I Just Wanna Get Warm
Mark Heard Lyrics


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The mouths of the best poets

Speak but a few words

And then lay down

Stone cold in forgotten fields

Life goes on in this ant farm town

Cold to the lifeblood underfoot

All talk and no touch

And I just wanna be real

I just wanna be real

The colors here are monochrome

Studies in one shade of grey

The good times and the hard times

Cut from the same grey cloth

And all the fires that crackle here

Consume but do not burn

All light and no heat

And I just wanna get warm

I just wanna get warm

The days they rattle past me

Like a tunnel round a train

Landscapes and heartaches

I don't know what I feel

All I know is my condition

Is worse than I can tell

The small talk and the slow burn

And I just wanna be healed

I just wanna get well

There are things I should remember

But I have forgotten how

I'm all tied up with no time

Trying do too much

And the thoughts that I've avoided

Are the ones I need right now

Like a warm wind and love's hand

And I just wanna be touched

And I just wanna be real

And I just wanna be well





And I just wanna be healed

And I just wanna be warm

Overall Meaning

In Mark Heard's song "I Just Wanna Get Warm," the artist speaks of feeling disconnected and unfulfilled. He uses metaphorical language to express his sense of disorientation and longing for something deeper. The first verse speaks of the limitations of language, how even the best poets can only convey so much with their words. He compares them to forgotten stones, once valued for their beauty and strength but now lying cold and useless in a field. Life in the ant farm town described in the song is stagnant and emotionless, the people all talk and no touch. The singer just wants to be real, to feel truly connected to something or someone.


In the second verse, Heard describes the colors and moods of the town. Everything is monochrome, shades of grey with no real contrast or spice. Even in the midst of fires, there is no real warmth or light. The singer is deeply affected by the numbness of his surroundings, and he wishes only to feel warmth and comfort.


The third verse is perhaps the most personal, as Heard describes the passage of time and his own sense of inadequacy. Days pass like a blur, and he can't quite grasp the meaning of his experiences. He knows that he needs something more, but he can't quite name it. He wishes he could remember, but feels too overwhelmed and distracted. He longs for human connection, for love, and for a sense of peace or healing.


In all three verses, Heard is searching for something more than what he has. He wants to be real, to be touched, to be healed and to be warm. He sees himself as disconnected from the world around him and desperate for a deeper connection.


Line by Line Meaning

The mouths of the best poets
Even the most talented writers can only say so much


Speak but a few words
They only have a limited amount of wisdom to share


And then lay down
After they've shared their knowledge, they are done speaking


Stone cold in forgotten fields
They are forgotten over time and never fully appreciated


Life goes on in this ant farm town
Despite this, life continues on


Cold to the lifeblood underfoot
People are disconnected from one another and the world around them


All talk and no touch
There is a lot of meaningless conversation, but no true connection or intimacy


And I just wanna be real
The artist wants honest and genuine relationships


The colors here are monochrome
Everything is dull and lacks vibrancy


Studies in one shade of grey
People experience both good and bad times, but they all feel the same due to the lack of color


The good times and the hard times
Positive and negative experiences don't feel different


Cut from the same grey cloth
They all feel like part of the same, unsatisfying fabric of life


And all the fires that crackle here
Although there are passions, they are not strong enough to make a true impact


Consume but do not burn
They use up resources without making any lasting change


All light and no heat
There is superficial excitement, but no substance behind it


And I just wanna get warm
The artist wants to feel passion and intensity


The days they rattle past me
Time moves quickly and without significance


Like a tunnel round a train
The world passes by quickly and without leaving an impact


Landscapes and heartaches
The world is full of beauty and pain, but it all passes quickly


I don't know what I feel
The artist is numb and disconnected from their emotions


All I know is my condition
The only thing the artist is sure of is their own dissatisfaction


Is worse than I can tell
Their problems go deeper than they can express


The small talk and the slow burn
There are superficial social interactions, but no real passion or excitement


And I just wanna be healed
The artist wants to feel whole and healthy again


There are things I should remember
The singer has important memories they've forgotten


But I have forgotten how
They don't know how to access those memories


I'm all tied up with no time
They are overwhelmed and struggling to keep up with everything they need to do


Trying do too much
They are taking on more than they can handle


And the thoughts that I've avoided
They've ignored important thoughts and feelings


Are the ones I need right now
These are the things they need in order to heal and move on


Like a warm wind and love's hand
The singer wants to feel comfort and care


And I just wanna be touched
The artist wants to feel connected and loved


And I just wanna be real
The artist wants to live authentically


And I just wanna be well
The artist wants to be healthy and happy


And I just wanna be healed
The singer wants to be free from pain and trauma


And I just wanna be warm
The artist wants to feel passion and intensity




Contributed by Camden S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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