Killing for Company
Swans Lyrics


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I couldn't stop myself
I knew I'd do it again
But I could heal myself,
If I could feel your skin
And if I comprehend this moment
I know we'll live again
And if I heal your wound
We will make love again
And now we're slipping through this millennium
We should feel sorry for the people
Can I kiss your skin?
And there's hunger in the desert.
And missiles in the sky
And every soul is interwoven
Before the wrong or right
I know we'll live again
Though it's just a feeling




I know we'll never end
I'll keep you company

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Killing for Company by Swans describe a feeling of intense desire and an inability to control oneself. The singer acknowledges that they have behaved badly in the past and may do so again, but suggests that being with someone they love would help them to heal and prevent further destructive behavior. The lines "And if I comprehend this moment / I know we'll live again" suggest that the singer sees their actions in a larger context and believes that they will eventually be able to find a way to move past them.


The song also touches on larger themes of violence and war, with references to hunger in the desert and missiles in the sky. Despite this, the singer remains focused on the personal connection they share with the person they are addressing, asking "Can I kiss your skin?" and expressing a sense of inevitability about their relationship: "I know we'll never end / I'll keep you company."


Overall, the lyrics of Killing for Company convey a sense of intense longing, both for intimacy and a sense of purpose or meaning in a world that often seems chaotic and violent.


Line by Line Meaning

I couldn't stop myself
I lacked the self-control to prevent my own harmful behavior


I knew I'd do it again
I was aware that I would repeat this destructive action


But I could heal myself,
I felt that I could recover from the damage caused by my actions


If I could feel your skin
Your physical touch could provide me with the emotional support I need


And if I comprehend this moment
If I can fully understand the here and now


I know we'll live again
I believe that we will eventually be able to move past our current hardship


And if I heal your wound
If I am able to help you recover from your injury


We will make love again
Our intimacy and love for each other will continue despite our struggles


And now we're slipping through this millennium
We are living and experiencing the passage of time, and all that it brings with it


We should feel sorry for the people
We should have compassion and empathy towards others


Can I kiss your skin?
May I express my affection for you through physical actions?


And there's hunger in the desert.
There is great need and scarcity in certain areas of the world


And missiles in the sky
There are destructive weapons being used in conflicts worldwide


And every soul is interwoven
We are all connected, and our actions can have ripple effects on others


Before the wrong or right
Regardless of what is seen as moral or ethical, our actions have consequences


I know we'll live again
I trust that we will find a way to persevere and carry on with our lives


Though it's just a feeling
Despite not having any concrete evidence, I have a strong sense that everything will be okay


I know we'll never end
Our bond and relationship will persist, even if we face challenges and obstacles


I'll keep you company
I will stay by your side and provide support during difficult times




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Juste Lilly

"Killing For Company"
I couldn't stop myself
I knew I'd do it again
But I could heal myself
If I could feel your skin
And if I comprehend this moment
I know we'll live again
And if I heal your wound
We will make love again
And now we're slipping through
This millennium
We should feel sorry for the people
And can I kiss your skin?
And there's hunger in the desert
And missiles in the sky
And every soul is interwoven
Before the wrong or right

I know we'll live again
Though it's just a feeling
I know we'll never end
I'll keep you company

I'll keep you company
I'll keep you company
I'll keep you company
I'll keep you company



Tay Za Tun

Lyrics:
I couldn't stop myself
I knew I'd do it again
But I could heal myself
If I could feel your skin

And if I comprehend this moment
I know we'll live again
And if I heal your wound
We will make love again

And now we're slipping through
Through this millenium
We should feel sorry for the people
And can I kiss your skin?

And there's hunger in the desert
And missiles in the sky
And every soul is interwoven
Before the wrong or right

I know we'll live again
Though it's just a feeling
I know we'll never end
Like there was no beginning
I know it's cold tonight
I'll kiss your velvet skin
I know we'll never end
I'll keep you company

I'll keep you company
I'll keep you company



Rhett Greenfield

And there's hunger in the desert
And missiles in the sky
And every soul is interwoven
Before the wrong or right
I know we'll live again
Though it's just a feeling
I know we'll never end
Like there was no beginning
I know it's cold tonight
I'll kiss your velvet skin
I know we'll never end
I'll keep you company
I'll keep you company
I'll keep you company



extremely gay

I couldn't stop myself
I knew I'd do it again
But I could heal myself
If I could feel your skin

And if I comprehend this moment
I know we'll live again
And if I heal your wound
We will make love again

And now we're slipping through
Through this millenium
We should feel sorry for the people
And can I kiss your skin?

And there's hunger in the desert
And missiles in the sky
And every soul is interwoven
Before the wrong or right

I know we'll live again
Though it's just a feeling
I know we'll never end
Like there was no beginning
I know it's cold tonight

I'll kiss your velvet skin
I know we'll never end

I'll keep you company
I'll keep you company
I'll keep you company



All comments from YouTube:

Qlipphoth

I've been listening to Rock, metal, doom, thrash, black metal and all that shit since I was like 13. I always thought I was listening to very dark and unsettling music but once I came across Swans I got the unshakable feeling of overwhelming darkness in every single one of their songs. The lyrics really strike like a fucking knife right into your soul. Goddamn it.

Jason Stanley

^what he said...

Douglas Von

Death Metal is like a piano without black keys compared to Swans. :)

The Channel of a Disappointed Man

Coil are orders of magnitude better. Swans are still good, just a fact.

Douglas Von

@The Channel of a Disappointed Man I saw coil one time at and all ages show somewhere in the suburbs of Denver Colorado in 1986 I think it was.... maybe 1987... it was them and the Butthole Surfers... I think it was six bucks for cover... Talk about a value!🤘🤘🤘

Ilyas Elouchihi

Godflesh too

13 More Replies...

Grave Splendour

This is probably the greatest song of my lifetime. Thurston Moore said this was the 'band to end all bands', this is certainly the song to end all songs. Every second is a black hole.

ScotchAllenguarde

Jarboe makes this song. She has an almost supernatural ability to craft haunting minimalistic sound scapes. Her work on this record and soundtracks for the blind is absolutely brilliant.

Magal

Jarboe's backing vocals are amazing

:thumbsdown:

yes

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