Shivers
PETER PERRETT and THE ONE Lyrics


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Fingers scratching blackboards
Make cowards of the brave
A natural reaction
From the cradle to the grave

Rats and bats and spiders
And little things that crawl
Never make me tremble
I'm bothered not at all

Then I saw you
Something new inside of me
What's this shakin'
You made me shiver

Cemetery midnights
Walking on the dead
Never seemed to matter
It's all inside your head

Names are only letters
Mentioned on a stone
And If you're going somewhere
You're going it alone

Then I saw you
Something new inside of me
What's this shakin'
You made me shiver

Magic charms and voodoo
And all those other spells
Didn't make impressions
I never slept so well

If I had a nightmare
I'm sure that I would know
I really don't remember
But I'm sure it isn't so

Then I saw you
Something new inside of me
What's this shakin'
You made me shiver

Turn out the lights it won't matter
A bucket of blood and I'm fine




A black cat's only a color
But you can do it every time

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Peter Perrett's song Shivers describe a person who appears to be unfazed by many of the things that would typically make others feel scared or creeped out, such as spiders, bats, and even walking on graves in a cemetery at night. However, when this person sees somebody new, they begin to feel something they've never experienced before. The feeling is so intense that it makes them shiver and feels like a physical reaction happening to their body. The lyrics also touch on the idea that fears are often not rational, and that people can be scared of things that don't actually pose a threat to them.


The mention of magic charms and voodoo in the lyrics suggest that the person has tried to find something that would make them feel scared, but even those things haven't been able to create any real emotions or reactions. It's only the presence of this new person that has had this effect on them. The last lines of the song emphasize that external factors like darkness or the color of a cat aren't really what matter when it comes to feeling afraid; it's all about the individual's internal experience and how they react to stimuli.


Overall, the lyrics of Shivers are a reflection on the complex and often unpredictable nature of human emotions. They also suggest that sometimes the things that scare us the most aren't the things we might expect, and that love and connection can be powerful enough to make us feel things we never thought possible.


Line by Line Meaning

Fingers scratching blackboards
The grating sound of fingernails on a blackboard can be enough to cause even brave people to cower in fear.


Make cowards of the brave
This experience can have a transformative effect on even the most courageous individuals.


A natural reaction
This overwhelming fear is a natural response to certain stimuli.


From the cradle to the grave
This fear can persist from early childhood until death.


Rats and bats and spiders
These creepy crawlies are frequently associated with fear and disgust.


And little things that crawl
Even small creatures can inspire fear in some individuals.


Never make me tremble
The singer is not afraid of these types of creatures.


I'm bothered not at all
These fears do not affect the artist in any significant way.


Then I saw you
The artist is addressing a specific person.


Something new inside of me
The artist is experiencing a feeling he hasn't felt before.


What's this shakin'
The feeling is shaking the singer up in some way.


You made me shiver
The person the artist is addressing is responsible for making him feel this way.


Cemetery midnights
The singer is describing a specific setting, a graveyard at night.


Walking on the dead
The singer is describing an action that might be considered macabre, walking over graves.


Never seemed to matter
The singer didn't think much of this experience.


It's all inside your head
The artist acknowledges that fear is a mental construct.


Names are only letters
To the artist, names on gravestones are just words.


Mentioned on a stone
Gravestones are made of stone and bear the names of people who have died.


And If you're going somewhere
The singer is addressing the listener directly.


You're going it alone
The artist believes that people ultimately face their fears alone.


Magic charms and voodoo
The artist is describing various practices associated with the supernatural.


And all those other spells
These practices have no effect on the artist.


Didn't make impressions
The singer was not moved by these practices.


I never slept so well
The artist is describing how these experiences did not keep him up at night.


If I had a nightmare
The singer is acknowledging the existence of bad dreams.


I'm sure that I would know
The singer is confident in his ability to distinguish between dreams and reality.


I really don't remember
The singer does not recall having any nightmares.


But I'm sure it isn't so
The artist is confident that he has never had a nightmare.


Turn out the lights it won't matter
The artist is addressing the listener directly.


A bucket of blood and I'm fine
The singer is implying that he is not easily disturbed or grossed out.


A black cat's only a color
The singer is suggesting that superstitions like black cats are meaningless.


But you can do it every time
The artist is once again addressing the person who makes him shiver and acknowledging their power over him.




Lyrics © Mute Song Limited
Written by: Rowland Howard

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

RAFF STARR

Yeah love Peter I met him in London Sept'96 Nice guy

efek tired instrument deadly

After letting go of you I was only able to listen to this song

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