Perilous Love
O'Brother Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Take what you want
Leave me broken, leave me estranged
Just tear me apart
Still my devotion remains the same

I bit my tongue
For fear of igniting something I can't tame
A perilous love
Will be my undoing, nothing will remain

What you want from me
Is my everything
What you want is a perfect endeavor
What I want can't escape from me now
What you want from me
Is my everything
What you want is subconsciously clever
All I want are deliberate lies

I try to escape from my mind
But I've been tied with subliminal lines
I try, try to retain what is mine
And I just lie just to keep us alive

Set me aside
With brazen integrity I can't obtain
Leave my insides
Tangled in knots that I can't rearrange

I bit my tongue
For fear of igniting something I can't tame
A perilous love
Will be my undoing, nothing will remain

No time left to devote
Madness follows a slippery slippery slope

I try to escape from my mind
But I've been tied with subliminal lines




I try, try to retain what is mine
And I just lie just to keep us alive

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of O'Brother's "Perilous Love" are full of emotional tension and complexity, exploring the darkness that can accompany a toxic relationship. The singer is caught in the grip of a passionate love that is both consuming and destructive, a love that they recognize as "perilous" and a potential "undoing." Despite the danger, the singer's devotion remains steadfast even as they are left broken and estranged by their partner's actions.


The lyrics also focus on the idea of sacrifice, with the singer willing to give everything to their partner in the hope of finding a perfect love. However, this desire is contrasted with the idea that what the singer truly wants are deliberate lies - a paradox that suggests the singer is aware of the deceit at the heart of the relationship but cannot resist it.


The song's chorus repeats the idea of being tied down by subliminal lines, possibly referring to the insidious ways in which the singer's partner exerts control over them. Nevertheless, the singer feels compelled to stay in the relationship, driven by a desperate desire to keep it alive even if it means lying to themselves and others about what is truly happening.


Overall, the lyrics of "Perilous Love" offer a dark and intense portrayal of a dysfunctional relationship, one in which the allure of passion and devotion can lead to self-destruction.


Line by Line Meaning

Take what you want
Do as you please, take whatever you need


Leave me broken, leave me estranged
Abandon me to suffer alone


Just tear me apart
Rip me apart, destroy me


Still my devotion remains the same
My love for you endures despite the pain


I bit my tongue
I repressed my emotions


For fear of igniting something I can't tame
In case my emotions become uncontrollable


A perilous love
A dangerous, risky romance


Will be my undoing, nothing will remain
This love will be my downfall and leave nothing behind


What you want from me
Your desires for me


Is my everything
You want all of me


What you want is a perfect endeavor
You aspire for an ideal relationship


What I want can't escape from me now
My wants are deeply ingrained


What you want from me
Your desires for me


Is my everything
You want all of me


What you want is subconsciously clever
Your desires have an underlying hidden intelligence


All I want are deliberate lies
I desire conscious deception


I try to escape from my mind
I attempt to flee from my own thoughts


But I've been tied with subliminal lines
I am trapped by underlying messages I cannot sense


I try, try to retain what is mine
I make efforts to preserve what belongs to me


And I just lie just to keep us alive
I tell falsehoods to sustain our relationship


Set me aside
Discard me


With brazen integrity I can't obtain
Since I cannot attain shamelessness


Leave my insides
Abandon my inner being


Tangled in knots that I can't rearrange
Entangled in complications that are impossible to sort out


No time left to devote
I have no time available to allocate


Madness follows a slippery slippery slope
Insanity is a treacherous downward path


I try to escape from my mind
I attempt to flee from my own thoughts


But I've been tied with subliminal lines
I am trapped by underlying messages I cannot sense


I try, try to retain what is mine
I make efforts to preserve what belongs to me


And I just lie just to keep us alive
I tell falsehoods to sustain our relationship




Contributed by Sophie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

BigAssJesus

Thus begins Anton's solo bass career.

Bearded Gentlemen Music

One of the best bands our right now! Must see live!

Stephanie Garcia

Beautiful!

der Strychen

can`t stop listening..fuckin` great

Vinícius Lopes

Incrível Anton hahaha #Brazil

Chris Ammann

I bet this happens every single practice

Jumbo // ジャンボ ch.

them Dang bros plotting something villainous!

Plays_For_Dog

Bass man... last man standing! 

Atta-boy Anton!

Matthew C

Lady Killers? Great video and great song.

svenningDK

Cool tune, but I have zero doubt that these guys have been listening to Alice in Chains.

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