Who loves the shade
Piers Faccini Lyrics


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Precious things soon get lost
Up on the tracks when two paths cross
The lover I had is with another today
Tomorrow came when she went away

She was a diamond in the vein
A crimson flower in the brain
I picked my rose for the thorns
And hearts get so easily torn
I picked my rose for the thorns
And lives get so easily torn

The years have come the years will go
And then with time the years will show
I was too young then I'm too old now
Oh what I'd give to have them back somehow

She was a diamond in the vein
A crimson flower in the brain

I picked my rose for the thorns
And lives get so easily torn
I picked my rose for the thorns
I know hearts get so easily torn

The poison hit me like a shot
I knew grace until it stopped
Roses bloom before they fade
Who loves the needle loves the shade

She was a diamond in the vein
A crimson flower in the brain

But I picked my rose for the thorns
And hearts get so easily torn




I picked my rose for the thorns
I know lives get so easily torn

Overall Meaning

The song “Who Loves The Shade” by Piers Faccini is a melancholic and haunting ballad that reminisces about love, loss, and the passage of time. The first verse begins with a powerful observation about the impermanence of the things we treasure, comparing them to precious objects that can easily be lost when two paths cross. The lyrics then shift to the singer's lost love, who is now with another person. He ruminates on the fragility of human relationships and the way they can unravel so quickly.


The chorus carries the central metaphor of the song, as the singer compares his lost love to a diamond in the vein or a crimson flower in the brain. He acknowledges that he knew his choice to pursue her was a risky one, like picking a rose for its thorns. The chorus repeats, reinforcing the theme that missing love can leave a person's life in tatters.


The final verse of the song is the most introspective and contemplative, using the symbol of rose petals as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life. The singer looks back on his choices with regret, wishing he could have the chance to redo things from a more mature perspective. The song concludes with a fatalistic assertion that anyone who loves “the needle” (i.e., drugs) will inevitably love “the shade,” implying that addiction is an inexorable path to darkness and obscurity.


Overall, this song expresses a deep sense of regret and longing for what could have been, as well as an acceptance that life is full of loss and disappointment. It weaves together a series of powerful images and uses them to create a poignant and evocative meditation on the nature of human love.


Line by Line Meaning

Precious things soon get lost
The things we hold dear tend to disappear quickly.


Up on the tracks when two paths cross
When two people meet at a time in their lives when they are headed in different directions, their connection is likely to be fleeting.


The lover I had is with another today
The person who was once my partner is now with someone else.


Tomorrow came when she went away
When she left, it felt like the future had arrived sooner than expected.


She was a diamond in the vein
She was a rare and valuable find, something to be treasured.


A crimson flower in the brain
She was a beautiful and captivating presence in his thoughts.


I picked my rose for the thorns
He chose to pursue a relationship despite knowing that it would be painful.


And hearts get so easily torn
Emotions are fragile and can be easily damaged.


The years have come the years will go
Time passes relentlessly, whether we want it to or not.


And then with time the years will show
In retrospect, the passage of time will reveal the meaning and consequences of past choices.


I was too young then I'm too old now
He regrets not appreciating his youth when he had it, and now feels too old to make up for lost time.


Oh what I'd give to have them back somehow
He wishes he could go back in time and relive the moments he feels he missed out on.


The poison hit me like a shot
The pain of loss was intense and sudden.


I knew grace until it stopped
He experienced happiness and joy until it was abruptly taken away.


Roses bloom before they fade
Beauty is fleeting and temporary, like the lifespan of a rose.


Who loves the needle loves the shade
Those who seek pleasure through dangerous or destructive means will eventually end up in darkness and despair.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PIERS FACCINI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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