http://www.nathanielrateliff.com/
Members:
Nathaniel Rateliff
Patrick Meese
Julie Davis
Joseph Pope III
James Han
A Lamb on the Stone
Nathaniel Rateliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you think I mind at all?
Dont say...
How he was livin it up in a run.
Do you want to be the hammer?
Against broken necks unbent.
Like it was some old Indian dance,
but wait...
I think you finally found a way to get into me.
and hey...
I might be cut in half,
awwww, there's big confusion at the border to nowhere
And hey, are you makin it out on a limb?
Are you tryin to tan my hide?
is there a spoon and salt behind the door?
Or do you pour it on the floor to get down?
Im just another lamb on the stone,
grill the meat right to the bone,
and feast on it.
Or do you throw it to the foul of the air?
But wait, I thought you wanted me to let up the anchor,
and hey, why do you tie it to the rope around my neck?
Awww, is this a cause for your mission and virtue?
Hey, whats the trouble with softness of skin?
Im just another one to hide in the corner.
And hey, are you makin it out on a limb(X2)
But wait, I thought you wanted me to let up the anchor,
and hey, why do you tie it to the rope around my neck?
Awww, is this a cause for your mission and virtue?
And hey, are you makin it out on a limb(X2)
And hey, are you makin it out on a limb?
The lyrics of Nathaniel Rateliff's song A Lamb on the Stone seem to tell a story of a power struggle, where one person is trying to exert control over another. The opening lines, "Do you think you're a man to talk? Do you think I mind at all? Don't say... How he was livin it up in a run," depict the idea that the person speaking is not impressed by the other's attempts to show off their masculinity or superiority. The following lines, "Do you want to be the hammer? Against broken necks unbent. You got hooks in me that stretch my skin like it was some old Indian dance," suggest that the other person is trying to dominate or control the singer, using force or manipulation to bend them to their will. The line "but wait... I think you finally found a way to get into me" implies that the singer may have begun to succumb to this control, or at least recognizes that it is happening.
Throughout the song, the lyrics continue to reflect the power struggle between the two people, with the singer feeling like "just another lamb on the stone" being grilled and consumed, or "hidden in the corner" away from the dominant person's gaze. The repeated questioning of whether the other person is "makin it out on a limb" may imply a sense of danger or risk that the singer is sensing.
Overall, the lyrics of A Lamb on the Stone present an image of a tense, uncomfortable relationship dynamic, with one person seeking to exert power and control over the other.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you think your a man to talk?
Do you believe you have the authority to speak?
Do you think I mind at all?
Do you believe I am bothered by what you say?
Dont say...
How he was livin it up in a run.
Don't mention how he was living his life recklessly.
Do you want to be the hammer?
Do you desire to be the one who brings force?
Against broken necks unbent.
Against those who refuse to change even after experiencing harm.
You got hooks in me that stretch my skin
You have a grip on me that is both painful and powerful.
Like it was some old Indian dance, but wait...
Like the way Native Americans used to dance, but hold on...
I think you finally found a way to get into me.
I think you have found a new way to understand me.
and hey...
And hey...
I might be cut in half, awwww, there's big confusion at the border to nowhere
I could be torn apart, and there is chaos in a place that leads to nothing.
And hey, are you makin it out on a limb?
And hey, are you taking a risk?
Are you tryin to tan my hide?
Are you attempting to toughen me up?
is there a spoon and salt behind the door?
Is there a tool for torture and a seasoning for pain nearby?
Or do you pour it on the floor to get down?
Or do you waste it to indulge in your own desires?
Im just another lamb on the stone,
grill the meat right to the bone,
and feast on it.
I am nothing more than a sacrificial animal, cooked thoroughly and consumed voraciously.
Or do you throw it to the foul of the air?
Or do you discard it to be eaten by scavenging birds?
But wait, I thought you wanted me to let up the anchor,
and hey, why do you tie it to the rope around my neck?
But wait, I thought you wanted me to be free, so why are you still controlling me?
Awww, is this a cause for your mission and virtue?
Is this what you believe is necessary for your purpose and morality?
Hey, whats the trouble with softness of skin?
What is wrong with having a gentle and delicate exterior?
Im just another one to hide in the corner.
I am simply another person to be ignored and forgotten.
And hey, are you makin it out on a limb(X2)
And hey, are you taking a risk? (repeat)
But wait, I thought you wanted me to let up the anchor,
and hey, why do you tie it to the rope around my neck?
But wait, I thought you wanted me to be free, so why are you still controlling me?
Awww, is this a cause for your mission and virtue?
Is this what you believe is necessary for your purpose and morality?
And hey, are you makin it out on a limb(X2)
And hey, are you taking a risk? (repeat)
Contributed by Lincoln B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.