Paul Baribeau's warm, witty sounds and gnarly beard bring something truly u… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Baribeau's warm, witty sounds and gnarly beard bring something truly unique and interesting to the folk-punk table. The South Central Michigan native collaborates often with friends such as Matty Pop Chart and Kimya Dawson, but has two self-released ("25" and "Unbearable") and two Plan-It-X released ("Paul Baribeau" and "Grand Ledge") solo albums, plus a very interesting Bruce Springsteen covers album.

http://www.myspace.com/paulbaribeau

The Wall
Paul Baribeau Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In your room, with headphones on
You sing soft, and I sing along
Through the wall
Through the wall

In your shower, I try not to wonder
Try not to listen but my mind wanders
Through the wall

Through the wall

If I had any guts at all
Can't resist it
Pressed right up against it
When you can't sleep, I can't sleep

I swear I feel your heart beat
Through the wall
Through the wall

Make my heart a wrecking ball
Smash right through the wall

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Paul Baribeau's song The Wall are a raw and revealing description of unrequited love. The singer is consumed with feelings for someone who is just out of reach, and the sound of their voice and the beat of their heart are all that they have to connect with. Even though they are separated by a wall, they still find a way to be close through music and the rhythms of life. The singer is tormented by their feelings, as evidenced by the line "If I had any guts at all, can't resist it, pressed right up against it." They want to break through the physical and emotional barriers keeping them from the object of their affection, but they are paralyzed by fear.

The repeated phrase "Through the wall" emphasizes the distance between the two people, highlighting the longing and despair felt by the singer. The final lines "Make my heart a wrecking ball, smash right through the wall" conjures images of desperation and emotional destruction. The singer is so consumed with their love that they are willing to do anything to break through the wall and have their feelings reciprocated.

Line by Line Meaning

In your room, with headphones on
You are alone listening to music with headphones covering your ears

You sing soft, and I sing along
You sing softly and I sing in my mind, following along

Through the wall
The wall between us that separates our rooms

Through the wall
Still referencing the wall between us

In your shower, I try not to wonder
You are in the shower and I try not to think about it

Try not to listen but my mind wanders
I attempt not to hear, but I can't help but think about it

Through the wall
The wall between us continues to act as a barrier

Through the wall
The same wall mentioned before

If I had any guts at all
If I wasn't so timid/scared

Can't resist it
Can't stop myself from acting

Pressed right up against it
Standing directly against the wall