Unconsciously Screamin' 02
The Flaming Lips Lyrics


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Seeing the unseeable,
Filling down the void
We're not what we used to be
We're not really boys

Screaming till our lungs are full
Kicking down the teeth
We're not what we used to be
We're just paranoid





Unconsciously screaming
And whispering at everything she brings

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Flaming Lips's song "Unconsciously Screamin'" explore deep themes of identity, change, and paranoia. The opening lines, "Seeing the unseeable, filling down the void," set a tone of existential searching and contemplation. The singer seems to be grappling with the experience of growing older and realizing that they are not the same person they used to be. The repetition of the phrase "We're not what we used to be" emphasizes this sense of displacement and loss.


The next lines of the song, "We're not really boys," suggest a gendered aspect to the singer's identity crisis. Perhaps the singer is reflecting on the ways in which societal expectations and pressures have influenced their self-concept. The image of "screaming till our lungs are full, kicking down the teeth" is violent and aggressive, suggesting a release of pent-up frustration and anger. This behavior is in stark contrast to the more passive and introspective tone of the previous lines.


Towards the end of the verse, the lyrics become more surreal with the line "We're just paranoid." This could be interpreted in a number of ways: perhaps the singer is feeling scared or threatened by external forces, or they could be experiencing an intrusive sense of doubt and fear about their own identity. The repeated phrase "Unconsciously screaming and whispering at everything she brings" adds another layer of ambiguity to the song, leaving the listener to grapple with the deeper meaning of these words.


Line by Line Meaning

Seeing the unseeable,
Observing things that cannot be seen with naked eyes


Filling down the void
Trying to fill the emptiness or incompleteness inside oneself


We're not what we used to be
We have changed from our previous selves


We're not really boys
We are no longer youthful or innocent like boys


Screaming till our lungs are full
Shouting with all our might and passion


Kicking down the teeth
Fighting back against the challenges and obstacles in life


We're not what we used to be
We have transformed from our old selves


We're just paranoid
We are constantly worried, anxious, and suspicious


Unconsciously screaming
Shouting unconsciously, perhaps without even realizing it


And whispering at everything she brings
Speaking in hushed tones about everything that she brings into our lives




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL IVINS, RICHARD ENGLISH, WAYNE COYNE, ELAYNE NATHAN, Jonathan Donahue

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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