Boxes And Lists
Manic Street Preachers Lyrics
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Chained to my skin
Burned like a fossil
Incapable of escape
Boxes and lists
Shifted under our beds
Twisting in my head
Like a Nazi war film
And like pretty girls
Oblivion exists
Boxes filled with lists
We will never cross
Boxes and lists
We'll dig their graves
Like unwanted memories
Always drag me down
A final list of things
To form into a wish
A box of rain to end my days
Lying for you to share the blame
Trouble cascade in misfits
And like pretty girls
Oblivion exists
Boxes filled with lists
We will never cross
Boxes and lists
We'll dig their graves
Like unwanted memories
Always drag me down
And like pretty girls
Oblivion exists
Boxes filled with lists
We will never cross
Boxes and lists
We'll dig their graves
Like unwanted memories
Always drag me down
The lyrics of "Boxes and Lists" by the Manic Street Preachers describe the burden of memories that can be haunting and overwhelming. The first verse mentions being "chained" to the skin and unable to escape the boxes and lists, which are described as burning like a fossil. The imagery here suggests a sense of being trapped and weighed down by the past, which can be so overwhelming it becomes like a Nazi war film twisting in the mind.
The chorus alludes to the way pretty girls can seem to exist in an oblivion, detached from the darker world of memory and trauma. The repetition of "boxes and lists" underscores their power and importance in the singer's life, and the second verse adds a finality to their existence as something that will "always drag me down." The final lines of the song offer a glimmer of hope in the idea of a final list of things to wish for, although even this is tinged with the melancholy image of a "box of rain to end my days."
Taken together, "Boxes and Lists" is a reflection on the ways in which memory can weigh us down but also offer solace and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Boxes and lists
The singer is grappling with the weight of past memories and experiences, which are catalogued and compartmentalized within his mind.
Chained to my skin
The memories are so ingrained in the singer's psyche that they feel like a physical part of him.
Burned like a fossil
The memories are deeply imprinted and can never be erased, like the remains of a prehistoric creature preserved over time.
Incapable of escape
The artist is unable to free himself from the burden of these memories and experiences.
Shifted under our beds
The memories have been moved around and shuffled, but they remain a constant presence in the artist's life.
Twisting in my head
The memories are tangled and muddled, making them difficult to process or understand.
Like a Nazi war film
The images and experiences stored in the singer's mind are horrific and traumatic, akin to a graphic depiction of war and genocide.
We will never cross
The artist knows that some experiences and memories cannot be shared or fully understood by others.
We'll dig their graves
The artist wants to bury his memories and experiences, but he knows that they will always be a part of him.
A final list of things
As death approaches, the artist is reflecting on his life and experiences, trying to make sense of his past.
To form into a wish
The singer hopes to find peace or closure through this reflection and examination of his past.
A box of rain to end my days
The artist seeks a form of emotional release or purification, symbolized by the cleansing power of rain.
Lying for you to share the blame
The singer is acknowledging his responsibility for his past actions and seeking to make amends or find forgiveness from others.
Trouble cascade in misfits
The singer recognizes the ways in which his past experiences and choices have led to negative consequences and misfortunes.
Always drag me down
Despite the singer's attempts to move on from his past, it continues to weigh him down and influence his present and future experiences.
Contributed by Lincoln V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.