Brickwall Views
The Lawrence Arms Lyrics


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don't break too many hearts. don't take too many arrows in the chest. cry comfortably, let us all know what you're thinking. is there a gesture i could use to clearly express i'm at an utter loss for words? is there a part of you that's torn? that's larger than life? that'll hold on for one more night? i've got a speech to make. followed by a big parade. northside. closed eyes. all charades go on forever. hands tied with fools pride. in a slowly fleeing summer. just throw your hands up at the sky. no use trying to explain this. the clouds are mirrors. i'm disguised. i'm not all that entertaining. the city looks the same until you notice smaller changes. it still knows us all by name. it holds us close to its heart (now repeat) all my hopes are unaligned. this diagnosis is self-designed. northside. closed eyes. all charades go on forever. ands tied with fools pride. in a slowly fleeing summer. empty rooms don't have pictures to talk to. brickwall views demand uninspired afternoons. the days are flooding into months. the nights are staring into centuries. i've got some older pictures of people i see once every couple years. intrigued or unamazed. "you were so much different back in those days." and now this smile has a bitter curve. now these eyes are unenchanted. and all we see is a faded image of what we used to be. how can we relate when we don't know a thing about each other anymore? is there a gesture i could use to clearly express i'm at an utter loss for words.




Overall Meaning

The Lawrence Arms's song "Brickwall Views" is about feeling lost, disconnected, and disillusioned with the world around you. The lyrics encourage the listener to be cautious with their actions, to not hurt others or let themselves get hurt too much in return. The lines "don't break too many hearts. don't take too many arrows in the chest" serve as a reminder to be mindful of others and yourself. The song acknowledges the difficulty of expressing oneself and offers a sense of shared experience - we all have moments when we feel at an utter loss for words.


The chorus, repeated twice throughout the song, speaks to the static nature of life in the face of personal change. The city stays the same, the days flood into months, and the nights stare into centuries. The lyrics "brickwall views demand uninspired afternoons" suggest a sense of being stuck, both physically and emotionally. The imagery of "empty rooms" without pictures to talk to reinforces the isolation and disconnection the song describes. Ultimately, the song is about searching for connection and meaning in a world that seems increasingly indifferent.


Line by Line Meaning

don't break too many hearts.
Be careful not to hurt too many people emotionally.


don't take too many arrows in the chest.
Try not to get hurt too much in life.


cry comfortably, let us all know what you're thinking.
Be honest about your feelings and share them with the people around you.


is there a gesture i could use to clearly express i'm at an utter loss for words?
Is there a way to show that I'm struggling to express myself?


is there a part of you that's torn? that's larger than life? that'll hold on for one more night?
Is there a part of you that is struggling but still holding on?


i've got a speech to make. followed by a big parade.
I have something important to say, and then everyone will celebrate.


northside. closed eyes. all charades go on forever.
The neighborhood is familiar, but people pretend and hide their true selves indefinitely.


hands tied with fools pride. in a slowly fleeing summer.
My ego is holding me back as time passes by.


just throw your hands up at the sky. no use trying to explain this.
Sometimes it's better to surrender and accept things as they are, rather than trying to rationalize them.


the clouds are mirrors. i'm disguised. i'm not all that entertaining.
The sky reflects my true self, and it's not impressive or exciting.


the city looks the same until you notice smaller changes. it still knows us all by name. it holds us close to its heart (now repeat)
The city may seem stagnant, but it's always changing in small ways. It still remembers and cares about its citizens.


all my hopes are unaligned. this diagnosis is self-designed.
My aspirations don't match my reality, and I'm the one who caused this mess.


empty rooms don't have pictures to talk to. brickwall views demand uninspired afternoons.
Solitude is lonely, and a boring surroundings can be mentally draining.


the days are flooding into months. the nights are staring into centuries.
Time feels endless and monotonous.


i've got some older pictures of people i see once every couple years. intrigued or unamazed. "you were so much different back in those days." and now this smile has a bitter curve. now these eyes are unenchanted.
I have memories of people I don't see often, and they've changed. Despite that, I try to smile, but it's forced and bitter.


and all we see is a faded image of what we used to be. how can we relate when we don't know a thing about each other anymore?
We're just a shell of our past selves, and we struggle to connect because we're not the same people anymore.


is there a gesture i could use to clearly express i'm at an utter loss for words.
I'm still struggling to express myself and communicate my thoughts.




