funhouse
Red House Painters Lyrics
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Like a part of the sky
And life's hell getting up off the floor
Raise the blind and let the day shine in
Out with this gray into air
Darkness tones in our Chinatown home
Moving behind the pale of her face
A thousand circus mirrors cannot move a frown
We are the real clowns
And the sun rarely shines our way
And when it does, and when it does
And when it does, and when it does
And when it does
[Incomprehensible]
The Red House Painters' song "Funhouse" is a powerful ballad that explores themes of depression, struggle, and the weight of the world on one's shoulders. In the opening lines, the singer ruminates on the feeling of being trapped under an immense weight, comparing it to a part of the sky falling on them. As they struggle to rise from the floor, they contemplate the difficulty of life and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles they face.
The second stanza offers a glimmer of hope, as the singer imagines raising the blinds to let in the light of day and dispel the grayness that clouds their world. Yet even as they seek to escape, the darkness remains, embodied in the tones of their Chinatown home. The lines about the view of rain clouds from the window paint a picture of the singer's isolation, as they watch the world go by from a distance.
The final stanza is perhaps the most powerful, as the singer reflects on their own place in the world. Despite their struggles, they acknowledge that they are the real clowns, forced to put on a brave face even as the weight of the world bears down on them. The repeated line "and when it does" suggests a sense of hope amidst the darkness, as the possibility of sunshine offers a glimmer of possibility.
Overall, "Funhouse" is a powerful and evocative song that touches on universal themes of struggle, isolation, and the search for hope in the face of darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Weight has fallen on me
The burden of life is weighing heavily upon me
Like a part of the sky
The weight is so heavy it feels like a piece of the sky has fallen on me
And life's hell getting up off the floor
It is difficult and painful to rise up and face the challenges of life
Raise the blind and let the day shine in
Open up to the possibilities of the future and let the light in
Out with this gray into air
Leave the dreary, bleakness behind and embrace the freshness of the air
Darkness tones in our Chinatown home
Even in our home, darkness and negativity pervades
View of rain clouds from the window
The view outside is gloomy with dark clouds and rain
Moving behind the pale of her face
The sadness and pain is reflected in her complexion
A thousand circus mirrors cannot move a frown
No amount of trying can change the sadness that is deeply entrenched
We are the real clowns
Despite trying to put on a happy face, we are internally suffering
And the sun rarely shines our way
Positivity and happiness are elusive and difficult to come by
And when it does, and when it does
But even in rare moments of brightness and hope
And when it does, and when it does
Those moments are fleeting and quickly disappear
And when it does
Making it even harder to cope with the darkness and despair
[Incomprehensible]
The struggle continues, with no relief in sight
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Mark Edward Kozelek
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind