This is a ploy of cold, crass, sheep. To only milk the piece… Read Full Bio ↴Lyrics:
This is a ploy of cold, crass, sheep. To only milk the pieces of truth that suit their means
And I was just wandering what you thought it’d bring
So hey, there’s a poison in your skin, I see it quietly seeping out of it
Hey there’s a poison in your skin. I see it coming, saw it coming out.
And I am the fortunate one
This, an attempt at feeding primal needs, has woken all the demons that reside inside of me
And you still say that I am the fortunate one
Well I could wash my hands to pretend they’re clean, or I could purge my lips of spineless speech, but the consequence of knowledge is an eager tongue
Don’t you leave, I wasn’t finished. This isn’t over.
I will be heard
Every last word will have its turn
Mine may be the words unwisely sewn, to cultivate the path that I have chose
Mine may be the words you’ll never know but lay me in the dirt and I will grow
Are you listening? Cause my breath grows null
Tired quips begin to wither
Who can reason with time?
Lay me in the dirt and I will grow
Cleanse Me
O'Brother Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I was just wandering what you thought it’d bring
So hey, there’s a poison in your skin, I see it quietly seeping out of it
Hey there’s a poison in your skin. I see it coming, saw it coming out.
And I am the fortunate one
This, an attempt at feeding primal needs, has woken all the demons that reside inside of me
And you still say that I am the fortunate one
Don’t you leave, I wasn’t finished. This isn’t over.
I will be heard
Every last word will have its turn
Mine may be the words unwisely sewn, to cultivate the path that I have chose
Mine may be the words you’ll never know but lay me in the dirt and I will grow
Are you listening? Cause my breath grows null
Tired quips begin to wither
Who can reason with time?
Lay me in the dirt and I will grow
The lyrics to O'Brother's song "Cleanse Me" depict the frustration of being surrounded by people who only use bits of truth to fit their own agenda, ignoring the rest. It speaks of the poison that lies within some individuals as they try to manipulate situations, even if it means feeding into primal needs. The singer of the song is able to see through all the deception and is awakened to the demons lurking within themself. They try to cleanse their own hypocrisy, even if it means admitting that the knowledge they possess can be the cause of their downfall.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful as the singer declares that they are the fortunate one to be able to see through the machinations of others. The expression "lay me in the dirt and I will grow" is an interesting one as it speaks of the resilience of the human spirit. Despite all the odds, the singer will find a way to thrive and grow, even in adversity.
The lyrics also address the limitations of language, as the singer acknowledges that words can be unwise and may not convey everything that needs to be said. However, they are still determined to make themselves heard and believe that every word they speak will have its turn. This speaks to the power of words, even if they are not perfect, they can still have an impact.
Overall, the song "Cleanse Me" is a powerful reflection of the human condition, our struggles with hypocrisy and the need to be true to ourselves. It speaks of the darkness that we all have inside us and the resilience that we possess to overcome it.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a ploy of cold, crass, sheep. To only milk the pieces of truth that suit their means
People are being deceitful by using only parts of the truth that serve their selfish purposes.
And I was just wandering what you thought it’d bring
The singer is curious about the outcome of the situation.
So hey, there’s a poison in your skin, I see it quietly seeping out of it
The singer sees a toxic quality in the person they are addressing.
Hey there’s a poison in your skin. I see it coming, saw it coming out.
The artist sees the negative trait in the person clearly and for a long time now.
And I am the fortunate one
Despite the negative trait in the other person, the artist considers themselves lucky.
This, an attempt at feeding primal needs, has woken all the demons that reside inside of me
The situation has triggered deep-seated negative emotions in the singer.
And you still say that I am the fortunate one
Despite the pain and negativity triggered in the singer, the other person still thinks they are lucky.
Well I could wash my hands to pretend they’re clean, or I could purge my lips of spineless speech, but the consequence of knowledge is an eager tongue
The artist could try to appear blameless and avoid controversial subjects, but knowing the truth makes them want to speak out.
Don’t you leave, I wasn’t finished. This isn’t over.
The artist wants to keep talking and feel heard.
I will be heard
The artist is determined to make their voice heard.
Every last word will have its turn
Every word the singer has to say is important and deserves attention.
Mine may be the words unwisely sewn, to cultivate the path that I have chose
The artist may have made mistakes in the past, but they are building their own path.
Mine may be the words you’ll never know but lay me in the dirt and I will grow
The singer may not always be understood, but they will keep growing and improving no matter what.
Are you listening? Cause my breath grows null
The singer is concerned that they are not being heard and their voice is fading.
Tired quips begin to wither
The singer is losing energy and enthusiasm for the conversation.
Who can reason with time?
The artist is reflecting on the mystery of how time affects everything, including relationships and communication.
Lay me in the dirt and I will grow
The artist may face adversity, but they will always rise above it and continue to grow.
Contributed by Sebastian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
peacexisxfree
o'brother is one of those bands where a recording just won't do them justice. you have to see and feel o'brother live.
🐞Inflorescence🐞
peacexisxfree
basically they made it so alive even behind the screen
Timothy Shows
I just discovered them today! I wish I could see them live. Do you know what they are doing these days?
Sven Wyn
I agree, I likely never would've never fully appreciated them had I not seen them open for another band with no clue as to who they were. Blew my mind completely open.
Sven Wyn
@Timothy Shows they are still a band, a few of the members have gotten married and have kids and stuff so they don't your often. They're from Atlanta, GA which is where I live and they NEVER play here. It's a shame. They also released a new album earlier this year which is not as heavy but absolutely amazing, I love all their work.
xChamomileTx
They’re an assault on your chest cavity. Take a few deep breaths before you walk in, for sure.
FatLikeKessel
I think that more people need to understand how insanely talented this band is.
Like damn.
Yes
Sea of Shells
One of my all time favorite songs. Punishingly heavy, and beautifully written. Goosebump material, and I'm not talking about R.L. Stein.
LibertyFighterX
One of their most impactful song... They lull you in right in the middle with that quiet section, "Are you listening?" and then go balls to the wall with the distortion wall of sound. Actually, now that I think about it, most of their stuff involves a cohesive wall of emotional-sound.
aerozopher
this is so immense. it easily deserves a million views if you ask me.