Dam Would Break
Nickel Creek and Glen Phillips Lyrics
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Forget the words that once rang so true
Did we expect that life was ever fair, my god...
I sowed a field of rose and reaped a whipping rod
And everything I've held too tight inside
Could make a part of me die
And if my lips could only speak the name
What is this ice that gathers 'round my heart
To stop the flood of warmth before it even starts
It would make me blind to what I thought would always be
The only constant in the world for me
And every hour of every day
I need to fight from pulling away
And if my mind could only loose the chain
The dam would break
For all the things I hid away
And all the words I could not say
The dam would break
In "Dam Would Break", Nickel Creek and Glen Phillips describe the struggle of holding onto something so tightly that it makes them lose touch with reality. The place they find themselves in causes them to fall from what once was, and the words that once rang true now seem to be forgotten. Life isn't always fair, and they feel as though they have reaped a whipping rod after sowing a field of rose. In this metaphor, they intended to express the pain and outcomes of ending up in a situation that seemed perfect but has become intolerable. The singer acknowledges that holding too tight to things can make a part of them die, and they wish they could express the name and the feelings that feel trapped within.
The song also deals with a sense of emotional distance and numbness, described as an ice that gathers around their heart. The ice is an obstacle, stopping warmth and feeling, the only constant in their world. It would be difficult to let go, as it would make them blind to everything they once thought they would always have. Every hour of every day, they must fight the urge to pull away, but if their mind could only loosen the chain, the dam would break. The dam imagery mentioned in the chorus is used to symbolize the emotional barriers one creates within themself that can eventually cause them to break down.
Line by Line Meaning
Is it this place that makes me fall from you
Wondering if this environment is responsible for the decline of our relationship
Forget the words that once rang so true
Forgetting the promises we once made to each other
Did we expect that life was ever fair, my god...
Realizing that life is not fair and feeling frustrated about it
I sowed a field of rose and reaped a whipping rod
Attempting to do something good, but receiving bad results
And everything I've held too tight inside
Keeping emotions and thoughts to oneself for too long
Could make a part of me die
Causing a part of oneself to wither away due to bottled-up emotions
And if my lips could only speak the name
If only I could say what I truly feel
The dam would break
The emotional floodgates would be opened
What is this ice that gathers 'round my heart
Wondering why there is a blockage in their heart
To stop the flood of warmth before it even starts
Preventing themselves from feeling love and tenderness
It would make me blind to what I thought would always be
Feeling blinded to the permanence of what was once thought to be true
The only constant in the world for me
The feeling of constancy is now gone
And every hour of every day
Constantly struggling throughout the day
I need to fight from pulling away
Trying to resist the temptation to withdraw oneself
And if my mind could only loose the chain
If only my mind could let go of the tether holding me back
The dam would break
The emotional floodgates would be opened
For all the things I hid away
Regretting the things that were kept hidden
And all the words I could not say
Wishing they could've expressed their feelings better
The dam would break
The emotional floodgates would be opened
Lyrics © THE ADMINISTRATION MP, INC.
Written by: DINNING, GUSS, NICHOLS, PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rustysilo
One of my favorite Toad songs. Music to my ears.
crowing4repair
Can't wait for the new Toad album! LONG overdue!! Love ya Glen!
Brandon Nathaniel
Elite musicians. Puts all music on radio, and mainstream to absolute shame.
kittykixbootie
i miss toad so much but glen is doing a great job of keeping them alive.....love you glen, your voice is amazing!
Gerald Rusche Video Marketing
One of my absolute favorite! From toad or glen - either. Would be glad to see him in europe sometimes?
Lark Vs. Owl
you should make an album together
Chris's Earth And Heaven would sound awesome with yr voice
Eileen Potocnak Arnold
I always love hearing this song.
Green Man
What a great duet of this song. Thanks for posting .
Mandy Cummins
Still and always such a great song
wxclim8
Awesomeness! Love Glen! I hope he tours with Chris again sometime. I like that I came to such a happy place! I just 'liked' just about all of you on this page. Cheers everyone!