We Must Bleed
The Germs Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's Sunday and the streets aren't clear
The traffic's screaming
But we can't hear
The sounds, the metals
Driving us mad
The sounds, the metals
Driving us mad
The sounds, the metals
Driving us mad
The sounds, the metals
Driving us mad
We must bleed, we must bleed
We must bleed, we must bleed

The crash as the bottle breaks
Flashes it will through my veins
The pain, the colors
Making me sane
The pain, the colors
Making me sane
The pain, the colors
Making me sane
The pain, the colors
Making me sane
We must bleed, we must bleed
We must bleed, we must bleed

Nightfan and it feels so right
Somethin scorchin' better to fight
Touch me and I'll cut you on sight
Touch me and I'll cut you on sight
Touch me and I'll cut you on sight
Touch me and I'll cut you on sight
We must bleed, we must bleed
we must bleed, we must bleed

I'm not one I'm two
I'm not one I'm two
I'm not one I'm two
I'm not one I'm two
I'm not one I'm two

I want out now
I want out now
I want out now
I want out now
I want out now
I want out now




I want out now
I want out now, now, now, now

Overall Meaning

The Germs' song "We Must Bleed" is a powerful and intense punk rock song that deals with themes of pain, desperation, and rebellion. The opening stanza sets the scene, describing a noisy and chaotic urban environment where the sound of traffic and metal is driving the singers mad. The repetition of the lines "The sounds, the metals/Driving us mad" adds to the sense of disorientation and frustration. The chorus "We must bleed, we must bleed" suggests that the only way to cope with this overwhelming sensory overload is to physically release the pressure, to cut oneself and bleed out the pain.


In the second stanza, the reference to a "crash" and a "breaking bottle" implies that the characters are in some kind of dangerous situation, perhaps even one of their own making. The pain that follows is described as a sensory experience that somehow allows the singers to regain a sense of clarity and control over their lives. Once again, the chorus repeats the incantation of bloodletting as a means of self-expression and defiance.


The final stanza is the most cryptic and enigmatic, with references to "Nightfan" and the desire to fight against something that's "scorching". The lines "Touch me and I'll cut you on sight/I'm not one I'm two" suggest a split personality or a sense of duality within the self, where violence is both a threat and a coping mechanism. The repeated lines "I want out now" convey a sense of urgency and desperation, with the characters feeling trapped and suffocated by their environment and their own identities.


Overall, "We Must Bleed" is a powerful and raw expression of punk ethos that's all about self-expression and personal liberation. It's a song about being trapped and desperate, but also about the power of music and art to serve as a lifeline for those who feel like they don't belong.


Line by Line Meaning

It's Sunday and the streets aren't clear
Describing a chaotic and confusing environment on a weekend day when the freedom and absence of order define the scene.


The traffic's screaming
The unpleasant and distracting noise of cars and the people driving them.


But we can't hear
Overwhelmed by the metropolitan sounds, we are unable to hear anything other than the noise itself.


The sounds, the metals
Referring to the sounds of machinery and the metals composing the structure of buildings and cars.


Driving us mad
The never-ending soundscapes of modernity cause us stress, exhaustion, and a sense of instability.


We must bleed, we must bleed
A call for a violent release, a physical catharsis to cope with the tension and frustration of modern life.


The crash as the bottle breaks
The loud and violent sound of glass breaking is compared to a car accident, stressing the importance of the noise in the song.


Flashes it will through my veins
The adrenaline rush felt after a violent event is described as a sensation of intense light spreading through the veins of the author.


The pain, the colors
The author experiences pain and their perception of reality is altered, creating a new and vivid visual experience.


Making me sane
The emotional release through physical pain helps the author stay grounded and keep their sanity.


Nightfan and it feels so right
The author is describing the pleasure of rebelling and staying up late to take part in what goes against social norms.


Somethin scorchin' better to fight
Describing the urge to rebel and fight against an oppressive system or a boring routine.


Touch me and I'll cut you on sight
A way to express that the author is feeling irritable and defensive while seeking release through physical pain.


I'm not one I'm two
The author is rebelling against being one person and wants to be someone else or the opposite of themselves.


I want out now
The author is desperately trying to escape from their current reality and the pain it brings.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Darby Crash, Georg Ruthenberg

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@stevenimeson902

Still one of the best punk songs or rock songs for that matter! Pat rippen guitar, Darby snarling vocals and dons outrageous drum bashing, I love it since the day I heard it

@user-rb3ty9ok8l

Fuckin a!! Fuck everything!!!

@saxviholind6293

One of my favorite guitar tones ever.

@normalperson2549

same

@Larolex3

Mines as well. Sounds so surfy yet so evil if that makes any sense

@normalperson2549

@Larolex pat smear is insane and underrated guitarist

@Deeznutseighthundredthirty

So sick. Anyone know what amp pat used?

@curb_fiend

​@Deez Nuts loud

1 More Replies...

@Edwinoswell

One of the best writers in punk

@lippskiid

Thee.

More Comments

More Versions