The band is best known for their 1996 hit "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand."
Years active:
1985–1991 (as I-Rails)
1991–1994 (O'Connor solo)
1996–present
Skin Turns Blue
Primitive Radio Gods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(See through the eyes of another)
One way down, one way down
(See through the eyes of another)
You're high on a wind wave that
(See through the eyes of another)
Don't know Jack, don't know Jack
(See through the eyes of another)
Shit about what it means
You're all beat down like a dog on a leash
Chasing things that don't move
But are never in reach
Sit down, lose your mind 'till it thinks right
Someday your skin turns blue
(See through the eyes of another)
(See through the eyes of another)
When will you realize
The nigger you hate is your brother
One way down, one way down
(See through the eyes of another)
Surprised that I talk like that
(See through the eyes of another)
You ain't seen Jack, you ain't seen Jack
(See through the eyes of another)
Look what's happened to me
I'm all fucked up and it's easy to see
What you mean
Turn three-hundred and sixty degrees
Skin tight, blow your mind 'till it sits right
Sometimes your skin turns blue
(See through the eyes of another)
(See through the eyes of another)
I'm not gonna theorize
You break the chains or you'll smother
One way down, one way down
(See through the eyes of another)
It's a sign of a self-made man
(See through the eyes of another)
It all comes back, it all comes back
(See through the eyes of another)
Look who's always so down
You can't get up with your knees on the ground
Looking 'round
Trying hard for an easy way out
That's right, hold your breath if you like
But don't cry when your skin turns blue
(See through the eyes of another)
“Skin Turns Blue” by the Primitive Radio Gods is a song that touches on several themes, including empathy, racism, and self-discovery. The lyrics suggest that we can gain a better understanding of ourselves and the world when we see things from other people’s perspectives. The repeated phrase “See through the eyes of another” emphasizes this idea, encouraging listeners to be more empathetic towards others. The song also confronts issues of racism, with the line “When will you realize the nigger you hate is your brother?” suggesting that the singer believes that we should all view each other as equals. Finally, the lyrics also touch on the theme of self-discovery, urging listeners to break free from their chains and find their true selves.
The first verse of the song suggests that people are caught up in chasing things that don’t matter and that they need to slow down and look at the world from different perspectives. The second verse seems to be focused more on the theme of breaking free from chains and discovering one’s true identity. The repeated line “Skin tight, blow your mind ‘till it sits right,” suggests that the process of discovering oneself can be painful and uncomfortable, but ultimately rewarding.
Overall, “Skin Turns Blue” is a thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to be more empathetic towards others and to explore their own identities.
Line by Line Meaning
Words from the be side
Listen to the perspective of someone who is different from you.
(See through the eyes of another)
See the world from a different point of view.
One way down, one way down
Everyone has a finite amount of time on this earth.
You're high on a wind wave that
You're chasing after things that may never come to fruition.
Don't know Jack, don't know Jack
You're not really aware of what's going on around you.
Shit about what it means
You don't care about the deeper meanings in life.
You're all beat down like a dog on a leash
You feel powerless and trapped.
Chasing things that don't move
You're striving for goals that are unattainable.
But are never in reach
You can never quite grasp what you're striving for.
Sit down, lose your mind 'till it thinks right
Take a step back and reevaluate your life.
Someday your skin turns blue
At some point, your life will change drastically.
When will you realize
Why can't you see that
The nigger you hate is your brother
People who look different than you are still human beings with whom you share commonalities.
Surprised that I talk like that
You're taken aback by the way I'm speaking to you.
You ain't seen Jack, you ain't seen Jack
You don't know everything about the world.
Look what's happened to me
My life has taken a turn for the worse.
I'm all fucked up and it's easy to see
I'm clearly not doing well.
What you mean
What are you trying to say?
Turn three-hundred and sixty degrees
Change your perspective completely.
Skin tight, blow your mind 'till it sits right
A drastic change can completely alter the way you perceive life.
Sometimes your skin turns blue
Sometimes life-changing events occur.
I'm not gonna theorize
I'm not going to provide a bunch of abstract ideas.
You break the chains or you'll smother
You need to break free from your current situation or you'll suffocate.
It's a sign of a self-made man
Being self-sufficient is a sign of success.
It all comes back, it all comes back
You can't escape your past, it will always catch up to you.
Look who's always so down
You're always in a negative state of mind.
You can't get up with your knees on the ground
You can't improve your situation if you refuse to stand up and try.
Looking 'round
You're not sure what to do next.
Trying hard for an easy way out
You're putting in effort to avoid putting in effort.
That's right, hold your breath if you like
You can make things more difficult for yourself if you choose to.
But don't cry when your skin turns blue
You should be prepared for the changes life will throw your way.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER JOHN O'CONNOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind