Sticks and Stones Never Made Sense
Poison the Well Lyrics


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Thought that I would
Shove everything aside
To shake your hand
Barbed wire wouldn't come fast enough

Why does your name leave a bad taste in my mouth
When it rolls off my tongue
In your world excuses mean everything
Stitch me for days because

I keep splitting myself for you
Why does your face seem better on the floor
Have you thought about death today
Ask me I'll help

You never knew me




These are my last words
Not that it matters anymore

Overall Meaning

The song "Sticks and Stones Never Made Sense" by Poison the Well is a raw, emotional outcry about a toxic relationship. The lyrics are directed at someone who has deeply hurt the singer, yet they keep trying to make things work despite the pain. The music is aggressive, but the vocals are delivered in a melancholic tone, emphasizing the singer's vulnerability.


In the first verse, the singer expresses their frustration and anger. They thought they could put everything aside and try to reconcile with this person, but it's clear that it's not working out. The metaphor of barbed wire represents their desire to protect themselves from further harm. The second verse addresses the problematic behavior of the other person. The singer can't understand why they seem to have such a negative reaction to just hearing their name. The other person uses excuses to justify their actions, but that's not enough for the singer. They feel like they're slowly falling apart and can't take it anymore.


The chorus is haunting, as the singer pleads for the other person to acknowledge the damage they've done. They feel like they're constantly sacrificing themselves for this person, who doesn't seem to appreciate it. At one point, the singer even offers to help them contemplate death. The final line of the song, "these are my last words, not that it matters anymore," is a sad realization that things have gone too far and there's no going back.


Line by Line Meaning

Thought that I would
I had the idea that I could


Shove everything aside
Ignore or forget the rest of the world


To shake your hand
To greet you, show respect and goodwill


Barbed wire wouldn't come fast enough
I'm filled with anger and resentment


Why does your name leave a bad taste in my mouth
I associate negative feelings with you


When it rolls off my tongue
Every time I say it


In your world excuses mean everything
You place a high value on justification and argument


Stitch me for days because
I'm willing to subject myself to pain for you


I keep splitting myself for you
I'm putting myself through a lot for you


Why does your face seem better on the floor
I find satisfaction in your misfortune


Have you thought about death today
Are you contemplating suicide or self-harm?


Ask me I'll help
I'm offering to assist you through difficult times


You never knew me
You don't understand or appreciate me


These are my last words
I'm signaling the end of something significant


Not that it matters anymore
I'm indicating that my communication is irrelevant or futile




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER HORNBROOK, DEREK MILLER, JEFFREY MOREIRA, RYAN MICHAEL PRIMACK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Tim Squires Ostra Fine Foods

First comment! What a great transitional record between their styles

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