Circles
Rainbow Butt Monkeys Lyrics


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You helped him, you laid by his side when he died.
He held in his breath and you broke down and cried.
You stood there, confused, you couldn't believe.
You're helpless, and realize, it's better you leave.

Now you're, walking around in your circles (circles).
Walking around in your circles, yeah.
Walking around in your circles, circles.
Walking around in your circles.

Not stronger, you're gripping onto the past,
Recalling what happened, happened too fast.
His image is burning into your mind.
You know you will never leave this behind.

Now you're, walking around in your circles (circles).
Walking around in your circles, yeah.
Walking around in your circles, circles.
Walking around in your circles.

Walking around in your circles (circles).
Walking around in your circles, yeah.
Walking around in your circles, circles.
Walking around in your circles.

You're older and better, how do you feel?
Distorted, uncertain, of just what is real.
You're stupid, you're angry, what can you say?
It if wasn't for you, he'd be alive today.

Walking around in your circles (circles).
Walking around in your circles, yeah.
Walking around in your circles, circles.
Walking around in your circles.

You're walking, circles.
You're walking.
I'm a brat now.

Listen, I hear them again, they call my name
They understand it all
I believe in the words that they said, but I'm so scared
They'll never leave my head

[Chorus:]

There's no way out of this
You're living through me
But you can't escape yourself
You're everything I need

I try to remember some more, the more you give it
The more it ignores
You're lucky to have something at all, to love you
If ever you do fall

It's wrong to laugh
I hate this place




Why can't you follow
I'm quiet again

Overall Meaning

The song "Circles" by Rainbow Butt Monkeys is a heart-wrenching portrayal of grief, remorse, and self-blame. The lyrics describe the emotions of a person who has lost someone close to them, a person whom they tried to help but failed to save from death. The lines "You helped him, you laid by his side when he died. He held in his breath, and you broke down and cried" conveys the tragedy of the situation, and the sense of guilt and regret that the singer carries. The subsequent lines, "You stood there, confused, you couldn't believe. You're helpless, and realize, it's better you leave," describe the feeling of utter helplessness and resignation that the person experiences after the loss.


The chorus "Walking around in your circles" is a metaphorical representation of the singer's emotional state. The person is stuck in a loop of grief and regret and is unable to move on from the trauma of the loss. The verse, "You're older and better, how do you feel? Distorted, uncertain, of just what is real. You're stupid, you're angry, what can you say? It if wasn't for you, he'd be alive today," emphasizes the self-blame and anger that the person is experiencing. The lines show how the person is unable to let go of the past and is trapped in a state of mental anguish.


Line by Line Meaning

You helped him, you laid by his side when he died.
You provided support to him and were present with him during his last moments.


He held in his breath and you broke down and cried.
You became emotional when he drew his last breath and held it in.


You stood there, confused, you couldn't believe.
You were perplexed by what was happening and couldn't believe it was real.


You're helpless, and realize, it's better you leave.
You feel powerless and come to the conclusion that it's best for you to exit the situation.


Not stronger, you're gripping onto the past,
You haven't become stronger but instead are holding on to memories from the past.


Recalling what happened, happened too fast.
You are remembering the event which occurred quickly and without warning.


His image is burning into your mind.
The image of him is being etched into your memory and is not easily forgotten.


You know you will never leave this behind.
You acknowledge that you will never be able to forget or move on from this experience.


You're older and better, how do you feel?
Despite growing older, you don't feel any better and are still grappling with the situation.


Distorted, uncertain, of just what is real.
Your perception of reality is warped and you are unsure about what is real.


You're stupid, you're angry, what can you say?
You feel frustrated and upset and aren't sure what to do or say.


It if wasn't for you, he'd be alive today.
You blame yourself for the circumstances leading to his death.


Listen, I hear them again, they call my name
You hear the voices of people calling out to you.


They understand it all
These voices empathize with your situation and understand your pain.


I believe in the words that they said, but I'm so scared
You have faith in the words spoken by these voices, but are still fearful about the future.


They'll never leave my head
The words and voices will continue to occupy your thoughts and not disappear.


There's no way out of this
There seems to be no escape from the situation or the resulting emotions.


You're living through me
The situation has become a part of you and changed you as a person.


But you can't escape yourself
You cannot escape the thoughts and feelings associated with the situation or the impact it has had on you.


