or www.myspace.com/stroke9
Duality of Man
Stroke 9 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think that's all she said
Her heart's like a barren wasteland
In the city of the dead
If it's a game of love roulette
Can you loan me twenty bills?
This broken heart will end us both
When you're
Going down the road
Hoping one day you arrive
The story won't write itself tonight
Now it's your turn to drive
Conversation's like a dull knife across the skin
And it cuts me where I live
I sold my soul long ago
And now it ain't mine to give
A kiss is worth a thousand words
So ask me if I care (Ask me if I care)
It's not the cracks that shook the world
But the seams that fixed the tears
There's a time I knew directions home
And I knew just where I'd been
But it's high time, love, that we grew up
Before the flood kicks in
And I'm
Going down the road
Hoping one day I arrive
The story won't write itself tonight
Now it's my turn to drive
Conversation's like a dull knife across the skin
And it cuts me where I live
I sold my soul long ago
And now it ain't mine to give
A host of angels won't stop the fall
I'm a charity case or nothing at all
Look around, the dark abounds
And I'm falling once again
And I'm
Going down the road
Hoping one day you arrive
The story won't write itself tonight
Now it's your turn to drive
Conversation's like a dull knife across the skin
And it cuts me where I live
I sold my soul long ago
And now it ain't mine to give
I sold my soul long ago
And now it ain't mine to give
The lyrics to Stroke 9's song "Duality of Man" tell a story of a relationship that has gone sour. The opening verse describes the woman's emotional state as a "barren wasteland" in the "city of the dead." This suggests that she is emotionally closed off and unavailable, which impacts their relationship negatively. The second verse touches on the theme of gambling, with the singer asking if the woman can "loan me twenty bills" for a game of love roulette. This suggests that the relationship is precarious and dependent on chance. The chorus highlights the idea that life is a journey, with the singer hoping to eventually "arrive" somewhere but feeling as though the story won't write itself that night. This suggests a sense of aimlessness and uncertainty, which is further emphasized by the line "now it's your turn to drive." The dullness of conversation is once again brought up as a metaphorical knife across the skin that cuts where he lives. The theme of having no agency or control over his life is highlighted in the line "I sold my soul long ago and now it ain't mine to give." The final verse touches on the idea that no amount of good intentions or help from others can save someone who is falling apart. The line "I'm a charity case or nothing at all" suggests that the singer feels helpless and has given up on trying to change his situation.
Line by Line Meaning
That's all she wrote
I think that's all she said
Her heart's like a barren wasteland
it lacks life or emotion and is completely empty
In the city of the dead
perhaps she inhabits a place where everything is dull and lifeless
If it's a game of love roulette
If this is a gamble of love
Can you loan me twenty bills?
May I borrow a small sum of money
This broken heart will end us both
The relationship will be destroyed by the pain of a broken heart
It's the little things that kill
Small gestures and moments can destroy a relationship
Going down the road
Traveling along life's journey
Hoping one day you arrive
Hopeful for a fulfilling destination
The story won't write itself tonight
It won't just happen, effort must be put in
Now it's your turn to drive
Take control and lead us towards our destination
Conversation's like a dull knife across the skin
Talking with someone is painful
And it cuts me where I live
It hurts me to my core
I sold my soul long ago
I made a significant sacrifice to achieve something
And now it ain't mine to give
I cannot give it away, it's no longer under my control
A kiss is worth a thousand words
An action speaks louder than words
So ask me if I care
If you don't believe me, ask me outright
It's not the cracks that shook the world
The smalls signs of damage didn't cause the major event
But the seams that fixed the tears
The efforts to repair the damage is what made the difference
There's a time I knew directions home
I used to know where I belonged
And I knew just where I'd been
I was familiar with my past
But it's high time, love, that we grew up
It's time for us to mature and face reality together
Before the flood kicks in
Before everything falls apart and is destroyed
A host of angels won't stop the fall
No amount of help or support will prevent the end
I'm a charity case or nothing at all
Either I need help or I have nothing
Look around, the dark abounds
The negative things seem to be everywhere
And I'm falling once again
Again, I'm experiencing a failure or setback
I sold my soul long ago
I gave up something important for something else
And now it ain't mine to give
I can't sacrifice it, I don't have it anymore
Contributed by Dominic O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.