeling


it won't dissolve
The substance or feeling is not disappearing as intended


black is all i see
I experience negativity or pessimism


i can't cure
I am unable to heal or solve a particular issue


can't purify
I am unable to remove impurity from a particular object or situation


oh come come come surprize me
I express a desire for something unexpected to happen


you can do what i can't
I acknowledge the abilities of someone else that surpass my own


you're all i need
I express my dependence or reliance on someone or something else


pen on my paper
I am writing by putting a pen on a piece of paper


making a list
I am cataloging a series of items or tasks


of things i need to do
The catalog consists of tasks that require my attention


before sundown
The tasks on the list must be completed before sunset or a specific deadline


i try to make it
I endeavor to complete the tasks listed


try to be good
I make an effort to act in an ethical and moral manner


but the race makes me mad
The competitive nature of society generates anger within me


i can never cure myself
I am unable to heal or solve my own issues alone


all i need
I express my needs simply and succinctly




Contributed by Xavier K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Teri-An Consaul

I used your method of cleaning 2 of my fabric lampshades. Great tutorial and excellent advice! They look as good as new! Thank you!!

Clean With Confidence

Thanks for the testimony! Happy to help!

Garner Pincock

Awesome, I've always been stressed out over dirty lampshades, mine are just dusty, and I stay on top of using a blower or a handheld hose with the dusting tool, which does a good job. But I really like your way deep cleaning a fabric lamp shade

Meg G

Thank you so much!
The lint roller is a great hack. I was afraid to use it thinking it would pull the fabric.
And definitely needed to know the stain removal. It made my lamp shades look like new!!

Clean With Confidence

You are welcome!

Kay Sorrell

I have used warm water and the wire parts of the material rusted

Connie Kline

@Kay Sorrell I was wondering about that, with the rusting parts while letting it sit. I was thinking that maybe to dry the metal parts, and let the rest sit to dry? 🤷‍♀

Marshall Curtis

I just cleaned my large fabric lampshade today using your advice. It came out not quite perfect, but definitely better than expected, given my level of patience, and considering that the stains had been on that trash picked lampshade for awhile. I’m drying it out in my bathroom right now, using a dehumidifier and the bathroom fan. After that, it’ll be ready to donate to the Goodwill. I hate needless landfill. Thank you!

Clean With Confidence

Glad it’s working out for you!🙂

Connie Kline

You did all of that just to give it to Goodwill? Wow, that's super kind of you to do that! I'm not being sarcastic either, it's really kind. Not many people would go through that effort just to donate it. Kudos to you! 🙂

More Comments

More Versions