I'm Sorry I Sang on Your Hands That Have Been in the Grave
Sunset Rubdown Lyrics

The lyrics of Sunset Rubdown's song "I'm Sorry I Sang on Your Hands That Have Been in the Grave" can be interpreted in different ways, but one of the most common interpretations refers to the tension between two people who have different goals and roles. The singer acknowledges that he is not the leader but rather a vessel or an instrument, possibly referring to a follower or a student who has to carry on with his duties no matter what. The repetition of "carry on" and the ba-dum, ba-dum rhythm add to the sense of purpose and urgency.

The second part of the lyrics introduces some contrasts and paradoxes. The first line "There are ones that lie/ And ones that lie underground" plays with the different meanings of the verb "to lie" (to tell a falsehood or to be laid horizontally) and suggests that there are different levels of deception or concealment. The second line "The first ones lie/ The second one I lie about" creates a puzzle or a riddle, as it is not clear who is lying about what. The repetition of "carry on" seems to urge the listener to keep going despite the confusion or the doubts.

The middle section of the lyrics shifts the focus to a more specific setting, possibly a wilderness or an uncharted territory. The lines "Think it’s a sign, where we’re shooting the sun?/ I put a flag where it didn’t belong" suggest an attempt to map the territory or to assert dominance over it. The imagery of the heart and the lance suggests a struggle or a competition, where one person is the hunter and the other is the support. The lines "No learned has seen the lakes/ And I know your hands have/ Been in the grave" evoke a sense of mystery and danger, as if there are secrets or hazards that only some people know about. The final lines "I will follow the hunter and see what you take./ I don’t only want to swim, swim, swim" hint at a desire to challenge or surpass the hunter, or at least to explore the same territory.

Overall, the lyrics of "I'm Sorry I Sang on Your Hands That Have Been in the Grave" convey a mix of uncertainty, curiosity, and determination, as the singer navigates through different landscapes and relationships.