Punchline
The Cinema Lyrics

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I've been talking just to hear my voice cries
I've been hearing just enough to make me wonder
still in line, the shine in the pavement
look away cuz I swear i'd fake it forever
look at my knees, how can I hold it together when I cannot sleep at night
got a feeling that I won't stop
stuck in the tree tops
I've been here forever but I can not walk away from the bridges tht I can't cross

burning them away
oh no, I turned
I said everything I wanted to say
but we never really made it to the punch line
yet we spent the night setting up our whole lives
oh no, i did, i said everything i wanted to say
but we never really made it to the punchline
shooting bullets at the road just to pass time
oh no,
but we'll never really make it to the punchline
what I'd give myself until now
these words bounce around the whole house
but I've seen that look a few times when you're here pressed up against me, alright
weak in the knees, can't pull it together
so i just close my eyes and watch
when the shit is in my own head
and with your feet on the ground yelling out something loud
when you ever going to find me
yeah, we'll find out some day, won't we
oh no, I did, I said everything I wanted to say
but we never really made it to the punchline
yet we spent the night setting up our whole lives
Oh no, I did, I said everything I wanted to say
but we never really made it to the punchline
shooting bullets at the road just to pass time
but we'll never really make it to the punchline
tell me that you want to start believing
every breathe alone I can't believe I'm leaving
living the days like we're golden
taking it all like you stole it
save it for the morning when you find the sky
take it to the covers we won't sleep tonight
comfort your eyes so you look suprised running away from those city lights
oh no, I did
oh no, I did, I said everything I wanted to say
but we never really made it to the punchline
yet we spent the night setting up our whole lives
Oh no, I did, I said everything I wanted to say
but we never really made it to the punchline

shooting bullets at the road just to pass time
but we'll never really make it to the punchline

Overall Meaning

The Cinema's "Punchline" is a song about feeling stuck in a state of confusion and uncertainty. The first verse starts with the singer admitting that they have been talking just to hear their own voice and trying to make sense of things by listening, but only hearing enough to keep them guessing. They describe themselves as still in line with the shine in the pavement while looking away, showing that they are not fully engaged with the world around them. The second verse expands on this idea, with the singer feeling like they are unable to hold themselves together and constantly feeling like they are stuck in the tree tops, unable to progress forward.

The chorus reveals that the singer has said everything they wanted to say, but they never made it to the punchline, which suggests that they feel like they are stuck in a state of unresolved communication. They may feel like they never fully express themselves, which leads to a sense of frustration and stagnation. The song continues to explore this theme, with the singer shooting bullets at the road to pass the time and repeating the line, "we'll never really make it to the punchline" throughout the song. The bridge introduces a glimmer of hope, with the singer encouraging the listener to start believing and live their days like they're golden, but the feeling of uncertainty still lingers.

Overall, "Punchline" is a song that captures the feeling of being stuck and unable to move forward. The lyrics show that the singer is struggling to find direction and resolution in their life, and may be feeling a sense of frustration with their lack of progress. However, there is a hopefulness in the song as well, with the idea that things could change if the singer and the listener were able to fully express themselves and find clarity.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been talking just to hear my voice cries
I've been speaking without really having anything to say, just to listen to myself speak.

I've been hearing just enough to make me wonder
I've been only hearing bits and pieces of information, enough to spark my curiosity and leave me wondering.

still in line, the shine in the pavement
Although I feel stuck and stagnant, I can see the potential and beauty in my surroundings.

look away cuz I swear i'd fake it forever
I can't handle the pressure of needing to fake my emotions or put on a facade, so I try to avoid eye contact and escape the situation altogether.

look at my knees, how can I hold it together when I cannot sleep at night
My physical and emotional struggles are taking their toll on me, and I feel like I'm falling apart at the seams.

got a feeling that I won't stop
Despite my difficulties, I have a sense of determination that keeps me going.

stuck in the tree tops
I feel like I'm stuck and unable to move forward in life.

I've been here forever but I can not walk away from the bridges tht I can't cross
I've been in this situation for a long time, but I still can't bring myself to leave or move on from the aspects of my life that are holding me back.

burning them away
I'm trying to let go of my past and the things that are weighing me down, even if it's painful to do so.

oh no, I turned
I made a mistake or took a wrong turn in my life.

I said everything I wanted to say
I've expressed my thoughts and feelings as honestly and openly as possible.

but we never really made it to the punch line
Despite discussing important topics, we never actually reached a resolution or major breakthrough.

yet we spent the night setting up our whole lives
Although we didn't achieve our intended goal, we spent a significant amount of time planning and strategizing for our future.

shooting bullets at the road just to pass time
We're engaging in mindless, aimless activities to pass the time without any real purpose or direction.

what I'd give myself until now
Reflecting on the time and effort I've invested in myself up to this point in my life.

these words bounce around the whole house
My thoughts and emotions are consuming me and affecting my entire environment.

but I've seen that look a few times when you're here pressed up against me, alright
Despite my inner turmoil, being close to someone I care about can give me moments of peace and reassurance.

weak in the knees, can't pull it together
My emotions are overwhelming me to the point where I feel physically and mentally helpless.

so i just close my eyes and watch
I'm trying to escape my problems by ignoring them or losing myself in my own thoughts.

when the shit is in my own head
My internal struggles are my own responsibility and I need to work on resolving them on my own.

and with your feet on the ground yelling out something loud
Maybe by being around someone who is confident and bold, I can start to find my own voice and feel more self-assured.

when you ever going to find me
I'm looking for a sense of direction and purpose, and wondering when or if it will ever come.

yeah, we'll find out some day, won't we
The future is unknown and unpredictable, and we can only hope to find our way eventually.

tell me that you want to start believing
I'm seeking reassurance and support from someone I care about.

every breathe alone I can't believe I'm leaving
My current circumstances are causing me to feel like I'm losing a part of myself, and it's hard to breathe without that stability.

living the days like we're golden
Trying to live each day to the fullest, even when times are tough.

taking it all like you stole it
Approaching life with a sense of confidence and boldness, taking what we want and not being held back by fear or insecurity.

save it for the morning when you find the sky
Holding onto hope for the future, and waiting for a brighter tomorrow.

take it to the covers we won't sleep tonight
Escaping our problems through intimacy and closeness, and avoiding the difficult task of facing our issues head-on.

comfort your eyes so you look suprised running away from those city lights
Distracting ourselves with small, fleeting moments of happiness and joy, rather than addressing the deep-rooted issues in our lives.

Writer(s): Matthew James Malpass, Leighton Antelman

Contributed by Jayce R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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