Donnie Darko
Let's Eat Grandma Lyrics


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I saw you in the yellow pages
I just looked at it to pass the time
In my self-alienating phases I play a rough game to win, to win
Of being things that I can't be
And honestly some people are so committed to honesty
But I don't know if these can face that
'Cause I've wanted to take back what I've said before
But I, I couldn't find my receipt

I've got bed bug bites up my spine
And my left hand side cooled them down
In the freezer aisle, oh, so sweet, so the night comes by
Now I'm lying flat on the bathroom tiles
Hear the buzz of the hornet fly
Trapped inside of my orchid mind
I'm going batshit crazy
It's not real life, I can't be dialing 999
Peel my skin like a clementine
Just reminds me of Auld Lang Syne
But I focus right on the bright, blue light
And hold on tight, hold on tight

Donnie Darko's at my windscreens
Screaming, stop the car, stop the car, please
But I can't
And I can't

'Cause the beatings just get harder and we'll never grow them out
'Cause the hand that does the dealings is the one that feeds your mouth
And the beatings just get harder and we'll never grow them out
'Cause the hand that does the dealings is the one that feeds your mouth
And I won't, and I won't

I saw you in the yellow pages
I just looked at it to pass the time
In my self-alienating phases I play a rough game to win, to win
Of beatings that I can't beat
And honestly some people are so committed to honesty
But I don't know if these can face that
'Cause I've wanted to take back what I've said before
But I, I couldn't find my receipt

I saw you in the yellow pages
I just looked at it to pass the time
'Cause I've wanted to take back what I've said before




But I can't, and I can't
And I know, and I know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Let's Eat Grandma's song Donnie Darko explore themes of self-alienation, the pressure to be honest, and the struggle to control one's own thoughts and actions. The singer opens the song by describing a moment of boredom and distraction, flipping through the yellow pages. This innocent act leads to a spiral of introspection and anxiety as the singer reflects on the various identities and personalities they have assumed in their life. The line "Of being things that I can't be" suggests a deep sense of disillusionment and perhaps a desire to escape from the limitations of one's own reality.


The second verse adds a layer of physical discomfort to the narrative, as the singer describes experiencing bed bug bites and lying on the bathroom floor. The imagery of a buzzing hornet trapped in an orchid gives a sense of claustrophobia and entrapment. Donnie Darko, a reference to the 2001 cult film about a troubled teenager who experiences surreal visions, appears as a haunting presence throughout the song. The repeated lines "stop the car, stop the car, please" create a sense of urgency and desperation, as if the singer is trying to escape from some invisible force.


The chorus speaks to a sense of powerlessness and resignation in the face of a system or a society that seems to be rigged against the individual. "The hand that does the dealings is the one that feeds your mouth" suggests a corrupt system in which the powerful maintain their hold over the powerless by controlling the access to resources and necessities. The repeated phrase "And I can't" creates a sense of crushing defeat, as if the singer has given up on trying to change their circumstances.


Overall, Donnie Darko is a complex and layered song that reflects on the pressures and vulnerabilities of modern life. It explores themes of identity, honesty, powerlessness, and escapism through vivid and surreal imagery and poetic lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

I saw you in the yellow pages
The singer noticed someone in a directory, but it was a passing observation.


I just looked at it to pass the time
The singer was bored and looked through the directory for entertainment.


In my self-alienating phases I play a rough game to win, to win Of being things that I can't be
During times of feeling disconnected from oneself, the singer plays a game of trying to become something they're not.


And honestly some people are so committed to honesty But I don't know if these can face that 'Cause I've wanted to take back what I've said before But I, I couldn't find my receipt
The artist questions if people who place a high value on honesty can handle the artist's desire to take back things they've said. The artist feels unable to undo their words.


I've got bed bug bites up my spine And my left hand side cooled them down In the freezer aisle, oh, so sweet, so the night comes by Now I'm lying flat on the bathroom tiles Hear the buzz of the hornet fly Trapped inside of my orchid mind I'm going batshit crazy It's not real life, I can't be dialing 999 Peel my skin like a clementine Just reminds me of Auld Lang Syne But I focus right on the bright, blue light And hold on tight, hold on tight
The artist describes feeling overwhelmed, experiencing physical discomfort and emotional turmoil. They allude to feeling trapped inside their own mind and losing touch with reality. The artist tries to focus on something bright and reassuring.


Donnie Darko's at my windscreens Screaming, stop the car, stop the car, please But I can't And I can't
The singer references the movie Donnie Darko, in which a character repeatedly warns of impending doom. The singer acknowledges this warning but feels powerless to change the outcome.


'Cause the beatings just get harder and we'll never grow them out 'Cause the hand that does the dealings is the one that feeds your mouth And the beatings just get harder and we'll never grow them out 'Cause the hand that does the dealings is the one that feeds your mouth And I won't, and I won't
The singer laments that life's hardships only intensify and that the people in power perpetuate this cycle. The singer vows to not accept this as the norm.


I saw you in the yellow pages I just looked at it to pass the time In my self-alienating phases I play a rough game to win, to win Of beatings that I can't beat
The artist once again mentions seeing someone in the directory and playing a game of trying to become someone they're not during times of feeling disconnected. However, this time they include a sense of defeat.


And honestly some people are so committed to honesty But I don't know if these can face that 'Cause I've wanted to take back what I've said before But I can't, and I can't And I know, and I know
The artist remains unsure if honesty-focused people can understand their struggle to undo what's been said. They also reiterate their inability to change the past.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jenny Hollingworth, Rosa Walton

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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