Scratch
Shrug Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've got these scratches on my arms
And I don't know how they got there
I do know that I blanked out
A couple days ago
Scratches on my arms
And I sure hope that they felt good
'Cause I've got some scars left
I will watch them grow

Through my fingers, through my ribcage
Through my insides, inside my shoe
They're my perfect little symbols
And I'll name every one of them after you

And from now on
Teach myself not to let go
Scratches
Scratches
Scratches, they have told me so

Scratches on my arms
They were stupid, they were foolish
But I would not trade them
Not even if I could
Scratches on my arms
Are my formal education
Don't know if they taught me
I only know they should

You were painful and degrading
Pull my innocence out like a rotten tooth
Shattered all my rosey glasses
Felt you breathing up my youth

And from now on
Teach myself not to let go
Scratches
Oh, scratches
Scratches, they have told me so

I have done to myself what you have done to me
Who has enjoyed it more? Who knows
I have done to myself what you have done to me
Who has enjoyed it more? Who knows
I have done to myself what you have done to me
Who has enjoyed it more? Who knows
I have done to myself what you have done to me
Who has enjoyed it more?

And from now on
Teach myself not to let go
Scratches




Oh, scratches
Scratches, they have told me so

Overall Meaning

The song "Scratch" by Shrug is a raw and intense piece that speaks of the after-effects of a painful experience. The lyrics describe the scratches on the singer's arms, which they don't remember getting but hope they felt good at the time. The scratches are seen as perfect little symbols that the singer will name after the person who caused their pain. The scars from these scratches are seen as a formal education that taught the singer something important.


The song implies that the scratches were self-inflicted as a coping mechanism or a way to exert control over a situation where the singer felt powerless. The scratches are a form of self-harm that the singer would not trade, even though they were foolish and stupid. The singer acknowledges that someone else caused their pain, and they have internalized those feelings and turned them into physical scars. However, the singer also recognizes that they have some agency in the situation and can teach themselves not to let go in the future.


Overall, "Scratch" is a haunting and powerful song that deals with the complex emotions of pain, control, and self-harm in a nuanced and authentic way.


Line by Line Meaning

I've got these scratches on my arms
The singer has visible scratches on their arms.


And I don't know how they got there
The singer has no memory of how they got the scratches.


I do know that I blanked out
The singer has no memory of a certain period of time due to a blackout.


A couple days ago
The blackout occurred a few days prior to the present moment.


And I sure hope that they felt good
The artist hopes that the scratches were enjoyable to receive.


'Cause I've got some scars left
The singer now has scars as a result of the scratches.


I will watch them grow
The singer will observe the scars as they heal and change over time.


Through my fingers, through my ribcage
The artist visualizes the scratches spreading to different parts of their body, including their ribcage.


Through my insides, inside my shoe
The artist imagines the scratches affecting their internal organs and even reaching inside their shoes.


They're my perfect little symbols
The scratches represent something important to the artist.


And I'll name every one of them after you
The singer is symbolically associating the scratches with the person who caused them.


Scratches, they have told me so
The artist has learned something from the experience of getting the scratches.


They were stupid, they were foolish
The singer recognizes that the scratches were not a wise decision on their part.


But I would not trade them
Despite the foolishness, the singer values the scratches and the meaning they hold.


Not even if I could
The singer would not trade the scratches even if given the opportunity.


Scratches on my arms
The scratches remain visible on the artist's arms.


Are my formal education
The artist has learned something important from the experience of getting the scratches.


Don't know if they taught me
The singer is unsure if they fully understand the lesson the scratches have taught them.


You were painful and degrading
The person who caused the scratches hurt and insulted the singer.


Pull my innocence out like a rotten tooth
The person who caused the scratches took away the artist's innocence in a hurtful manner.


Shattered all my rosey glasses
The person who caused the scratches destroyed the artist's naive and idealistic view of the world.


Felt you breathing up my youth
The person who caused the scratches made the artist feel like they were stealing their youth and life away.


I have done to myself what you have done to me
The singer has inflicted harm upon themselves in the same manner that the person who caused the scratches hurt them.


Who has enjoyed it more? Who knows
The artist is questioning who ultimately benefited from the cycle of harm and self-harm.


Teach myself not to let go
The singer is determined to break the cycle of harm and self-harm and hold onto hope for the future.


Scratches, they have told me so
The experience of getting the scratches has taught the singer something important.




Contributed by Josiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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