Violently Peaceful
The Murder of My Sweet Lyrics


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Faking ways to pay the bills
Making headlines what a thrill
Oh take a pill
In reality you are just as messed up as a lunatic
Sustained, insane

Be honest with me hand on heart
Before it's going to tear you apart
Will it ever be enough?
Will you go too far?

In the corner of my eye
Invading private lives
A penny for your pity thoughts
Always two steps behind
In the corner of my eye
Ther's a flash in the night
Smiling happy for the lens
Will you sleep well tonight?
You swore you'd never sell your soul
How could you make a choice so poor?
Kiss me violently peaceful

Selling out, an easy sin
Until the devil comes collecting in
Ashamed you'll pay

Be honest with me hand on heart
Before it's going to tear you apart
Will it ever be enough?
Will you go too far?

In the corner of my eye
Invading private lives
A penny for your pity thoughts
Always two steps behind
In the corner of my eye
Ther's a flash in the night
Smiling happy for the lens
Will you sleep well tonight?
You swore you'd never sell your soul
How could you make a choice so poor?
Kiss me violently peaceful

Show me
Tell me what you want to see
Tease me
Tell me what you want to read
Bring me headlines
Tell me sweet lies
Show me
Everything you haven't seen
Tease me
The cover or the centrefold
Bring me headlines
Tell me sweet lies

Kiss me violently peaceful
Violently peaceful
Will you sleep well tonight?

In the corner of my eye
Invading private lives
A penny for your pity thoughts
Always two steps behind
In the corner of my eye
Ther's a flash in the night
Smiling happy for the lens
Will you sleep well tonight?
You swore you'd never sell your soul




How could you make a choice so poor?
Kiss me violently peaceful

Overall Meaning

The Murder of My Sweet's song "Violently Peaceful" is a critique on the entertainment industry and how people would do anything to make it big. The first verse talks about faking ways to pay the bills and making headlines which is a thrilling experience. It's ironic that the lyrics say to take a pill when the entertainment industry often utilizes drugs to cope with the pressures of fame. The song then goes on to state how those in the industry are just as messed up as a lunatic, sustained and insane. This highlights the darker side of the industry which isn't always glamorized.


The chorus asks the person to be honest before it tears them apart. It's a question of whether it will be enough, and whether they will go too far. It's a call to consider the impact of their actions and the consequences of the choices they make. The second verse then continues to talk about how the entertainment industry invades private lives, with a flash in the night, smiling for the lens. It's calling out the paparazzi and how they manipulate people’s lives for money. The juxtaposition of 'violently peaceful' in the title describes the destructive nature of the industry while at the same time appearing to be innocent and harmless. The song then ends by asking how anyone could make such a poor choice to sell their soul to fame and fortune.


Line by Line Meaning

Faking ways to pay the bills
Struggling to make ends meet, resorting to pretense and deception to make money


Making headlines what a thrill
Addicted to fame and the attention it brings


Oh take a pill
An ironic suggestion, implying that medication cannot fix the underlying issues


In reality you are just as messed up as a lunatic
Despite pretending to have it all together, you are as unstable as a crazy person


Sustained, insane
The madness continues and persists


Be honest with me hand on heart
A call for sincerity, urging you to speak truthfully from the depths of your being


Before it's going to tear you apart
If you keep hiding behind lies, it will ultimately destroy you


Will it ever be enough?
Are you content with the life you've chosen, or do you constantly crave more?


Will you go too far?
Are you willing to cross moral boundaries and sacrifice your integrity to get ahead?


In the corner of my eye
Something that catches your peripheral vision


Invading private lives
Delving into the personal affairs of others without permission


A penny for your pity thoughts
Your judgmental opinions are worthless


Always two steps behind
You are trailing and lagging behind, unable to keep up with others


There's a flash in the night
A fleeting moment of excitement or sensation


Smiling happy for the lens
Posing and pretending to be happy for the sake of a camera or audience


You swore you'd never sell your soul
You pledged to maintain your personal values and beliefs, yet have betrayed them


How could you make a choice so poor?
Disappointed and confused by your decisions


Kiss me violently peaceful
A juxtaposition of aggression and serenity, representing the dichotomy of your inner state


Selling out, an easy sin
It is tempting and effortless to compromise your principles and give in to external pressures


Until the devil comes collecting in
There are negative consequences to your actions, but you won't see them until it's too late


Ashamed you'll pay
Feeling guilty and paying the price for your mistakes


Show me
An urging to reveal something


Tell me what you want to see
What do you desire and expect to witness?


Tease me
Entice and tempt me towards something


Tell me what you want to read
What do you want to hear, learn or believe?


Bring me headlines
Provide sensational news and events to grab attention


Tell me sweet lies
Flatter me with false compliments and assurances


Everything you haven't seen
Experiences and sights you have yet to encounter


The cover or the centrefold
Choosing between the superficial and the substantive


Kiss me violently peaceful
Repeating the previous line for emphasis


Will you sleep well tonight?
Asking if your conscience will allow you to rest easily




Contributed by Ella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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