No Life Singed Her
Pavement Lyrics


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Take me down from the ridge where
The summer ends, we'll watch the city
Spread out just like a jet's flame
I've got a secret for you, I cut your

Angel in two, I left her bleeding
And soaked it with a dry sponge
No life has singed her now
(I can see it fade)

We've got a license to live, it's our only one
If it expires we float up to the dust haze
I've got a secret for you, I cut your




Angel in 2, I saw her spinning and dripping
On your new dress

Overall Meaning

In Pavement's song "No Life Singed Her," the lyrics paint a picture of a world in which secrets, betrayal and death thrive. The opening lines, "Take me down from the ridge where the summer ends, we'll watch the city spread out just like a jet's flame," give a sense of impending doom as summer fades away and the city seems to explode in flames. The singer then reveals that they have a secret - they cut someone's "angel" in two and left them bleeding, soaking up the blood with a dry sponge. The "angel" is a metaphor for an innocent person who has been hurt or betrayed.


The singer then muses on the fact that we all have a "license to live," but it is a fragile thing that can expire at any moment, making us vulnerable to the hazards of life. They then reveal the secret again, stating that they saw the "angel" spinning and dripping on someone's new dress. This reiterates the idea of betrayal and death, as the victim of the action is left in pieces while the perpetrator watches on.


The lyrics of "No Life Singed Her" are open to interpretation, but they seem to explore themes of mortality, betrayal and secrets. The song features a haunting melody and slow, melancholy instrumentation that amplify the sense of foreboding and introspection in the lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

Take me down from the ridge where
Lead me away from the height where


The summer ends, we'll watch the city
As summer comes to a close, we'll observe the city


Spread out just like a jet's flame.
Expanding like the flames from a jet, it covers everything


I've got a secret for you, I cut your
I possess hidden information for you, I divided your


Angel in two, I left her bleeding
I cleaved your divine messenger into halves and left it wounded


And soaked it with a dry sponge
I drenched the severed halves with something absorbent


No life has singed her now
The remaining life force hasn't touched her yet


(I can see it fade)
(I detect that it's disappearing)


We've got a license to live, it's our only one,
We received permission to exist; it's our only validation


If it expires we float up to the dust haze.
Once it expires, we ascend to the dusty blur


I've got a secret for you, I cut your
I possess hidden information for you, I divided your


Angel in 2, I saw her spinning and dripping
I divided your heavenly messenger into halves; I witnessed them twirling and oozing


On your new dress.
They landed on the article of your recent outfit.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Scott Kannberg, Stephen Joseph Malkmus

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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