Sticks And Stones
Ride Your Bike Lyrics
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And the numbers blur on the clock
He gets up and says, "it's time to shine again"
And even when the clouds shout in thunder
He tries his best to yell back and slap from slumber
They're just numbers, they're just words
They're just symbols, and they hurt
They're just numbers, they're just words
They're just symbols, and they hurt
They're just sticks and stones buried in the earth
They're just sticks and stones
But they break our bones
They're just sticks, sticks and stones
While the oysters ate sand and makes pearls
It plants a speck of doubt
All I can make is sound
And how am I to take a speck of something fake and spit one cent into doubt
And how am I to feel when they stay in their shell til it's time to spit the masterpiece out of their mouth?
When night peaks her head from the coffin
And spreads her wings to hush the sun
She gets up and says, "it's time to fly again"
And even when the stars shine bright
She blinds even the keenest eye
While the oysters ate sand and makes pearls
It plants a speck of doubt
All I can make is sound
And how am I to take a speck of something fake and spit one cent into doubt
And how am I to feel when they stay in their shell til it's time to spit the masterpiece out of their mouth?
It's just sticks and stones, sticks and stones
But they broke our bones
It's just sticks and stones, sticks and stones
But they broke our bones
And it'll end like it started
The song "Sticks and Stones" by Ride Your Bike portrays a message of resilience in the face of words and symbols that can cause hurt. The lyrics suggest that names, words, and symbols are meaningless and harmless, however, they can break our bones even though they are just sticks and stones buried in the earth. The singer of the song wakes up every morning with the determination to face the day and, even in the face of adversity, tries to push back and shake off the hurt. The song also highlights the creative struggle and self-doubt, expressed through the metaphor of oysters creating pearls.
The song is a call to action to toughen up and rise above the hurtful words and actions of others. It suggests that we should not allow such negativity to bring us down and affect our quality of life. The words "sticks and stones," usually considered as a childish rhyme, take on a deeper meaning in the song, reminding us how painful words and actions can be.
Line by Line Meaning
When day peaks it's head from the blanket
At the break of dawn, when the sunlight rises and the previous day ends.
And the numbers blur on the clock
When the digits on the clock become indistinct, making it hard to tell the exact time.
He gets up and says, "it's time to shine again"
He wakes up, ready to go forward with the day and to make the most of it again.
And even when the clouds shout in thunder
When thunder booms, it sounds as if the clouds are yelling at the earth below.
He tries his best to yell back and slap from slumber
He fights back against the storm, determined to keep going despite the obstacles in his way.
They're just numbers, they're just words
Numbers and words are simply representations of our ideas and concepts, but they hold power and can be hurtful regardless.
They're just symbols, and they hurt
Symbols represent ideas or concepts that can have real and painful consequences for people.
They're just sticks and stones buried in the earth
The insults and attacks thrown at us are just words and ideas, lying buried in the ground.
While the oysters ate sand and makes pearls
Oysters create something new and valuable out of a seemingly worthless substance, much like what the artist wants to achieve.
It plants a speck of doubt
This newfound creativity can also create feelings of uncertainty and insecurity.
All I can make is sound
The artist feels like they can only make noise, rather than something meaningful or valuable.
And how am I to take a speck of something fake and spit one cent into doubt
The artist struggles to find value in their own work and to overcome the insecurity it creates.
And how am I to feel when they stay in their shell til it's time to spit the masterpiece out of their mouth?
The artist is envious of those who can hide their own insecurities and release something amazing at the perfect moment.
When night peaks her head from the coffin
As the day comes to a close and night begins to take over.
And spreads her wings to hush the sun
The artist sees the end of the day as the opportunity for a new beginning, and uses a metaphor of nature to accentuate this.
She gets up and says, "it's time to fly again"
The artist is ready to face the challenges of the future with renewed vigor, energy and determination.
And even when the stars shine bright
Even in the face of great beauty or grandeur, one can still face challenges and struggles.
She blinds even the keenest eye
The future can be so bright that it's hard to see what lies in store, full of possibility and potential.
It's just sticks and stones, sticks and stones
The artist tries to remind themselves that the negative words and criticism are only words and that they should not impact them so much.
But they broke our bones
Despite the powers of words and ideas, the effects of them can still be painful.
And it'll end like it started
The cycle will repeat, ending and starting throughout various stages of life.
Contributed by Oliver E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.