Revenge
Sparklehorse & Danger Mouse Lyrics

Pain
The beginning of the song sets the tone for a deep sense of hurt and wanting to retaliate.

I guess it's a matter of sensation
The singer reflects on how everyone experiences pain in their own way and how for some, it leads to a desire to seek revenge.

But somehow you have a way of avoiding it all
The singer acknowledges that the target of their anger seems to be able to escape the pain they are trying to inflict.

In my mind
The singer is admitting that their thoughts and emotions are the driving force behind their desire for revenge.

I have shot you and stabbed you through your heart
The singer imagines inflicting severe physical harm on the target of their anger.

I just didn't understand
The singer is aware that their anger is irrational but can't help feeling it nonetheless.

The ricochet is the second part
The singer acknowledges that harm inflicted on others can come back to harm the individual seeking revenge.

'Cause you can't hide what you intend
The singer believes that true intentions are always revealed, whether consciously or unconsciously.

It glows in the dark
The singer believes that one's true intentions shine through and reveal themselves in any circumstance, even in the darkest of times.

Once you've sought
The singer believes that once revenge has been sought, it can become all-consuming and difficult to stop.

The path of revenge
The singer is acknowledging that seeking revenge can be a long and winding road, fraught with difficulty.

There's no way to stop
The singer acknowledges that once revenge is sought, it can be almost impossible to back away from one's desire for it.

And the more I try to hurt you
The singer is admitting that the more they try to hurt the target of their anger, the more they are hurting themselves.

The more it hurts me
The singer recognizes that their desire for revenge is causing them more pain than it is causing the target of their anger.

Strange
The singer recognizes that their behavior is not entirely normal and is a bit unsettling.

It seems like a character mutation
The singer feels that their desire for revenge is changing who they are as a person.

Though I have all the means of bringing you fuckers down
The singer is admitting that they have the power and ability to hurt those they seek revenge against.

I can't make myself
Despite their power and ability, the singer is admitting that they are unable to bring themselves to harm others.

To destroy upon command
The singer recognizes that their desire to hurt others is not coming from a rational, commanding place.

Somehow forgiveness lets the evil make the laws
The singer is recognizing that a desire for revenge can be remarkably evil, yet forgiveness allows that evil to continue and affect others.

No you can't hide what you intend
The singer reiterates that true intentions always come through, regardless of how hidden they may seem.

Once we've become the thing we dread
The singer is acknowledging that they themselves can become the very thing they fear most - a person consumed by a desire for revenge.

There's no way to stop
The singer is acknowledging that once they have become consumed by the desire for revenge, it can be difficult (if not impossible) to stop.

And the more I try to hurt you
Once again, the singer admits that their desire for revenge is causing them more pain than it is causing their intended target.

The more it backfires
The singer recognizes that seeking revenge can lead to unintended, negative consequences, sometimes causing more harm to oneself than to the person being targeted.

The more that it backfires
The repetition of this line at the end of the song emphasizes the idea that revenge is a harmful cycle that can continue to cause harm even after it has seemingly ended.