Poison Ivy
Matthew Thiessen and The Earthquakes Lyrics


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Poison ivy
Better condition than I be
Hook me to an IV
While I whisper "Why me?"

In the freezer
Your words give me seizures
And if we take a breather
We'll break up and be hurt

I won't let you buy cigarettes
But I'll let you by with regrets
One thing I'll find a sure bet
A caged bird will fly if she's left
And I'll try not to cry
Your fingers dry my eyes
A memory I'll never forget

I've been wronged
With little defense
And I'll sing a song
Of inconsequence
And my days
With you are numbered
And I'll be amazed if we see another

I won't let you buy cigarettes
But I'll let you by with regrets
One thing I'll find a sure bet
A caged bird will fly if she's left
And I'll try not to cry,
Your fingers dry my eyes
A memory I'll never forget

So
Now you're gone
We always said that would be the best thing
Now
I fear I'm wrong
Or at least that's what my heart is confessing
'Cause I miss you
And I wish you
Were someone I could forget
'Cause I miss you
And I wish you
Were not number one on my list
List of regrets
And now I'm broken up
Because we've broken up
It's all a big "what if"
What if I'd spoken up
For what I wanted

Poison ivy
In better condition than I be




Hook me to an IV
While I whisper "Why me?"

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Poison Ivy" by Matthew Thiessen and The Earthquakes seem to be about a relationship that has ended, yet the singer is still struggling to move on. The person who left seems to have been involved in a destructive pattern, using words and actions that cause harm to others. The singer is left feeling weak and vulnerable, wondering why things turned out the way they did.


The repeated phrase "I won't let you buy cigarettes, but I'll let you by with regrets" suggests that although the singer is trying to take control of the situation, they are still allowing the other person to have some influence over them. The line "A caged bird will fly if she's left" implies that the singer knows deep down that they need to break free from this toxic relationship, but it is not an easy thing to do.


The final verse expresses regret for not speaking up and asking for what was wanted. The singer seems to be struggling with conflicting emotions - on one hand, they miss the other person and wish things could go back to how they were; on the other hand, they know that the relationship was not healthy and they need to move on.


Overall, the song is a poignant reminder of how difficult it can be to let go of someone we love, even when we know that they are not good for us.


Line by Line Meaning

Poison ivy
The toxic plant is a better state than me


Better condition than I be
I am in a worse state than the harmful plant


Hook me to an IV
Connect an intravenous device to help me stay alive


While I whisper "Why me?"
In a helpless state,I keep asking myself why is this happening to me


In the freezer
Your words make me feel frozen


Your words give me seizures
Your words make me have convulsions


And if we take a breather
If we pause or take a break,


We'll break up and be hurt
Our relationship would end and we will be in pain


I won't let you buy cigarettes
I won't allow you to smoke


But I'll let you by with regrets
I'll let you pass with guilt


One thing I'll find a sure bet
I can believe in one thing for sure


A caged bird will fly if she's left
A restricted person will move on if allowed to leave


And I'll try not to cry
I'll try to hold back my tears


Your fingers dry my eyes
You help me wipe my tears


A memory I'll never forget
I will always remember this event


I've been wronged
I have been mistreated


With little defense
I didn't have much protection to defend myself


And I'll sing a song
I'll express myself through a melody


Of inconsequence
Of no importance


And my days
The days spent together


With you are numbered
Our days together are few


And I'll be amazed if we see another
I'll be surprised if we get to spend any more time together


So
Moving on,


Now you're gone
Now that you have left me


We always said that would be the best thing
We both agreed leaving was the best decision


Now
But


I fear I'm wrong
I think I made a wrong decision


Or at least that's what my heart is confessing
My instinct is telling me that I made a mistake


'Cause I miss you
I am longing for you


And I wish you
I desire for you


Were someone I could forget
If you were someone I can forget


Were not number one on my list
If you were not the top priority on my list


List of regrets
List of things I regret


And now I'm broken up
My emotions and heart are broken


Because we've broken up
Because we're no longer together


It's all a big "what if"
It's all a huge speculation or guesswork


What if I'd spoken up
What if I had expressed my feelings


For what I wanted
For what I truly desired




Contributed by Callie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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