Pale
TheBirthdayMassacre Lyrics
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Towards the sky in arrogance
It easily betrays the closest friend
A moment lost, no consequence
A circle starts again, away from you
Deception pulls us in, away from you
Away from you, away from you
Imitation, a fabrication
A pretty fake, but counterfeit
An empty carcass behind the artist
Is there a trait of innocence?
So how do you portray a sentiment?
Where users brought
The truth is bent
And much to our dismay, they're ignorant
The more that we make up the more it fits
A circle starts again, away from you
Deception pulls us in, away from you
Away from you, away from you
Imitation, a fabrication
A pretty fake, but counterfeit
An empty carcass behind the artist
Is there a trait of innocence?
This doesn't feel right
Feels like everything's further away
Dead as the nightlife
Hindsight, watching another mistake
We never feel right, warm night
Following into the day
Dead as the street light, pure white
Washing the color away
Imitation, a fabrication
A pretty fake, but counterfeit
An empty carcass behind the artist
Is there a trait of innocence?
The song "Pale" by The Birthday Massacre is a contemplation on the themes of imitation, deception, betrayal, authenticity, and innocence. The lyrics describe the persona of an arrogant individual whose pointed chin is a symbol of pride and superiority. This person's behavior easily betrays the closest friend, suggesting a lack of integrity and loyalty. The subsequent lines highlight the circle of deception that pulls people away from each other, paving the way for counterfeit and empty relationships. The persona concludes by asking how it is possible to convey authenticity in a world where the truth is frequently bent out of shape and where people would instead embrace falsity.
Throughout the song, the idea of imitation recurs, with the persona describing it as a fabrication or a pretty fake. The implication here is that the world is full of people pretending to be something they are not, whether in their personal relationships or their public personas. The idea of an empty carcass behind the artist is particularly evocative, suggesting that the person portraying a given image may not have any real substance. The persona wonders if there is any innocence left in the world, and if any sentiment can be genuinely portrayed when users frequently bring falsehood and ignorance.
In the final verse, the lyrics take on a darker tone. The persona feels that everything is further away, dead, and devoid of color. There is a sense of isolation and dissatisfaction, perhaps reflecting the persona's disillusionment with the world around them. The idea of following into the day suggests that there is no escape, and the pure white washing away the color may represent the loss of vibrancy and vitality.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm looking at a face, a pointed chin
Observing someone's appearance, particularly their pointed chin
Towards the sky in arrogance
The person has pride and a sense of superiority
It easily betrays the closest friend
The person can easily deceive those they claim to be close to
A moment lost, no consequence
The person has no regret or remorse for their actions
A circle starts again, away from you
The cycle of deception and betrayal continues without involving the artist
Deception pulls us in, away from you
The person's lies and deceit draws others away from the singer
Imitation, a fabrication
Creating a false identity, pretending to be something or someone else
A pretty fake, but counterfeit
Surface-level attraction, but ultimately fake and illegitimate
An empty carcass behind the artist
There is no real substance or depth to the person's persona or art
Is there a trait of innocence?
The artist wonders if there is any shred of true innocence in the person
This doesn't feel right
The singer has a sense of discomfort and unease
Feels like everything's further away
The world seems distant and disconnected
Dead as the nightlife
The nightlife scene feels lifeless and empty
Hindsight, watching another mistake
Reflecting on past errors and hoping not to repeat them
We never feel right, warm night
The singer never feels comfortable, even on warm nights
Following into the day
The uncomfortable feeling persists, even with the arrival of daylight
Dead as the street light, pure white
The streetlights are empty and sterile, lacking warmth or character
Washing the color away
The color and vibrancy of the world is being drained away
Is there a trait of innocence?
The singer repeats the question, emphasizing their doubt and uncertainty
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MATTHEW O'HALLORAN, MICHAEL HANMER, MICHAEL RAINBOW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind