The Nightshift
Symmetry Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Everybody's got a secret to hide
Everyone is slipping backwards
I drank the water and I felt alright
I took a pill almost every night
In my mind I was waiting for change
While the world just stayed the same
Everybody's got a secret to hide
Everyone is slipping backwards

I can't remember if I like what I said
I can't remember it went straight to my head
I kept a bottle by the foot of the bed
I put a pillow right on top of my head
But I killed for love

Everybody's got a secret to hide
Everyone is slipping backwards
You say you see it almost every time
A little number counting back to nine
I can't remember if I like what I said




I can't remember it went straight to my head
But I killed for love

Overall Meaning

"The Nightshift" by Symmetry is a haunting and introspective song that delves into the theme of secrets and the struggles of maintaining a facade while crumbling inside. The lyrics depict a sense of disillusionment and detachment from reality. The opening lines, "Everybody's got a secret to hide, everyone is slipping backward," suggest that everyone has their own hidden struggles and is slowly losing themselves.


The reference to drinking water and taking pills every night implies a desperate attempt to find solace or escape from the pain. It portrays a sense of dependence and reliance on substances to cope with the emotional turmoil. The line, "In my mind, I was waiting for change while the world just stayed the same," reflects a feeling of stagnation and a longing for something different, while the outside world remains unchanged.


The following stanza delves into the notion of self-destructive behavior, with the singer not remembering or fully comprehending the consequences of their actions. The presence of a bottle by the foot of the bed and a pillow over the head hint at self-medication and perhaps wanting to drown out the world and one's own thoughts. The line, "But I killed for love," is open to interpretation, but it could imply that the singer is willing to do anything for love, even if it destroys them.


In summary, "The Nightshift" by Symmetry explores the hidden struggles and secrets that individuals carry, as well as the coping mechanisms they employ to navigate through their pain.


Line by Line Meaning

Everybody's got a secret to hide
Each and every person has something they keep hidden or concealed.


Everyone is slipping backwards
All individuals are regressing or moving in a negative direction.


I drank the water and I felt alright
I consumed something and it made me feel okay or satisfied.


I took a pill almost every night
I regularly ingested medication, usually before going to bed.


In my mind I was waiting for change
Mentally, I anticipated or yearned for transformation or progress.


While the world just stayed the same
Meanwhile, the world remained unaltered or stagnant.


I can't remember if I like what I said
I cannot recall if I approved of or enjoyed my own words.


I can't remember it went straight to my head
I cannot recall how something affected or influenced me directly.


I kept a bottle by the foot of the bed
I consistently had a container near the end of the bed.


I put a pillow right on top of my head
I placed a cushion directly on my head.


But I killed for love
However, I committed acts of harm or violence out of love or strong emotions.


You say you see it almost every time
You claim to perceive or notice it nearly every instance.


A little number counting back to nine
A small numeric value that counts in reverse to the number nine.




Writer(s): John Padgett

Contributed by Nora H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions