Basement
Smile Empty Soul Lyrics


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Tripping in a basement
Strip away the face paint
Apples when they rot turn brown
Careful with the fire
Bugs that live inside her
Rarely ever leave this town

And I don't believe that you throw me to sea
When there's nothing you keep but my name
Out here in the streets I find myself in too deep
And now I'm wondering if I can change today
Today

Tripping in a hotel
Sweat and cigarette smell
Grass has never grown so tall
Careful with the fire
Bugs that live inside her
Rarely ever live this small

And I don't believe that you throw me to sea
When there's nothing you keep but my name
Out here in the streets I find myself in too deep
And now I'm wondering if I can change today!
Today, can I make this go away
Today, can I make this go away

I'm surrounded by the impossible
I must have lost my way
There's a part of me that will always be afraid

And I don't believe that you throw me to sea
When there's nothing to keep but my name
Out here in the streets I find myself in too deep
And now I'm wondering if I can change today!
Can I make this go away today?
Can I make this go away today?




Can I make this go away today?
Can I make this go away today?

Overall Meaning

The song "Basement" by Smile Empty Soul is a powerful and emotional track that tells a story about being trapped in a dark and lonely place. The first verse sets the scene of someone tripping in a basement, possibly a metaphor for being stuck in a dark and claustrophobic place. The line "strip away the face paint" could signify getting rid of masks and revealing one's true self. The next line about apples turning brown implies the inevitable decay and deterioration of things, much like the feeling of being trapped in a hopeless situation.


The chorus expresses a feeling of abandonment and being tossed aside by someone. The singer questions the other person's intentions, wondering if they really care about them or if they are just using them for their own benefit. The second verse takes place in a hotel, with the grass never growing too tall, possibly implying that the singer is in a desolate and hopeless environment. The repetition of the line "bugs that live inside her" is a haunting refrain that could suggest mental illness or other forms of inner turmoil.


The final chorus emphasizes the singer's desperation to escape the situation and make it go away. The line "surrounded by the impossible" could signify feeling overwhelmed and having no way out. The song ends on a note of uncertainty, with the singer still unsure if they can change things.


Overall, "Basement" is a powerful and evocative song that conveys a sense of desperation and despair. Its haunting lyrics and melancholic melody make it an unforgettable and impactful track.


Line by Line Meaning

Tripping in a basement
Lost and disoriented within oneself, possibly in a dark mental state


Strip away the face paint
Removing the figurative mask and revealing one's true self


Apples when they rot turn brown
A metaphor for the decay and ruin of something once beautiful


Careful with the fire
Be cautious with one's own destruction or harmful tendencies


Bugs that live inside her, rarely ever leave this town
The mental or emotional baggage that one carries, and that never really goes away or changes


And I don't believe that you throw me to sea, when there's nothing you keep but my name
Feeling abandoned or forgotten, with only one's identity left as proof of existence


Out here in the streets I find myself in too deep
Feeling lost and overwhelmed by the harsh realities of life outside one's comfort zone


And now I'm wondering if I can change today
Questioning if change is possible, and if it can begin in the present moment


Tripping in a hotel, sweat and cigarette smell
Continuing to feel lost and disoriented within oneself, now in a different and unfamiliar environment


Grass has never grown so tall
An expression of the feeling that time is standing still or moving slowly in a stagnant situation


Can I make this go away today?
Asking if there is a way to escape the negative feelings and circumstances


I'm surrounded by the impossible, I must have lost my way
Feeling trapped and hopeless in a situation that appears impossible to overcome


There's a part of me that will always be afraid
Acknowledging the presence of fear and anxiety that may never completely fade away




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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