Contributed by Dominic M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Nancy

Don't break too many hearts
Don't take too many arrows in the chest
Cry comfortably, let us all know what you're thinking

Is there a gesture I could use
To clearly express I'm at an utter loss for words?
Is there a part of you that's torn, that's larger than life?
That'll hold on for one more night

I've got a speech to make
Followed by a big parade

Northside, closed eyes
All charades go on forever
Hands tied with fool's pride
In a slowly fading summer

Throw your hands up at the sky
No use trying to explain this
The clouds are mirrors, I'm disguised
I'm not all that entertaining

The city looks the same
Until you notice smaller changes
It still knows us all by name
It holds us close to its heart
It holds us close to its heart

All my hopes are unaligned
This diagnosis is self-designed

Northside, dead eyes
All charades go on forever
Hands tied with past lives
In a slowly fading summer

Empty rooms don't have pictures to talk to
Brick wall views demand uninspired afternoons
The days are flooding into months
The nights are staring into centuries

I've got some older pictures
Of people I see once every couple years
Intrigued or unamazed
"You were so much different back in those days"

Now this smile has a bitter curve
And now these eyes are unenchanted
And all they see is a faded image of what we used to be
How can we relate?

When we don't know a thing about each other anymore
When we don't know a thing about each other anymore
When we don't know a thing about each other anymore
When we don't know a thing about each other anymore

Is there a gesture I could use to clearly express
I'm at an utter loss for words?



All comments from YouTube:

omgnotaflake

Brilliant, such an underrated band.

Ybor Steve Esquire III

I was a lucky guy when I discovered this albu, back in 2004-2005. What a great time in my life, I can't be thankful enough for all the amazing music and equally amazing shows I got to see in those days. Truly historic.

cheeseontoast14

I REALLY like this song, great rhythm more than anything!

Palace

Larry your arms still have the same impact like they did all those years ago.....my favorite chi town punk band of all time!

michael mangerson

Cory Vedin this^

LilKim2772

I haven't been able to quit listening to this song for almost 3 days. I love it so much.

kerplunk801

I love this song

Nancy

Don't break too many hearts
Don't take too many arrows in the chest
Cry comfortably, let us all know what you're thinking

Is there a gesture I could use
To clearly express I'm at an utter loss for words?
Is there a part of you that's torn, that's larger than life?
That'll hold on for one more night

I've got a speech to make
Followed by a big parade

Northside, closed eyes
All charades go on forever
Hands tied with fool's pride
In a slowly fading summer

Throw your hands up at the sky
No use trying to explain this
The clouds are mirrors, I'm disguised
I'm not all that entertaining

The city looks the same
Until you notice smaller changes
It still knows us all by name
It holds us close to its heart
It holds us close to its heart

All my hopes are unaligned
This diagnosis is self-designed

Northside, dead eyes
All charades go on forever
Hands tied with past lives
In a slowly fading summer

Empty rooms don't have pictures to talk to
Brick wall views demand uninspired afternoons
The days are flooding into months
The nights are staring into centuries

I've got some older pictures
Of people I see once every couple years
Intrigued or unamazed
"You were so much different back in those days"

Now this smile has a bitter curve
And now these eyes are unenchanted
And all they see is a faded image of what we used to be
How can we relate?

When we don't know a thing about each other anymore
When we don't know a thing about each other anymore
When we don't know a thing about each other anymore
When we don't know a thing about each other anymore

Is there a gesture I could use to clearly express
I'm at an utter loss for words?

Rick Connolly

Don't wait too long to catch up with the lads you grew up with. Even if it was an ugly split. They may be just the mates you need when you are older...

phil75121

the second base cover of this song it just mind blowing XD

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