Reach
Squid the Whale Lyrics
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I am not like the coward, that left you alone
You're not a God you are somebody's son
How are you not ashamed when you should have had one
Not that it hurts in the back of a van
She don't feel anymore, that's the price of your hands
And you can't afford to admit you made life
No you're not a man, not a memory
And no you are better dead
You are the ghost of what hurts the most
No and better yet
You remember what you said, get rid of it
You are the ghost of what hurts the most
Secret is safe, you had better believe
She has not told a soul, she just left that to me
And it beats, beats, beats
No you're not a man, not a memory
And no you are better dead
You are the ghost of what hurts the most
No and better yet
You remember what you said, get rid of it
You are the ghost of what hurts the most
No you're not a man, not a memory
And no you are better dead
You are the ghost of what hurts the most
No and better yet
You remember what you said, get rid of it
You are the ghost of what hurts the most
The lyrics of Squid the Whale's song Reach are quite complex and open to interpretation. The song deals with themes of shame, regret, and the ghostly traces of past actions that continue to haunt us. The first verse hints at an encounter between the singer and someone who left someone alone and who should have 'had one'. It is unclear exactly what this means, but it could refer to abandoning someone who needed support, or failing to take responsibility for a child. Whatever the case, the singer emphasizes that this person is not a God, but 'somebody's son', implying that he is fallible, mortal, and subject to judgement.
The second verse is even more cryptic. It speaks of a woman in the back of a van who 'doesn't feel anymore', suggesting that she has experienced some kind of trauma or abuse. The line 'that's the price of your hands' implies that whoever the woman is, she has been touched in some way by the singer or the person he is addressing. The singer then accuses the other person of refusing to take responsibility for their actions, and of being unable to own up to their mistakes.
The third verse is the most chilling, as it suggests that the singer knows a secret that the person he is addressing is desperate to keep hidden. He implies that whoever the woman in the van is, she has not told anyone else what happened to her, and that the person he is addressing is paranoid about the possibility of exposure. The chorus reinforces the idea that this person is not a man or a memory, but a ghost - a haunting presence that can never quite be banished.
Overall, the song deals with themes of trauma, regret, and the persistence of the past. It focuses on the ways in which our actions leave lasting scars on ourselves and others, and how the things we try to bury can come back to haunt us. It is a powerful, emotionally charged song that encourages listeners to confront their own demons and take responsibility for their mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
Passion is perfect for making you moan
Intimacy and lust bring temporary pleasure but do not establish a deep and lasting connection.
I am not like the coward, that left you alone
I am not the type of person who abandons others, especially in times of need.
You're not a God you are somebody's son
You are not above reproach and criticism, because you are human and have flaws and weaknesses.
How are you not ashamed when you should have had one
You should feel guilty for the hurt you caused, and the lack of remorse displays a lack of empathy.
Not that it hurts in the back of a van
The setting of a traumatic event does not lessen the pain and damage that was done to the victim.
She don't feel anymore, that's the price of your hands
The victim has become numb and detached due to the abuse inflicted upon her by the perpetrator.
And you can't afford to admit you made life
The perpetrator cannot face the reality that his actions have consequences and he has contributed to the suffering of others.
Just like you can't afford to admit to your wife
The perpetrator is hiding his guilt and shame from his partner, who is unaware of his wrongdoings.
No you're not a man, not a memory
You are not a true man because you do not take responsibility for your actions, and you will not be remembered fondly.
And no you are better dead
You would be doing the world a favor by ceasing to exist, as your presence only brings pain and suffering.
You are the ghost of what hurts the most
Your actions have caused lasting emotional damage and trauma, and you will be remembered as a source of pain and hurt.
No and better yet
Actually, it would be even better if you didn't exist at all.
You remember what you said, get rid of it
You know that you have done wrong and should try to correct your mistake, but instead you choose to ignore it and hope it will go away.
Secret is safe, you had better believe
The victim has kept silent about the abuse for fear of retaliation or disbelief from others, and the perpetrator should be afraid that the truth will come out.
She has not told a soul, she just left that to me
The victim has confided in someone else about the abuse, and the perpetrator should be scared that his secret will be exposed.
And it beats, beats, beats
The traumatic experience has left a lasting impact on the victim's physical and emotional well-being, and the perpetrator should feel remorseful for causing this harm.
Contributed by Brooklyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tommy O'Connor
I'm trapped inside of this hotel with fellow soldiers out of hell
And they forced our hands
Our hands are dirty now
Forced our hands, our hands
I found a way around the rules, for company that we could choose
But they forced our hands
We wait like wolves and we strike
We pay for just what we like until this hunger ends
I want to love you
I want to love you
But now I'm back from the war
And I'll give you so much more until this hunger ends
I want to love you
I want to love you
I am patiently pacing the room
Only God knows what I'm going to do to you
I feel my blood is rushing through
You can take what you need, and I'll take care of you
We wait like wolves and we strike
We pay for just what we like until this hunger ends
I want to love you
I want to love you
But now I'm back from the war
And I'll give you so much more until this hunger ends
I want to love you
I want to love you
I'm not a lonely man
Your normal transaction
I can do this myself
I'm just here for the reaction
So we're both cold, but how you move to my touch
Feels like you might be really getting off
No, that's a bit much
This is love by the hour
I know you don't care
But it's been a little while, so we'll have some to spare
My shrink won't let me run my hands through her hair
So pretend that you're listening
I've been dying to share
To be at my best, I've got to feel the worst
And I know thats not what they call healthy
Words won't come out, talent don't compel
And I can't see the cards they dealt me
Speaking of animals, there's no better way
To make me howl at the moon than you pretending to pray
And with a name that sounds like love in her tongue
I'm a dead man smiling on the way to be hung
I'm a dead man smiling on the way to be hung
I'm a dead man smiling on the way to be hung
We wait like wolves and we strike
We pay for just what we like until this hunger ends
I want to love you
I want to love you
But now I'm back from the war
And I'll give you so much more until this hunger ends
I want to love you
I want to love you
What I meant to say is that I read you left to right
Yeah, you know, until it ends
We wait like wolves and we strike
We pay for just what we like
Peter Miller
Been my dudes for a while now. You guys are gonna be huge. It's been nice being an underground fan, but hopefully that won't last much longer!
TheUnderdogzX
Ben is amazing on this, his artistry shines through.
Tyler Mcgilvery
One of my favorite songs of all time !!!!
Sridevi Srinath
You guys are just awesome!
baroquefish
OMG just awesome :D can't wait for the new album!!
Niniwine
Omg I love it , I want this album *_*
Griffith Johnson
Good stuff. I think Bradley will be a good fit for Emarosa.
Jack Braddon
+JP Lilley omg can we be friends. DGD is life, but like idk slaves is okay
JP Lilley
He is the only person that I feel like can match the sound of JC
Ayla Faye B.
This is going to be amazeballs. :)