Charlie Big Potato
Skunk Anansie Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I awake
From blood thick dreams
Washing blame
From my knees

Softly done
So secretly
I'm awake
As Charlie sleeps

A lone brother, a lone sister
A home cover, alone

I awake
Dry the scream
Spit the vile breath
Till my tongue bleeds

Thinks it's all gone
Famously
Broke the hard girl
Good to please

A lone brother, a lone sister
A home cover, alone

Tell it like it is
Tell it like it is
Tell the sordid truth
Tell them
Tell it like it is
Tell them

A lone brother, a lone sister




A home cover, alone
Alone, alone, alone, alone, yeah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Skunk Anansie's song Charlie Big Potato depicts a person who wakes up from a nightmare and is trying to wash away any blame that might be associated with them. The singer describes wiping the dirt off their knees, indicating that they might have been kneeling in guilt or in supplication to someone or something. While the singer is awake and trying to cleanse themselves of their wrongdoing, Charlie (who could be a metaphor for someone or something) is asleep. The second verse continues with the theme of the singer trying to put their past behind them by "drying the scream" and "spitting the vile breath" until their "tongue bleeds." It's as if the singer is trying to purge themselves of all their sins until they bleed, in an attempt to start over.


Towards the end of the song, the singer pleads with us to "tell it like it is" and "tell the sordid truth." It seems as if the singer wants to confess their misdeeds and face the consequences rather than being haunted by guilt. The sister and brother alone in the home cover could represent the isolation and loneliness that one might feel when they hide their secrets.


Overall, the lyrics of "Charlie Big Potato" are dark and introspective, focussing on the internal struggles of the singer as they try to wash away their guilt and seek redemption.


Line by Line Meaning

I awake
Starting the song, the singer wakes up from a dream.


From blood thick dreams
The dream was intense and filled with emotional turmoil.


Washing blame
The singer is trying to get rid of any guilt or wrongdoing that they feel they are responsible for.


From my knees
The artist may have been praying or begging for forgiveness, hence why they are on their knees.


Softly done
The actions described in the previous lines were done quietly and delicately.


So secretly
The singer doesn't want anyone to know about the guilt they are carrying.


I'm awake
The singer is now fully conscious.


As Charlie sleeps
Charlie is mentioned, but it's unclear who they are or what they represent. They are sleeping while the artist is awake.


A lone brother, a lone sister
The artist may be referring to themselves and Charlie as siblings, but they are alone in their struggle.


A home cover, alone
They are at home, but they still feel isolated and alone.


Dry the scream
The singer is trying to suppress their emotions and not let them get the best of them.


Spit the vile breath
They may have been holding their breath due to the stress they feel, but they are trying to let it out slowly.


Till my tongue bleeds
The stress and tension is so high, that the singer's tongue may be bleeding from biting down on it.


Thinks it's all gone
The singer believes that they have successfully gotten rid of their guilt and emotions, but they haven't.


Famously
Even though they believe they have hidden their emotions well, they are still known for having them.


Broke the hard girl
The artist may have been the cause of someone else's emotional distress, hence the term 'hard girl.'


Good to please
The artist may have done something to hurt the 'hard girl,' but it was to please someone else.


Tell it like it is
The singer wants to be honest and open about their emotions and struggles.


Tell the sordid truth
They want to tell the ugly, unpleasant truth even if it's not pretty.


Tell them
They want others to know what they're going through, so they're not alone.


Alone, alone, alone, alone, yeah
The artist is emphasizing how they feel and how isolating it can be.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DEBORAH ANN DYER, MARK RICHARDSON, MARTIN KENT, RICHARD LEWIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@danielaramirez6672

Lyrics:

I awake
From blood thick dreams
Washing blame
From my knees
Softly done
So secretly
I'm awake
As Charlie sleeps
A lone brother, a lone sister
A home cover, alone
I awake
Dry the scream
Spit the vile breath
Till my tongue bleeds
Thinks it's all gone
Famously
Broke the hard girl
Good to please
A lone brother, a lone sister
A home cover, alone
Tell it like it is
Tell it like it is
Tell the sordid truth
Tell them
Tell it like it is
Tell them
A lone brother, a lone sister
A home cover, alone
Alone, alone, alone, alone, yeah



All comments from YouTube:

@tiny6912

Probably one of the best, if not the best, female rock vocalists.

@shayneoneill1506

One of the best vocalists of any gender really., Skins a force of nature.

@peterd.4476

Anneke van Giersbergen is the best though.

@justaloner9033

​@@peterd.4476both are great

@bct771

Amy Lee is really good

@SamanthaGJones

@@peterd.4476no.

15 More Replies...

@diomarcosta9980

My friend sent me this song yesterday. Couple hours he passed way by a car accident returning for your home. Miss you ma man!! Enjoy your time and your friends buddy, no one knows when we will leave this world 🥀🖤

@juliadixon8465

(())

@gabomora2927

21 years later and this is still better than most of the actual alternative rock shit.

@joaonascimento977

you can bet your ass it is

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