Numb
Marina and the Diamonds Lyrics
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Stuck inside my petri dish.
I can't breathe, and I can't smile,
This better be worth my while.
I feel numb most of the time,
The more I get the higher,
I'll climb, and I will wonder why,
To shine.
Looking for the golden light,
Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice.
Burn, burn, burn bright.
Far gone families, far gone friends,
That's how it started, and how it ends,
I can't open up and cry, 'cause i've been saddened all my life.
I feel numb most of the time,
The more I get the higher,
I'll climb, and I will wonder why,
I get dark only,
To shine.
Looking for the golden light,
Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice.
Burn, burn, burn bright.
Burn, burn, burn bright.
Ooh, I get dark,
Ohh, and I'm in hell,
I need a friend,
Ooh, but I can't yell,
Yeah, i'm no good,
No good to anyone,
'Cause all I care about,
Is being number one.
Shine,
Looking for the golden light,
Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice.
Shine,
Looking for the golden light,
Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice.
Sacrifice.
I feel numb most of the time,
The more I get the higher,
I'll climb, and I will wonder why,
I get dark only,
To shine.
And I'll light up the sky,
Stars that burn the brightest,
Fall so fast and pass you by,
Puff like empty lighters,
I feel numb most of the time,
The more I get the higher,
I'll climb, and I will wonder why,
I got dark only,
To shine.
And I'll light up the sky,
Stars that burn the brightest,
Fall so fast and pass you by,
Spark like empty lighters.
Dum dum dum, duh dah da.
The lyrics of Marina and the Diamonds' song "Numb" explore the theme of feeling disconnected and numb in one's life. The opening lines set the tone for the entire song, with Marina comparing herself to a goldfish stuck inside a petri dish, indicating that she is feeling trapped in her life. She talks about feeling like she can't breathe or smile, but that she's still searching for something that will make it all worth it. The chorus repeats the idea of feeling numb most of the time, and how she gets dark only to shine.
Marina continues to explore why she feels disconnected, referencing "far gone families, far gone friends" at the start of the second verse. She talks about how this has been a consistent theme in her life, making it difficult for her to open up and cry. Despite feeling numb, she still desires to shine and is willing to make reasonable sacrifices to achieve that goal.
The song ends with Marina contemplating her desire to be number one and how she feels no good to anyone. She then repeats the chorus, emphasizing her desire to light up the sky and shine brighter than the rest.
Line by Line Meaning
One track mind, like a goldfish
Focused on a single thought, like a goldfish in a small tank
Stuck inside my petri dish
Feeling trapped in my current situation
I can't breathe, and I can't smile, This better be worth my while
Feeling suffocated and unhappy, hoping that what I'm doing is worth it
I feel numb most of the time, The more I get the higher, I'll climb, and I will wonder why, I got dark only, To shine
Feeling emotionally disconnected often, the more success I have, the more I wonder why I had to go through difficult times to get there
Looking for the golden light, Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice
Searching for success and happiness even if it requires hard work or sacrifice
Far gone families, far gone friends, That's how it started, and how it ends, I can't open up and cry, 'cause i've been saddened all my life
My relationships with family and friends have always been strained and now they have drifted away. I can't cry because sadness has been a part of my life for so long
Burn, burn, burn bright
Keep pushing forward and shining brightly
Ooh, I get dark, Ohh, and I'm in hell, I need a friend, Ooh, but I can't yell, Yeah, i'm no good, No good to anyone, 'Cause all I care about, Is being number one.
Feeling like I'm in a dark place and needing someone to talk to but feeling like I can't ask for help. Prioritizing my own success over my relationships and feeling like I'm not really helping anyone in the process
Shine, Looking for the golden light, Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice, Sacrifice
Persist in seeking success even if it involves sacrifice
And I'll light up the sky, Stars that burn the brightest, Fall so fast and pass you by, Puff like empty lighters
I'll make a big impact and shine brightly, but my success may be fleeting
Dum dum dum, duh dah da.
Repetitive melody with no explicit meaning
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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