Glory
The Radical Face Lyrics
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When the world turned wicked, when I joined their game
But I turned and fought them
Like you always knew I'd do
I sat and dreamed at the foot of your bed
You split my skull and reached inside my head
And pulled out the pictures I'd been wishing I'd forget
And wiped the blood from off my chin
Now I sit on the rooftop's edge
The muddy street beneath my swollen head
Trying to forget you
To believe we've never met
And the sky is wrecked, full of rotting clouds
From chimney mouths spewing smoke around
And I can't stop coughing
My lungs just won't calm down
But still I keep grinning
As the blood from my face stains the ground
A bird, caught in the wires
Bleating for help I can't provide, I'm not that big
I hope for the best but nothing changes, I'm sorry
But I was blessed with bad eyes
There's a lot that I miss but I don't mind, I'm not that old
I'll find out what broke me soon enough
The Radical Face's song Glory seems to focus on the physical and emotional transformations that the singer underwent in his life. He starts off by saying that he was born when his name was taken, implying that he was forced to conform to the expectations of others. He goes on to describe how he fought against these forces, suggesting a sense of rebellion against societal norms.
The singer then shifts to a memory of a painful experience that he had with someone, who split his skull open and rummaged through his thoughts. This person then helped him stitch up his wound and wiped the blood away, creating a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. The singer finds himself on a rooftop, trying to forget this person and the memories that haunt him. However, he also seems to revel in the pain and the chaos around him, even as he struggles to breathe and stay alive.
The singer's final lines highlight a sense of resignation and acceptance. He talks about being blessed with bad eyes, an obstacle in his life that he does not mind. He suggests that he will find out what broke him soon enough, hinting at a sense of destiny and inevitability. Overall, the song seems to capture the struggle of being true to oneself in a world that constantly tries to shape and change us.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born when they took my name
When society expected me to conform and stripped me of my individuality, I was brought into this world.
When the world turned wicked, when I joined their game
I became a part of the corrupt world by following socially acceptable norms.
But I turned and fought them
I refused to submit and opposed the forces that aimed to suppress me.
Like you always knew I'd do
You knew I'd stand up for myself, as I have always done.
I sat and dreamed at the foot of your bed
I once imagined a future where we could have lived together in love and harmony.
You split my skull and reached inside my head
You destroyed my illusions, exposing me to harsh realities.
And pulled out the pictures I'd been wishing I'd forget
You forced me to confront painful memories that I tried to bury deep within me.
And you stitched me up then
You mended me, but not without leaving scars behind.
And wiped the blood from off my chin
You helped me recover from my emotional wounds and supported me when I stumbled.
Now I sit on the rooftop's edge
I find myself in a desolate place, looking down at the world that rejected me.
The muddy street beneath my swollen head
My head is clouded with pain and confusion as I gaze down at the filthy road below me.
Trying to forget you
I attempt to erase you from my mind, but your image still haunts me.
To believe we've never met
I wish I could undo our past encounters and start anew, as if we were strangers.
And the sky is wrecked, full of rotting clouds
The environment reflects my internal turmoil and hopelessness, with dark, decaying clouds covering the sky.
From chimney mouths spewing smoke around
The air is polluted with smoke, symbolizing the toxicity of society.
And I can't stop coughing
I'm suffocated by the system's poisonous fumes, struggling to breathe.
My lungs just won't calm down
My distress and unease persist, weighing me down.
But still I keep grinning
Despite my struggles, I try to put on a brave face and maintain my positive attitude.
As the blood from my face stains the ground
Even though I'm injured and hurting, I don't let my pain get the best of me. I keep on fighting.
A bird, caught in the wires
I observe an innocent creature, which serves as a metaphor for my own helplessness and entrapment.
Bleating for help I can't provide, I'm not that big
I wish I could assist and rescue the bird, but I'm too powerless to intervene in its predicament.
I hope for the best but nothing changes, I'm sorry
Even though I attempt to remain optimistic, deep down I know that I can't alter the system or make a significant impact. I feel guilty for being unable to change things for the better.
But I was blessed with bad eyes
While I might not have a clear vision or understanding of the world, I try to make the most out of what I have.
There's a lot that I miss but I don't mind, I'm not that old
Although I'm inexperienced and uninformed about certain aspects of life, my youthfulness and resilience allow me to keep going.
I'll find out what broke me soon enough
I'm determined to uncover the truth about what shattered my spirit and caused my downfall.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BENJAMIN COOPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind