Return
Siouxsie AndThe Banshees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wonder where that boat will ever stop
Wonder if this path I am treading
Will disappear and let me drop
Down to a pen that's surely waiting
Down to the hell I know that I deserve
Even though the spirit is willing
When will you learn?
The hurting, it will return
When will you ever learn?
This feeling is all you can discern
Oh my heart, it is a-broken
More than waste upon the golden sand
Fly my love on wings of mute confusion
Oh, in Never-Ever land
When will you learn?
When will you ever learn?
The hurting, it will return
This feeling is all you can discern
When will you learn?
When will you ever learn?
This feeling is all you can discern
The hurting always will return
Return
Return
In "Return," Siouxsie And The Banshees explore the uncertainty and anxieties of life. The opening lines express a sense of wondering and questioning about the future. The singer is curious about where the plane and boat are going and whether the path they are on will continue or suddenly drop them. These mystical images suggest that the future is unknown and perhaps even uncontrollable. The phrase "let me drop" implies that the singer doesn't feel confident in their footing or direction.
The song's chorus expresses a deeper pain and a resignation to the fact that this pain will always come back. The singer asks when they will ever learn that the hurting will return and that this feeling is all they can discern. The idea that this pain will always come back is amplified by the repetition of the phrase "when will you ever learn?" The final lyric of "Return" is simply the word itself, repeated several times. This one-word chorus captures the endless cycle of pain and uncertainty that the singer is caught in.
Line by Line Meaning
Wonder where that plane is leading to
Contemplating the unknown future and the potential outcomes that it may hold
Wonder where that boat will ever stop
Questioning the stability of life's journey and if it will ever reach a peaceful destination
Wonder if this path I am treading
Uncertainty about whether the current path in life will continue and if it may lead to a sudden end
Will disappear and let me drop
Concerns that the path will suddenly end and lead to a negative outcome, dropping into despair
Down to a pen that's surely waiting
An impending negative outcome, possibly related to consequences for one's actions
Down to the hell I know that I deserve
Acknowledging that the negative outcome being faced is a result of past negative behaviors and choices
Even though the spirit is willing
Despite an inner desire for positivity and change
The flesh is blackened to the deepest nerve
The physical and emotional weight of the past is holding back any chance for change
When will you learn?
A plea to oneself to break the cycle of negative outcomes and make changes
The hurting, it will return
Acknowledgement that negative outcomes will continue to occur if changes are not made
This feeling is all you can discern
The cycle of negativity has become all-encompassing and it is difficult to see beyond it
Oh my heart, it is a-broken
The constant cycle of negativity has left one feeling emotionally shattered
More than waste upon the golden sand
The emotional pain is greater than any external circumstances, such as wealth or status
Fly my love on wings of mute confusion
Trying to navigate the confusion and unknowns of life without a clear guide or plan
Oh, in Never-Ever land
The constant cycle of negativity has left one feeling stuck and directionless
The hurting always will return
Maintaining the same patterns and behaviors will lead to the same negative outcomes
Return
A final acknowledgement of the recurrence of negative patterns and behaviors
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: STEPHEN HANLEY, MARK EDWARD SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind