Skin
Sex Gang Children Lyrics
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I swear this night to reclaim all that's mine
My promise tears on my zit-covered pride
It comes with the years of living with the skin
Of a blind-alley fool
But in so many ways I thought I was like you
With your kitchen-knife tongue
Hips! Lips! And fingertips!
Where all slough breaks in half
Old aldies smoke and learn to cackle
While the devil sits and laughs
Well no fags for the hags
And no more time to be wicked
Come round to your soul
Yes, I've been there
You made my day
Then it fell to the ground
So if this is skin
Then I submit to you
Well there once was a queen
Who ate that man as if he were chicken
But it was all in a dream
Yes, I've been there
I woke up half dead
Fear and frogs ate the flesh off my bones
Alive in a fridge
Yes, I've been there
I love the ache
So don't say that Dallas doesn't love you
Come round to your soul
Yes, I've been there
My romance left here
So make no mistake when you call me brother
Alive in a fridge
Yes, I've been there
You were vaccuous and I was cruel
And losers don't hurt when your dreams hold them down
Come round to your soul
Yes, I've been there
The song "Skin" by Sex Gang Children is a story of self-discovery and reflection on past mistakes. The singer begins by swearing to reclaim all that is theirs, referring to their own pride and identity. They acknowledge that their current state of being "a blind-alley fool" is a result of years of living with their skin, possibly referring to their physical appearance or personal struggles that have shaped their identity. Despite this, they thought they were similar to the listener in many ways, especially in terms of being capable of cutting words with a sharp tongue just like a kitchen knife.
The singer then reflects on the experience of aging, where all slough (dead skin) breaks in half and the old aldies (possibly a reference to old ladies or old allies) smoke and learn to cackle, while the devil sits and laughs. They renounce any previous wickedness and desire to connect with their own soul, which they have done before. The listener had once made their day, but it had fallen to the ground, possibly indicating a broken or failed relationship.
The following verses of the song take a surreal turn, with references to a queen eating a man as if he were chicken, it being all in a dream, waking up half-dead with fear and frogs eating the flesh off bones, and being alive in a fridge. Despite these bizarre images, the singer claims to have been there and loves the ache, possibly referring to an emotional or psychological state of mind. Towards the end of the song, the singer recognizes that they were vacuous and cruel to the listener when they were losers (referring to past conflicts), but they urge the listener to come round to their soul, as they have done before.
Line by Line Meaning
I swear this night to reclaim all that's mine
I am determined tonight to take back everything that is rightfully mine.
My promise tears on my zit-covered pride
I am making a promise that is so important to me that it brings me to tears, even though I feel embarrassed about my appearance.
It comes with the years of living with the skin Of a blind-alley fool
I have lived a life full of mistakes and dead ends, and I am haunted by the repercussions.
But in so many ways I thought I was like you With your kitchen-knife tongue Yes, I've been there
I used to think I was like you with your sharp tongue, cutting words and quick wit. I've been in that same mindset before.
Hips! Lips! And fingertips! Where all slough breaks in half
I am consumed by the sensual aspects of life where desire and pleasure can lead to destruction.
Old aldies smoke and learn to cackle While the devil sits and laughs
As I grow older, I see people become more jaded and cynical. Meanwhile, evil seems to thrive and enjoy others' suffering.
Well no fags for the hags And no more time to be wicked Come round to your soul Yes, I've been there
I am rejecting my past sins and asking others to do the same. I have experienced this transformation before.
You made my day Then it fell to the ground
You brought me joy, but it was fleeting and ended in disappointment.
So if this is skin Then I submit to you
If this is who I really am, flaws and all, then I am surrendering to that and accepting myself.
Well there once was a queen Who ate that man as if he were chicken But it was all in a dream Yes, I've been there
I have had vivid, disturbing dreams in the past that I am still grappling with.
I woke up half dead Fear and frogs ate the flesh off my bones Alive in a fridge Yes, I've been there
My nightmares have affected me so deeply that I feel physically ill and trapped, even though I am awake.
I love the ache
Despite all the pain and suffering in my life, I cannot help but feel a certain appreciation for feeling anything at all.
So don't say that Dallas doesn't love you Come round to your soul Yes, I've been there
I am encouraging you to embrace your true self and not give up on love. I have been in a place where I doubted love before.
My romance left here So make no mistake when you call me brother Alive in a fridge Yes, I've been there
My past relationships have ended badly, so I am warning you not to underestimate me. I have felt trapped and isolated before.
You were vaccuous and I was cruel And losers don't hurt when your dreams hold them down Come round to your soul Yes, I've been there
We were both at fault for the hurt we caused each other. Those who fail and don't live up to their potential can feel numb and apathetic. I have gone through a similar experience.
Contributed by Joshua L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.