Fragile
Sarah Jane Morris Lyrics


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If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
Drying in the color of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay

Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could

For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are

On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star
Like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are
How fragile we are

On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star
Like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are
How fragile we are




How fragile we are
How fragile we are

Overall Meaning

The song "Fragile" represents a melancholic ballad with Sarah Jane Morris lamenting the fragility of human life. The song begins with a powerful imagery of human blood flowing such that one can hardly differentiate between "flesh and steel" resulting in a bloody mess. The blood dries up in streaks of the evening sun, and one could assume these lines refer to the battlefield, where many lives have been lost. She then sings about tomorrow's potential rain washing away the stains, yet something in our mind remains. This evokes thoughts of post-traumatic stress disorder, which is common among people exposed to life-threatening situations.


Sarah Jane Morris then sings about the futility of violence as a means of solving conflicts. She suggests that this final act (use of violence) is meant to seal an argument that can last a lifetime, and the truth is that nothing good ever comes from violence. The lyrics singing about being born beneath an angry star are a reference to how people are usually born into circumstances beyond their control. She reminds us that we must not forget how fragile human life is, and the pain and sorrow that follow in the aftermath of war.


Towards the end of the song, she repeats the lyrics that "On and on the rain will fall like tears from a star" as an allusion to the unpredictable nature of human life. Ultimately, the rain reminds us of how fragile we are and how uncertain life is. In conclusion, Sarah Jane Morris uses "Fragile" to remind us that human life is finite and that all we have is each other.


Line by Line Meaning

If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
When violence and destruction merge into one, it will leave a bloody aftermath


Drying in the color of the evening sun
The bloodstains of violence will remain, drying in the sun's warmth and turning dark red with time


Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
Although the violent acts will leave their mark, nature will eventually and gradually erase these memories


But something in our minds will always stay
The emotional and psychological scars of violence and aggression will remain in people's minds forever


Perhaps this final act was meant
The violent act may have been an attempt to prove a point, win an argument or make a statement


To clinch a lifetime's argument
To finally prove or settle a disagreement or issue that has lingered for a long time


That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
Violence and aggression only lead to more harm and destruction, and can never bring any lasting or positive outcomes


For all those born beneath an angry star
For anyone who has had to endure a lifetime of hardship, suffering or misfortune


Lest we forget how fragile we are
We must always remember that human beings are vulnerable and easily harmed, both physically and emotionally


On and on the rain will fall, like tears from a star
Just like the rain that falls constantly, sadness and grief can feel inescapable and overwhelming


On and on the rain will say, how fragile we are
The never-ending rain is a reminder of how easily we can be hurt and how vulnerable human life can be


How fragile we are, how fragile we are
The repetition of this phrase drives home the message that human beings are delicate and can be easily broken, both physically and emotionally




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gordon Sumner

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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