Black Heart
The Damned Things Lyrics
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All the birds of prey that keep searching have come to feast on my little black heart
Some get discouraged while the other ones starve
We've got to keep moving
And though the dust might settle my bones, my blood will sneak out after dark
Tracking scents like a hound dog hunting party that catches you and bring you to my little black heart
A blank slate in the water with nothing sinking in, and I just keep repeating every goddamn thing
I try to trim some fat from the evening, throw some meat to the wolves gathered round
I still get discouraged because it's just slowing me down
We've got to keep moving
And though the dust might settle my bones, my blood will sneak out after dark
Tracking scents like a hound dog hunting party that catches you and bring you to my little black heart
Everybody's got their own thing, what's mine is yours and yours is nothing
Everybody's got their own thing, what's mine is mine and I got something
And though the dust might settle my bones, my blood will sneak out after dark
Tracking scents like a hound dog hunting party that catches you and bring you to my little black heart
And even if you're nowhere to be found, I have been searching from the start
Time will set the trap as strong as I was that catches you and brings you to my little black heart
The lyrics to The Damned Things’ song Black Heart describe a sense of being pursued and hunted by others due to the singer’s perceived flaws and vulnerabilities. The opening line, “I hope you’ve taken notice of the wandering eyes, all the circling wagons and where I draw the line,” suggests that the singer is aware of the attention they are receiving and is attempting to assert boundaries. The metaphor of “birds of prey” serves to illustrate the danger that the singer feels they are in, as they are constantly being watched and hunted. Despite this, the singer urges themselves to keep moving forward, saying “We’ve got to keep moving” twice in the song.
The second verse of the song reveals that the singer feels like they are repeating the same mistakes over and over again, saying “I just keep repeating every goddamn thing.” The imagery of “trimming some fat from the evening” suggests that the singer is attempting to improve themselves, but they are still being held back by their detractors. The lines “Everybody’s got their own thing, what’s mine is yours and yours is nothing” may be interpreted as the singer acknowledging that everyone has their own problems to deal with, but ultimately they are responsible for their own wellbeing.
The repetition of the final line of the chorus, “Tracking scents like a hound dog hunting party that catches you and brings you to my little black heart,” reinforces the idea that the singer is like a predator, searching for someone to bring them to their “little black heart.” It’s unclear whether the motivation behind this desire is to seek revenge or simply to find someone who will understand them. Overall, the lyrics to Black Heart paint a complex portrait of a person who is both vulnerable and dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
I hope you've taken notice of the wandering eyes, all the circling wagons and where I draw the line
I want you to pay attention to the people who are watching me and how I handle certain situations
All the birds of prey that keep searching have come to feast on my little black heart
People who take advantage of others have found me and are using me to their own advantage
Some get discouraged while the other ones starve
Some people give up easily while others persevere through tough times
We've got to keep moving
We need to keep going and not stop even when things get difficult
And though the dust might settle my bones, my blood will sneak out after dark
I may appear defeated, but I will still try to find a way to succeed
Tracking scents like a hound dog hunting party that catches you and bring you to my little black heart
I am determined to find those who have wronged me and bring them to justice
A blank slate in the water with nothing sinking in, and I just keep repeating every goddamn thing
I feel like I am not making progress and am stuck in the same cycle
I try to trim some fat from the evening, throw some meat to the wolves gathered round
I try to make the most out of my situation by giving people what they want
I still get discouraged because it's just slowing me down
Even though I try to stay positive, the setbacks I face are hindering my progress
Everybody's got their own thing, what's mine is yours and yours is nothing
Everyone has their own priorities, and what is important to me may not be important to others
And even if you're nowhere to be found, I have been searching from the start
I will continue my search for justice no matter how long it takes
Time will set the trap as strong as I was that catches you and brings you to my little black heart
I believe that eventually, those who have wronged me will face the consequences of their actions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: KEITH MICHAEL BUCKLEY, ROBERT CAGGIANO, ANDY HURLEY, SCOTT IAN, JOE TROHMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind