Describing their music as a combination of “Funeral Pop” and “Dead Western”, MXMS made a vow to express their art as naked as it reads channeling artists like Johnny Cash, Nirvana, Serge Gainsbourg, Lush, Vast, and Enya.
Collaborating with designer Asher Levine for a “funeral” inspired fashion show for SS 2014, performing a series of shows at NYC’s immersive Sleep No More theatre, and playing LACMA’s (Los Angeles contemporary museum of modern art’s) annual Halloween Ball installation called “Haunted Screens” German 1920’s Cinema are just a few of the many events and performances MXMS has taken part of in efforts to jointly focus on music, fashion and cinema.
At the end of 2014, with a large collection of songs and a finished film script MXMS signed with boutique indie label Grand Jury Records. The music is earmarked for release early summer internationally via digital and vinyl with an accompanying tour.
“MXMS’s music frequently swells from lush yet painfully intimate lows to rousing and inspirational cinematic highs, demanding to be mined for a transformative film montage. The duo relishes straddling the fine line between light and dark–as well as navigating, and often deliberately disrupting, the fault line between their fierce desires to both shun industry norms, and to share their music with the world.” –Kurt McVey for Interview Magazine
Salvation Hurts
MXMS Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I cut too many corners when God was asleep
Damnation tucked in my sleeve
I took too many drugs, now I can't see my feet
I'll split the difference til there's nothing I see
I used to be the river Delta,
now I drown in the sea (drown in the sea)
Salvation ain't looking for me
(Hey, hallelujah)
(Ooh, ooh)
(Hey, hallelujah)
(Ooh, ooh)
There's a shadow at your door
It's a reckoning, reckoning
Knock, knock, can you hear me
Getting threatening, threatening
Turn it up, turn it up
Til it's deafening, deafening
I got demons and demons
And now they're wrestling, wrestling
Singing, "Ah, salvation hurts!"
Singing, "Ah, salvation hurts!"
Salvation ain't looking for me
I drink forbidden poison, throw myself in the street
Saint Peter took my fake ID
Jesus want me in a Heaven, but they ask me to leave
(Hey, hallelujah)
(Ooh, ooh)
(Hey, hallelujah)
(Ooh, ooh)
There's a shadow at your door
It's a reckoning, reckoning
Knock, knock, can you hear me
Getting threatening, threatening
Turn it up, turn it up
Til it's deafening, deafening
I got demons and demons
And now they're wrestling, wrestling
Singing, "Ah, salvation hurts!"
Singing, "Ah, salvation hurts!"
And I lost myself in a cloud I built
Don't get me closer to God above
I can do more than burn myself
And I need your answers, please
And I lost myself in a cloud I built
Don't it get me closer to God
Hallelujah...
Say hallelujah...
(Hey, hallelujah)
(Ooh, ooh)
(Hey, hallelujah)
(Ooh, ooh)
There's a shadow at your door
It's a reckoning, reckoning
Knock, knock, can you hear me
Getting threatening, threatening
Turn it up, turn it up
Til it's deafening, deafening
I got demons and demons
And now they're wrestling, wrestling
Singing, "Ah, salvation hurts!"
Singing, "Ah, salvation hurts!"
Singing, "Ah, salvation hurts!" (And I lost myself in a cloud I built)
Singing, "Ah, salvation hurts!" (Don't it get me closer to God above)
Singing, "Ah, salvation hurts!" (And I lost myself in a cloud I built)
Singing, "Ah, salvation hurts!" (Don't it get me closer to God above)
Singing, "Ah, salvation hurts!" (And I lost myself in a cloud I built)
Singing, "Ah, salvation hurts!" (Don't it get me closer to God above)
Singing, "Ah!" (Hallelujah...)
(Say hallelujah...)
The lyrics of MXMS’s song Salvation Hurts explore the singer's struggle to find salvation despite his wrongdoings. The singer admits to cutting corners and taking drugs while God was asleep, alluding to the fact that the singer knowingly did wrong things. The singer also mentions that he used to be a river Delta, but now, he is drowning in the sea. This statement indicates that the singer was once grounded, but now he is lost, that is, he no longer knows his path.
The singer acknowledges that Salvation is not looking for him, despite his desire to have it. The singer drinks forbidden poison, throws himself in the street, and admits that St. Peter took his fake ID. This admission further confirms the singer's wrongdoing. Jesus wants him in heaven, but he is not worthy, as they ask him to leave. In the chorus, the singer sings "Ah, salvation hurts" repeatedly, indicating that he believes salvation is punishing him for his wrongdoings. The song ends with the singer repeating the same phrase "And I lost myself in a cloud I built. Don't it get me closer to God above," indicating his frustration with his current state and desire to find salvation.
Overall, Salvation Hurts is about the singer's desire to seek redemption despite his wrongdoings. The lyrics are a reflection of his struggles and how he feels about his journey to find Salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
Salvation ain't looking for me
The singer does not believe that salvation is searching for them
I cut too many corners when God was asleep
The singer believes they did things wrong while they believed God was not watching
Damnation tucked in my sleeve
The singer feels like they are carrying guilt with them
I took too many drugs, now I can't see my feet
The artist took more drugs than was safe and now has lost touch with reality
I'll split the difference til there's nothing I see
The artist will compromise until there is nothing left of themselves
I used to be the river Delta, now I drown in the sea (drown in the sea)
The singer used to be in control, but now they feel like they are drowning
There's a shadow at your door
There is something threatening or ominous at the door
It's a reckoning, reckoning
It is a time to face the consequences of their actions
Knock, knock, can you hear me
There is someone trying to get their attention
Getting threatening, threatening
The situation is becoming more and more dangerous
Turn it up, turn it up
The singer wants to drown out their problems
Til it's deafening, deafening
The artist wants to completely silence their problems
I got demons and demons
The singer has both internal and external struggles
And now they're wrestling, wrestling
The struggles are fighting against each other
Singing, "Ah, salvation hurts!"
The singer associates salvation with pain and discomfort
I drink forbidden poison, throw myself in the street
The artist is engaging in self-destructive behaviors
Saint Peter took my fake ID
The artist is trying to deceive their way into heaven
Jesus want me in a Heaven, but they ask me to leave
The singer has done something that does not align with the values of heaven
And I lost myself in a cloud I built
The singer has created their own problems
Don't get me closer to God above
The artist does not see how their current situation could bring them closer to God
I can do more than burn myself
The artist is capable of worse than just self-harm
And I need your answers, please
The artist is seeking guidance and help
Singing, "Ah!" (Hallelujah...)
The singer is expressing anguish or frustration
(Say hallelujah...)
The artist is using the word 'Hallelujah' sarcastically, as if to say it does not apply to them
Writer(s): JEREMY DAWSON, JORDAN RAND MILLER, JASON MERRIS BELL, ARIEL DEVORAH LEVITAN
Contributed by Charlotte V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@quartani
Hey chin up Mary.
I am 47 almost 48 in March.
I have struggled with addiction to food, sex, white drugs and other toxic things from people to substances.
But I have always worried about this very thought of my reckoning.
I have felt deep guilt and shame For my choices for me to drown out my own deeper unaddressed and unhealed trauma.
I’ve had a rather rough life .
However,
also extremely blessed to overcome my own childhood forced brutal trauma forced into me and unprotected by the very person I needed to help me be able to find a safe home and life.
I have always questioned why if we were given a “loving god” I would be unable to get a tiny bit of help from my worst experience beginning at 4.
I understood I only had me to be my only help.
In turn became stubborn af on one thing “sheer survival skills”.
It’s created a beast of many facets.
I don’t think I understood what was supposed to be planned for my own journey and finding a answer to my question about god until my last few years.
Life gave me a strength in my heart to live.
However not healthy educated not to fall prey to the demons of what I was modeled in the beginning of life.
I have wanted to become smarter and not fall victim to substances to numb what I hid totally into my depth of my spirit and soul.
Fractured and broken but still hopeful that I’d be able to find what I needed.
It’s dangerous when I became 15 and ran away from all the people that I had to believe would’ve needed to become my own.
I’m not saying that running away was good but I don’t think many people can say that they have been able to just go to a different state with out a set plan on anything and survive with a group of friends to become family and family to walk away from.
It’s almost like I don’t worry about what exactly I may be going into rather than just have a blind faith.
It’s not a good thing always to not overthink things and may have placed myself in danger.
