Have You Forgotten
Red House Painters Lyrics
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Wrapped in white sheets,
Like an angel from a bedtime story
And shut out what they say,
'Cause your friends are fucked up anyway
And when they come around,
Somehow they feel up and you feel down.
When we were kids, we hated things our parents did
We listened low to Casey Kasem's radio show
That's when friends were nice,
To think of them just makes you feel nice
The smell of grass in spring
And October leaves cover everything.
[Repeat: x2]
Have you forgotten how to love yourself?
I can't believe all the good things that you do for me
Sat back in a chair like a princess from a faraway place
Nobody's nice, when you're older your heart turns to ice
And shut out what they say;
They're too dumb to mean it anyway
When we were kids, we hated things our sisters did
Backyard summer pools and Christmases were beautiful
And the sentiment of coloured mirrored ornaments
And the open drapes
Look out on frozen farmhouse landscapes
[Repeat: x6]
Have you forgotten how to love yourself?
The song "Have You Forgotten" by Red House Painters is a contemplative ballad that explores the idea of self-love and the fleeting nature of happiness. The opening lines "I can't let you be, cause your beauty won't allow me / Wrapped in white sheets, Like an angel from a bedtime story" describe the singer's intense admiration for his partner or lover. He is in awe of her beauty and entranced by the way she looks as she sleeps. The next lines reveal his frustration with the people in his partner's life who bring her down. He encourages her to ignore them and focus on herself because they are "too dumb to mean it anyway."
The next verse takes a nostalgic turn, as the singer reminisces about his childhood with a mix of fondness and regret. He remembers the joys of youth, the simple pleasures of listening to the radio and hanging out with friends. He contrasts this image with the present, where people are "too mean" and everything seems to have lost its magic. The final lines "Have you forgotten how to love yourself?" reflect the underlying theme of the song: the need for self-care and self-compassion in a world that can be cruel and unforgiving.
Overall, "Have You Forgotten" is a poignant reflection on the importance of self-love and the challenges of finding happiness in an imperfect world.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't let you be, cause your beauty won't allow me
I can't just leave you alone, because you are far too gorgeous to ignore.
Wrapped in white sheets, like an angel from a bedtime story
You look so pure, wrapped in white sheets, just like a heavenly angel from a children's story.
And shut out what they say, 'Cause your friends are fucked up anyway
Ignore what your friends say, because they're messed up anyway.
And when they come around, Somehow they feel up and you feel down.
Whenever your friends come by, they somehow feel better and happier, whereas you feel worse and more sad.
When we were kids, we hated things our parents did We listened low to Casey Kasem's radio show
When we were young, we disliked the actions of our parents, and we used to listen to Casey Kasem's radio show with lowered volume.
That's when friends were nice, To think of them just makes you feel nice
Back then, our friends were nice, and just thinking about them brings a warm feeling to your heart.
The smell of grass in spring And October leaves cover everything.
In spring, the scent of fresh grass fills the air, and by October, leaves have covered everything.
Have you forgotten how to love yourself?
You seem to have lost your way and no longer love yourself. Have you forgotten how?
I can't believe all the good things that you do for me Sat back in a chair like a princess from a faraway place
I'm amazed by all the wonderful things you do for me, and when you relax in the chair, you look like a princess from a distant kingdom.
Nobody's nice, when you're older your heart turns to ice And shut out what they say; They're too dumb to mean it anyway
As you grow older, you realize people aren't always kind, and your heart begins to feel colder. So, just ignore what others say, as they're too ignorant to truly understand.
When we were kids, we hated things our sisters did Backyard summer pools and Christmases were beautiful
When we were younger, we disliked our sisters' actions, but summer pools and Christmas were still magical and lovely.
And the sentiment of coloured mirrored ornaments And the open drapes Look out on frozen farmhouse landscapes
The sight of the vibrant, reflecting holiday ornaments, and the view of the snowy farm landscapes through the open drapes, evokes a feeling of nostalgia and sentimentality.
Have you forgotten how to love yourself?
Have you lost your way and forgotten how to love yourself?
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Mark Edward Kozelek
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@newdawnfades2815
One of the most beautiful songs ever written.
@newdawnfades2815
Love "Angel", not "princess" as it was in the album version. Some of us aren't princesses and don't love princesses. That's why I like this version so much better. Tender nostalgic pain. Perfection.
@newdawnfades2815
Casey Kasem's radio show..I listened, but I didn't have friends that made me feel nice. But everything else Mark sings about makes me long for that era.
@mremppu94
sounds so nostalgic... makes me think of better times
@richardfortin756
"I still can't believe all the good things that you did for me" that's for my dad.
@JCRUEDAESTEVEZ
this song changed my life
@josephdgleason
This is still one of my favorite songs. It's the first rain of this winter and this is perfect!
@rishikabir5959
How I'm feeling right now. Its definitely one of those nights.
@fabylash800
LOVE this song !!!! this version
@paulcoleman4976
most Beautiful song ive ever heard