Blood Embrace
Matt Sweeney And Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If she told me he was better
And that I didn't have the chance
That he did to impress her
Does she test me, does she know
That I would sooner turn and go
Than fight another, if that is what she have me do
And would she stop and hold me near
If she could see the future here
Would hold me if she held me to her too
I would not fight with hands or words
Another man no, that's absurd
Or would I end what victory betray me
Or is that what she's waiting on
A-pounding down one standing man
To kiss her in a blood embrace of victory
Or would I give her up at all
Because I know it could not be better
To live without what she provides
When we're alone and I undress her
Does she test me, does she know
That I would never turn and go
But fight another, if that's what she'd have me do
Charlie... I've been with another man
Aren't you gonna say anything?
You're just gonna sit there?
Oh Charlie, I didn't know when you were coming back
Or if you ever would.
I tell you the men around here don't respect anything
If I told you all the guys that called me up
And then Cliff, He didn't make a pass at me.
I mean he didn't even do it at all, Charlie
I knew what he wanted, but
he never did anything about it.
And then it just seemed like the two of us just had to.
I don't think I'm up for any more of this.
Why don't you go to bed ? I'll work this all out.
What are you gonna do ?
I'm just gonna sit here
Or is that what she's waiting on
A-pounding down one standing man
To kiss her in a blood embrace of victory
The song Blood Embrace by Matt Sweeney narrates the emotions and thoughts of a man caught between two choices - to let go of his partner to another man or hold onto her and fight for their relationship. The lyrics depict a sense of uncertainty and vulnerability that stem from the man's fear of losing his love interest amidst the competition of another man who could potentially be better than him. The singer ponders on whether his partner is testing him to prove his loyalty or if she is waiting for him to fight for her. Despite his fear of betrayal and desire to hold onto his relationship, the man is torn between giving his partner up and the pain of living without her.
The verses are open to interpretation, but it can be inferred that the man values his relationship with his partner's physical and emotional presence, which he cannot let go of easily. The mention of a "blood embrace of victory" highlights the intensity and passion of his relationship, which might be tested if he were to fight for her against another man. The dialogue towards the end of the song between Charlie and a woman suggests that the song could also be interpreted as a larger narrative about complexities, temptations, and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh God, would I give her up to him
Would I sacrifice my relationship with her for him?
If she told me he was better
If she informed me he was superior
And that I didn't have the chance
And that I wasn't offered an opportunity
That he did to impress her
That he had to impress her too
Does she test me, does she know
Is she testing me, does she have knowledge of my loyalty?
That I would sooner turn and go
That I would prefer to leave instead of fighting
Than fight another, if that is what she have me do
Instead of fighting another man, if that's what she asked me to do
And would she stop and hold me near
And would she physically grab and hold me close
If she could see the future here
If she could see what lay ahead
Would hold me if she held me to her too
Would hold me if she held me near her
I would not fight with hands or words
I would not engage in physical or verbal confrontation
Another man no, that's absurd
There's no reason to fight another man
Or would I end what victory betray me
Or would I lose my chance of winning her affection by fighting for her
Or is that what she's waiting on
Or is that what she's hoping for
A-pounding down one standing man
Defeating one man that opposes me
To kiss her in a blood embrace of victory
To win her love and embrace her passionately after fighting for her
Or would I give her up at all
Or would I not give up on her
Because I know it could not be better
Because I'm aware that nothing else could be better
To live without what she provides
To exist without what she offers
When we're alone and I undress her
When we're alone and intimate
But fight another, if that's what she'd have me do
But I would fight for her if she asked me to
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MidtownSkyport
heard this on the radio this morning (@LaverneShow - BBC 6music), great stuff.
@circespell
About time his Bonnie-ness regraced our shores
@jsnas3
Deep deep sadness.
@societyreborn33
Audio clip from 'rolling thunder' a movie about a pow vietnam vet who comes home years later to find his woman astray
@tobiasabeer
Quarry
@kaini7010
chills.
@marceloadelar
incredibly haunting
@SEARLY100
also heard it on laverne show. luverly choon...
@wassupdam
Beautiful....... probably the only song which is about a woman leaving a man that I really like
@bmdola
Lastly she said that if women were drawn to rash men it was only that in their secret hearts they knew that a man who would not kill for them was of no use at all.