But I tell you what it’s always worked out and paid off into a life lesson.
But I have a lot of choices I’ve made in the name of “fun”.
I have to say it’s been a hard thing thinking about meeting my own judgement and who’s going to have a final word about my own choices and how I’m gonna pay for my bad habits I’d believed to give me even a brief moment of freedom/happiness in search for a whole loving happiness in life instead of escaping from pain and my own mind.
Man I’ve been putting myself into a lot of life’s problems admittedly due to lack of self love/esteem and respect.
I thought I’d found a little true love in the meeting of my ex husband in 93.
I met me in a different form in a partner .
I have only had a single thing I learned from the almost 13 years of marriage.
I’m the source for our 2 sons of to get them through this deeply deadly and more important journey in life.
@quartani
OkHey chin up Mary.
I am 47 almost 48 in March.
I have struggled with addiction to food, sex, white drugs and other toxic things from people to substances.
But I have always worried about this very thought of my reckoning.
I have felt deep guilt and shame For my choices for me to drown out my own deeper unaddressed and unhealed trauma.
I’ve had a rather rough life .
However,
also extremely blessed to overcome my own childhood forced brutal trauma forced into me and unprotected by the very person I needed to help me be able to find a safe home and life.
I have always questioned why if we were given a “loving god” I would be unable to get a tiny bit of help from my worst experience beginning at 4.
I understood I only had me to be my only help.
In turn became stubborn af on one thing “sheer survival skills”.
It’s created a beast of many facets.
I don’t think I understood what was supposed to be planned for my own journey and finding a answer to my question about god until my last few years.
Life gave me a strength in my heart to live.
However not healthy educated not to fall prey to the demons of what I was modeled in the beginning of life.
I have wanted to become smarter and not fall victim to substances to numb what I hid totally into my depth of my spirit and soul.
Fractured and broken but still hopeful that I’d be able to find what I needed.
It’s dangerous when I became 15 and ran away from all the people that I had to believe would’ve needed to become my own.
I’m not saying that running away was good but I don’t think many people can say that they have been able to just go to a different state with out a set plan on anything and survive with a group of friends to become family and family to walk away from.
It’s almost like I don’t worry about what exactly I may be going into rather than just have a blind faith.
It’s not a good thing always to not overthink things and may have placed myself in danger.
But I tell you what it’s always worked out and paid off into a life lesson.
But I have a lot of choices I’ve made in the name of “fun”.
I have to say it’s been a hard thing thinking about meeting my own judgement and who’s going to have a final word about my own choices and how I’m gonna pay for my bad habits I’d believed to give me even a brief moment of freedom/happiness in search for a whole loving happiness in life instead of escaping from pain and my own mind.
Man I’ve been putting myself into a lot of life’s problems admittedly due to lack of self love/esteem and respect.
I thought I’d found a little true love in the meeting of my ex husband in 93.
I met me in a different form in a partner .
I have only had a single thing I learned from the almost 13 years of marriage.
I’m the source for our 2 sons of to get them through this deeply deadly and more important journey in life.
@joshuasmith1215
This song is incredible and deserves MILLIONS of views.
@xXEmbracetheMetalXx
Joshua Smith
Yes, it DOES! 👏🏻
@missmaryfabela98
Wow I can't explain just how much i relate to this song. I've struggled with a nasty heroin addiction for almost 8 years and I'm 21 now. I've been to rehab and ive been to Christian rehab and getting clean hurts,it hurts bad. And when I seek God I I know it's gonna hurt.
@jasonvaccaro96
Stay strong
@grainofsand4176
Sending you good energy and strength.
@quartani
Hey chin up Mary.
I am 47 almost 48 in March.
I have struggled with addiction to food, sex, white drugs and other toxic things from people to substances.
But I have always worried about this very thought of my reckoning.
I have felt deep guilt and shame For my choices for me to drown out my own deeper unaddressed and unhealed trauma.
I’ve had a rather rough life .
However,
also extremely blessed to overcome my own childhood forced brutal trauma forced into me and unprotected by the very person I needed to help me be able to find a safe home and life.
I have always questioned why if we were given a “loving god” I would be unable to get a tiny bit of help from my worst experience beginning at 4.
I understood I only had me to be my only help.
