Carry Me Home
Living End Lyrics
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Then he'll be your only friend
There's nothing that'll save your soul
All you need is alcohol
Step right up and be a man
On your knees and pray
Freedoms just another open bottle anyway
So one more round is all I need
Fill it up and let me be
It's getting late I should've known
Won't somebody carry me home?
[Chorus]
Pick me up from my knees
Carry me home
We think you should know
It's time to go
No more to show
Yes it's time to go
6am it's closing time the barman turns the lights out
I want another round so bring it on it's my shout
Don't leave me sitting here
Don't take me for a ride
Freedoms just another drink
Don't leave me hangin' dry
Step right up and be a man
On your knees and pray
Freedoms just another open bottle anyway
[Chorus]
We think you should know
It's time to go
No more to show
Yes it's time to go
The Living End's song "Carry Me Home" is a powerful insight into the feelings of someone who has become reliant on alcohol. The opening line, "He's gonna get you in the end, then he'll be your only friend" highlights the destructive nature of addiction and how easily someone can fall into the trap of escapism through drinking. The song talks about the futility of trying to resist this pull, as "there's nothing that'll save your soul, all you need is alcohol". The singer is a man who is struggling to come to terms with his addiction, but he continues to drink, asking for "one more round" despite knowing that "it's getting late [and he] should've known".
The chorus is a cry for help, as he asks someone to "pick [him] up from [his] knees" and "carry [him] home". He acknowledges that it's time for him to leave, but he needs someone to physically carry him out of the bar, as he's too drunk to stand. The repetition of "we think you should know, it's time to go, no more to show, yes it's time to go" emphasizes the fact that there's nothing left for him at the bar. His only hope is to leave and try to get sober.
The lyrics also highlight the dangerous mentality that can arise when someone is struggling with addiction. The lines "freedom's just another open bottle anyway" and "freedom's just another drink, don't leave me hangin' dry" suggest that the singer believes that he is only free when he is drinking. This is a dangerous mindset, as addiction can make someone think that they need alcohol to function or be happy.
Overall, "Carry Me Home" is a poignant look at the destructive nature of addiction and the struggle to overcome it.
Line by Line Meaning
He's gonna get you in the end
Death is inevitable and will eventually catch up with you.
Then he'll be your only friend
In death, you will be alone and have no one else but death as your companion.
There's nothing that'll save your soul
No matter how much you drink or try to ignore it, death will come for your soul.
All you need is alcohol
Using alcohol to cope with the inevitability of death is a temporary fix, but ultimately futile.
Step right up and be a man
Face death head on with bravery and courage.
On your knees and pray
Using religion as a way to deal with the fear of death and seek salvation.
Freedoms just another open bottle anyway
The freedom to drink and indulge in vices serves as a temporary escape from the realities of life and death.
So one more round is all I need
Giving into temptation for one more round of alcohol to forget about death.
Fill it up and let me be
Desiring to become numb to the harsh reality of death through alcohol.
It's getting late I should've known
The realization of lost time and the urgency to cling onto life in the face of death.
Won't somebody carry me home?
Seeking help from others to escape the pain and fear of death and return home safely.
[Chorus] Pick me up from my knees Carry me home
Begging for assistance to escape the clutches of death and return to safety.
We think you should know It's time to go No more to show Yes it's time to go
Death is inevitable and it's time to accept it, as there is nothing more to do or show in life.
6am it's closing time the barman turns the lights out I want another round so bring it on it's my shout
Fighting against the end of the night and inevitable end of life, desiring one more chance to indulge in worldly pleasures.
Don't leave me sitting here Don't take me for a ride Freedoms just another drink Don't leave me hangin' dry
Pleading for someone to help in the face of death, as relying on 'freedom' and alcohol for salvation is futile.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GARY BARLOW, BENJAMIN WEAVER, MARK OWEN, MARK TAYLOR, HOWARD DONALD, PAUL BARRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind