Naked as We Came
Natalie Imbruglia Lyrics

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She says wake up it's no use pretending
I'll keep stealing breathing her
Birds are leaving over Autumn's ending
One of us will die inside these arms

Eyes wide open
Naked as we came
One will spread our

Ashes round the yard

She says if I leave before you darling
Don't you waste me in the ground
I lay smiling like our sleeping children
One of us will die inside these arms

Eyes wide open
Naked as we came

One will spread our
Ashes round the yard

Overall Meaning

In "Naked as We Came," Natalie Imbruglia presents a somber yet hauntingly beautiful ballad about the inevitable finality of life. The song appears to be about two lovers who are acutely aware of their mortality and cherish the moments they have left together. The first line "She says wake up it's no use pretending" hints at the fact that they are both aware of the limited time they have left together. They want to make the best of it by staying productive and happy.

When she mentions "Birds are leaving over Autumn's ending," it paints a picture of seasonal imagery, representing the coming of the end. The phrase "One of us will die inside these arms" implies that death is imminent, and when it occurs, both of them would be present, accompanying each other until the end.

The second verse continues the theme of knowing that they will die one day. The lines "I lay smiling like our sleeping children, One of us will die inside these arms" implies that even as they sleep next to each other, the idea of death still lingers in their mind. The final stanza of the song mentions the idea of having their ashes spread around the yard. This action serves as a reminder of the moments they had shared together and how they each had influenced the other throughout their lives.

Overall, "Naked as We Came" is a breathtakingly beautiful song about love, life, death and how to cherish the moments that are fleeting. The song also serves as a reminder to live life to the fullest and to appreciate the good times while they last.

Line by Line Meaning

She says wake up it's no use pretending
She urges her partner to face reality and stop pretending everything is fine.

I'll keep stealing breathing her
She will continue to rely on her partner for emotional support and comfort.

Birds are leaving over Autumn's ending
The changing of seasons is symbolic of how things and people come and go in life.

One of us will die inside these arms
The relationship will ultimately come to an end, whether through separation or death.

Eyes wide open
They are facing the truth head-on, with no illusions or denial.

Naked as we came
They are vulnerable and exposed, with nothing left to hide.

One will spread our
When they both pass away, one of them will carry out their final wishes.

Ashes round the yard
Their remains will be scattered in a place that holds sentimental value to them.

She says if I leave before you darling
She wants to ensure her partner understands her wishes in the event of her death.

Don't you waste me in the ground
She does not want a traditional burial, and instead wants her remains to be scattered.

I lay smiling like our sleeping children
She envisions a peaceful death, reminiscent of the innocent and serene nature of sleeping children.