You're everything I need
The situation has become your focus and everything you think you need or want revolves around it.


I try to remember some more, the more you give it
You attempt to remember more details but the more you focus on it, the worse it gets.


You're lucky to have something at all, to love you
You realize that you are fortunate to have anything to hold onto and be loved by.


If ever you do fall
In the event that you fall or fail, you must keep going and keep fighting.


It's wrong to laugh
You don't find amusement in anything anymore and feel guilty if you do.


I hate this place
You are unsatisfied with where you are in life and the situation you are in.


Why can't you follow
You want others to understand and follow you in your grief and emotions.


I'm quiet again
You become silent and introverted once more, with the weight of the situation on your shoulders.


You're walking, circles
You are stuck in a never-ending cycle or pattern with no clear end or resolution in sight.


I'm a brat now.
You feel frustrated and possibly resentful towards yourself or others.


Now you're, walking around in your circles (circles).
Repetitive and aimless movement characterizes your current state of mind.


Walking around in your circles, yeah.
The circular motion you are in causes you to feel lost and uncertain.


Walking around in your circles, circles.
Your mind repeatedly loops through the same thoughts and feelings with no clear exit or resolution in sight.


Walking around in your circles.
You are stuck in a cycle or pattern with no clear path forward.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SCOTT ANDERSON, SEAN ANDERSON, JAMES RYAN BLACK, ROB GOMMERMAN, RICK JACKETT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@linkwarner2003

Well i'll keep my identity secret because this is not my real name, but James Black once signed a very personal CD for me and called me a geek on it. Maybe he remembers that or maybe he calls everyone geeks. It was a Letters From Chutney album. Someone with a first name starting with L gave it to me.

It was a pleasure to watch these guys careers right from the beginning. The muchmusic Tree Toss was exciting to look forward to for me when it was these boys doing it. What a spectacle!!!!

I showed up to nearly every Edgefest, but never did get the chance to go backstage and meet the band, one of my life regrets. I was too shy and James was too big of a superstar to 17 year old me that I declined an invitation to his house for supper from a friend of a friend, there's another one. One thing I did get to attend was the Juno's in Hamilton where they were nominated for, i want to say, best new group or breakthrough group I guess.

I guess I'm one of the OG fans. Still am! Hope everything is going well for you boys and there is great things on the horizon!

I am really into the writing of this band, I feel they are writer's writers nowadays. A little like Eminem I would say. I put them on when I am trying to be creative.



All comments from YouTube:

@blackspot4194

😎
I remember buying this album as a kid, ran over to my best friends house and we just sat there listening to the album over and over.
I'm 34 now and still hang out with that same friend listening to this album and still the same feeling as the first time.

@glendoucette624

Yeah LikeWise

@Groteskfull

This is a great song to listen to with headphones on.🎧 I enjoy it when both guitars have their own individual parts in a song, instead of just playing the same riff in unison.

@wojScibor

Man, it’s amazing how great of musicians and vocalist you were way back then. Then you top that off with a huge hit with Finger Eleven. Salutations bros!

@0verload

They're playing it at their shows again and I couldn't be happier, they're still even doing it justice after all these years! :)

@0verload

You guys seriously need to play this song at your shows. Don't forget your roots!

@cwrichardson3

They do

@0verload

@@cwrichardson3 They do now and I'm happy and thankful for it. They weren't at the time I wrote my comment though. I know for sure as I had seen them multiple times around that time frame and not once did they play it. The one show in Port Colborne we were even shouting/chanting "circles" to try to get them to play it.

@jeremyfriedrichs4656

This was my favorite band when I was like 10. Wrote them a fan letter and one of the guitarists (James?) wrote back! Super nice letter, I actually got it framed, don't have it anymore sadly.....
🌈(‿ˠ‿)🐒 
🇨🇦

@MerchManDan

So last week, for no reason at all, the chorus to this song surfaces in my mind. "Walkin' around in your circles, circles...." And I almost go nuts trying to remember the rest of the song, never mind the band. Tonight, I find "Toy Train" by Rymes With Orange, and there's "Rainbow Butt Monkeys - Circles ( finger eleven )" in the Suggestions column. "No way," I think. "Could it be...?" And it is. This is the happiest I've been for days. Thank you.

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