The band's music is a mixture of 1960s-style psychedelia and folk-rock with old-fashioned country and modern alternative rock influences. The Coral have released nine albums (The Coral, Magic and Medicine, Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker, The Invisible Invasion, Roots & Echoes, The Singles Collection/Magic & Mysteries, Butterfly House, The Curse of Love, and Distance Inbetween). Their self-titled debut album was nominated for the 2002 Mercury Music Prize and later voted the fourth best album of the year by NME Magazine. It was announced on 9 January 2008 that Bill Ryder-Jones would be leaving, but the band would continue as a 5-piece.
Careless Hands
The Coral Lyrics
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Those careless hands they don't understand
Sugar and spice and all things nice
You won't think twice about sacrifice
You'll put your heart in careless hands
Those careless hands they don't understand
They lift you up and they'll put you down
Those careless hands
Won't understand
Those careless hands
Don't warm your hands in his cold heart
'cause his cold heart won't play that part
Choice was yours to hesitate
Threw his line and you took the bait
And warmed your hands in his cold heart
But his cold heart won't play that part
Open your eyes and look around
Any chance they get they'll put you down
With careless hands
The lyrics in The Coral's song Careless Hands warn against the dangers that come with putting your heart in careless hands. The song begins with a plea to avoid putting your heart in anyone's carelessness. The second verse provides further counsel against entrusting your heart to anyone who does not understand. The chorus is a reminder that the consequences of putting your heart in careless hands are dire. The verse finishes off with a caution on how such thoughtless hands can have you running around in circles in a place where there is nothing to offer.
The following verse is even more strongly worded as the first two lines admonish against warming your hands in his cold heart. This line tells the listener that the person who has caught their attention is indifferent, and despite all efforts, the person cannot change them. The following lines suggest that the choice to hesitate was yours, but you didn't heed your better judgment and instead fell for the person's line. By warming your hands in the cold heart, you gave them the chance to put you down with careless hands.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't put your heart in careless hands
Don't give your heart to someone who won't take care of it
Those careless hands they don't understand
The person who has careless hands doesn't understand what it means to hold someone's heart
Sugar and spice and all things nice
Things that seem perfect and wonderful
You won't think twice about sacrifice
You'll do anything to be with the person you think is perfect, even if it means sacrificing your own well-being
You'll put your heart in careless hands
You'll give your heart to someone who won't take care of it
Those careless hands they don't understand
The person who has careless hands doesn't understand what it means to hold someone's heart
They lift you up and they'll put you down
They'll make you feel good and then hurt you later
Have you running around this one horse town
They'll keep you trapped in a small town with limited options
Those careless hands
The person who has careless hands
Won't understand
Doesn't comprehend the consequences of their actions
Don't warm your hands in his cold heart
Don't try to get close to someone who is emotionally unavailable
'cause his cold heart won't play that part
Because he can't reciprocate emotions
Choice was yours to hesitate
It was your decision to be cautious
Threw his line and you took the bait
He made you believe that he was interested in you and you fell for it
And warmed your hands in his cold heart
You tried to get close to someone who is emotionally unavailable
But his cold heart won't play that part
He can't reciprocate emotions
Open your eyes and look around
Take a step back and see the situation for what it really is
Any chance they get they'll put you down
They'll take any opportunity to make you feel bad about yourself
With careless hands
Without consideration for your feelings or well-being
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLIAM RYDER-JONES, JAMES SKELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind