Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poison_the_Well_(band)
Studio albums
The Opposite of December... A Season of Separation (1999)
Tear From the Red (2001)
You Come Before You (2003)
Versions (2007)
The Tropic Rot (2009)
Sticks and Stones Never Made Sense
Poison the Well Lyrics
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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
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
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
Tim Squires Ostra Fine Foods
First comment! What a great transitional record between their styles