Red Brick Wall
The Gutter Press Lyrics
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I′ve got an hourglass glued to the palms of my broken hands
See these images that make me cry
They're the ones that i pay for, the ones that i take for a ride.
When i reach this house I built, I promise myself, I′ll clean this thing as soon as I try, but time passes on and I fall asleep
It's space between all the sidewalks
Feels like the sun is soaking up shade from the trees
I just can't catch my fall
It′s the space between all the sidewalks
Turns the dirt and gravel into beaches
Still the concrete scrapes both my knees up
This brick wall battles me.
I hit my pillow, caught in a flash
As if nothing′s wrong, but I lost my half of my head,
It's my better half, the one that I like,
It′s the that one I pay for, the one that I take for a ride.
I take out all my lincoln logs and toss them together, promise myself it'll all stand tall.
But I always know the pieces that bruise.
It′s space between all the sidewalks
Feels like the sun is soaking up shade from the trees
Still the concrete scrapes both my knees up
I just can't catch my fall
It′s the space between all the sidewalks
Turns the dirt and gravel into beaches
Still the concrete scrapes both my knees up
This brick wall battles me.
The lyrics of The Gutter Press's song Red Brick Wall seem to deal with the struggles of facing reality, the passage of time, and the demands of daily life. The first line of the song, "I hit the pavement, running too fast," sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer describes feeling overwhelmed and unable to keep up with the pace of life. The image of an hourglass glued to their broken hands suggests that they are keenly aware of the passage of time and their own limitations.
The next lines suggest that the singer is haunted by certain images or memories that make them cry, but which they also seem to seek out and pay for. It is unclear what these images might be, but the implication is that they represent a kind of escape or distraction from the difficulties of everyday life. When the singer finally returns home, they promise to clean up their house, but time passes and they fall asleep before they can do so.
The chorus of the song focuses on the physicality of the urban environment, with the space between sidewalks representing both an obstacle to be navigated (concrete scraping both knees, battling brick walls) and a potential source of beauty or transformation (turning dirt and gravel into beaches). Overall, the song seems to be grappling with the tension between the demands of reality and the desire for escape or transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
I hit the pavement, running too fast,
I start this journey with great haste and urgency.
I’ve got an hourglass glued to the palms of my broken hands
I feel consumed by the awareness of the limited time I have and with hands that have been beaten down by life's challenges.
See these images that make me cry
The pictures that evoke such intense emotions within me.
They're the ones that i pay for, the ones that i take for a ride.
The visuals that I have brought upon myself and manipulated to my own liking.
When i reach this house I built, I promise myself, I’ll clean this thing as soon as I try, but time passes on and I fall asleep
Upon arriving at a place I have created to be my safe space, I pledge to restore it to its proper order but time slips away and I end up surrendering to slumber.
It's the space between all the sidewalks
Referring to the gaps and empty spaces between things that make up my path.
Feels like the sun is soaking up shade from the trees
I’m getting worn down by the world's abrasiveness even within the spaces intended to provide refuge.
Still the concrete scrapes both my knees up
Despite this rough road, I'm still trying to forge ahead, at a cost to myself.
This brick wall battles me.
This same path and adventures that have chewed me up and spit me out before are once again pitted against me, continuing to cause difficulty.
I hit my pillow, caught in a flash
I lie down and disappear into a moment of sudden clarity.
As if nothing’s wrong, but I lost my half of my head,
Trying to project the image that everything is alright, but knowing within myself that a part of my essence is gone.
It's my better half, the one that I like,
This loss is painful because it deprives me of the qualities that I cherish within myself.
It’s the that one I pay for, the one that I take for a ride.
I realize that this part of me that I am so fond of, I have shaped and manipulated to my own liking, even when it is harmful to me.
I take out all my Lincoln logs and toss them together, promise myself it'll all stand tall.
I scramble to pull together what pieces of myself remain, vowing to fix them up.
But I always know the pieces that bruise.
Despite the promises I make to myself, I am intimately familiar with the weak points of my own individuality.
Contributed by Anna F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.