In turn became stubborn af on one thing “sheer survival skills”.
It’s created a beast of many facets.
I don’t think I understood what was supposed to be planned for my own journey and finding a answer to my question about god until my last few years.
Life gave me a strength in my heart to live.
However not healthy educated not to fall prey to the demons of what I was modeled in the beginning of life.
I have wanted to become smarter and not fall victim to substances to numb what I hid totally into my depth of my spirit and soul.
Fractured and broken but still hopeful that I’d be able to find what I needed.
It’s dangerous when I became 15 and ran away from all the people that I had to believe would’ve needed to become my own.
I’m not saying that running away was good but I don’t think many people can say that they have been able to just go to a different state with out a set plan on anything and survive with a group of friends to become family and family to walk away from.
It’s almost like I don’t worry about what exactly I may be going into rather than just have a blind faith.
It’s not a good thing always to not overthink things and may have placed myself in danger.
But I tell you what it’s always worked out and paid off into a life lesson.
But I have a lot of choices I’ve made in the name of “fun”.
I have to say it’s been a hard thing thinking about meeting my own judgement and who’s going to have a final word about my own choices and how I’m gonna pay for my bad habits I’d believed to give me even a brief moment of freedom/happiness in search for a whole loving happiness in life instead of escaping from pain and my own mind.
Man I’ve been putting myself into a lot of life’s problems admittedly due to lack of self love/esteem and respect.
I thought I’d found a little true love in the meeting of my ex husband in 93.
I met me in a different form in a partner .
I have only had a single thing I learned from the almost 13 years of marriage.
I’m the source for our 2 sons of to get them through this deeply deadly and more important journey in life.
@quartani
Couple parts post cuz I have a lot more to say about this very worried thought I am the same as you.
@quartani
OkHey chin up Mary.
I am 47 almost 48 in March.
I have struggled with addiction to food, sex, white drugs and other toxic things from people to substances.
But I have always worried about this very thought of my reckoning.
I have felt deep guilt and shame For my choices for me to drown out my own deeper unaddressed and unhealed trauma.
I’ve had a rather rough life .
However,
also extremely blessed to overcome my own childhood forced brutal trauma forced into me and unprotected by the very person I needed to help me be able to find a safe home and life.
I have always questioned why if we were given a “loving god” I would be unable to get a tiny bit of help from my worst experience beginning at 4.
I understood I only had me to be my only help.
In turn became stubborn af on one thing “sheer survival skills”.
It’s created a beast of many facets.
I don’t think I understood what was supposed to be planned for my own journey and finding a answer to my question about god until my last few years.
Life gave me a strength in my heart to live.
However not healthy educated not to fall prey to the demons of what I was modeled in the beginning of life.
I have wanted to become smarter and not fall victim to substances to numb what I hid totally into my depth of my spirit and soul.
Fractured and broken but still hopeful that I’d be able to find what I needed.
It’s dangerous when I became 15 and ran away from all the people that I had to believe would’ve needed to become my own.
I’m not saying that running away was good but I don’t think many people can say that they have been able to just go to a different state with out a set plan on anything and survive with a group of friends to become family and family to walk away from.
It’s almost like I don’t worry about what exactly I may be going into rather than just have a blind faith.
It’s not a good thing always to not overthink things and may have placed myself in danger.
But I tell you what it’s always worked out and paid off into a life lesson.
But I have a lot of choices I’ve made in the name of “fun”.
I have to say it’s been a hard thing thinking about meeting my own judgement and who’s going to have a final word about my own choices and how I’m gonna pay for my bad habits I’d believed to give me even a brief moment of freedom/happiness in search for a whole loving happiness in life instead of escaping from pain and my own mind.
Man I’ve been putting myself into a lot of life’s problems admittedly due to lack of self love/esteem and respect.
I thought I’d found a little true love in the meeting of my ex husband in 93.
I met me in a different form in a partner .
I have only had a single thing I learned from the almost 13 years of marriage.
I’m the source for our 2 sons of to get them through this deeply deadly and more important journey in life.
@roksanaamid3846
This is so different from what they've previously released, but it's still another masterpiece.
@xXEmbracetheMetalXx
Roksana Amid
I can’t get enough of this one! 👍🏻 ❤️ 🤘🏻