Know Your Onion!
The Shins Lyrics


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Shut out, pimpled and angry
I quietly tied all my guts into knots
Gave up on trying to make them
I figured it'd take them too long to look up and besides
It was undeniably clear to me I don't know why
When every other part of life seemed locked behind shutters
I knew what worthless dregs we've always been
Lucked out, found my favorite records
Lying in wait at the Birmingham mall
The songs that I heard
The occasional book
Were the only fun I ever took
And I got on with making myself

Yeah, the trick is just making yourself
But when they're parking their cars on your chest
You've still got a view of the summer sky
To make it hurt twice when your restless body
Caves to its whims
And suddenly struggles to take flight

Three thousand miles north east
I left all my friends at the morning bus stop shaking their heads
"What kind of life you dream of? You're allergic to love"
Yes, I know but I must say in my own defense
It's been undeniably dear to me, I don't know why
When every other part of life seemed locked behind shutters
I knew the worthless dregs we are




The selfless, loving saints we are
The melting, sliding dice we've always been

Overall Meaning

The Shins’ song Know Your Onion! describes the singer’s struggle to come to terms with their own worthlessness and unrequited love. The opening lines express anger and frustration with life, feeling shut out and insignificant. The singer has tried to assert their own value to others but has failed, and so has given up on the prospect of making themselves known to others. Instead, they have turned inward, seeking solace in music and books, the only β€œfun” they ever take. The rest of the song says that although the singer may feel misfortunate, they hold no bitterness towards their own shortcomings. They are acutely aware of the worthlessness of human life but cherish it nonetheless, β€œknowing the worthless dregs we are, the selfless, loving saints we are, the melting, sliding dice we've always been.”


Throughout the song, the themes of self-doubt and self-worth are prominent. The singer feels sidelined and insignificant, but they find solace in the knowledge that everyone struggles with the same existential dilemmas at some point in their lives. This is echoed in the lyrics, β€œwhen every other part of life seemed locked behind shutters, I knew what worthless dregs we've always been.” The song encourages people to be kind to themselves and not be too hard on themselves when they feel lost or stuck. The singer ultimately finds solace in their own identity and sense of self, despite acknowledging their own insignificance.


Line by Line Meaning

Shut out, pimpled and angry
Feeling left out and frustrated with acne, I kept my feelings inside.


I quietly tied all my guts into knots
I suppressed all my emotions and bottled them up inside.


Gave up on trying to make them
I stopped trying to impress others because it seemed like a hopeless endeavor.


I figured it'd take them too long to look up and besides
I believed that other people were too self-absorbed to notice or care about my struggles.


It was undeniably clear to me I don't know why
I was certain that I was not worth anyone's attention, though I couldn't explain why.


When every other part of life seemed locked behind shutters
Everything else in life felt closed off and inaccessible to me.


I knew what worthless dregs we've always been
I recognized that humanity as a whole is flawed and insignificant.


Lucked out, found my favorite records
I stumbled upon my favorite music by chance and felt fortunate.


Lying in wait at the Birmingham mall
The records were waiting for me to discover them at a mall in Birmingham.


The songs that I heard
The music that I listened to.


The occasional book
The books I read from time to time.


Were the only fun I ever took
These were the only activities that brought me enjoyment in life.


And I got on with making myself
I focused on cultivating my own identity and interests.


Yeah, the trick is just making yourself
The key to happiness is developing an authentic sense of self.


But when they're parking their cars on your chest
When others are weighing you down with their expectations and criticisms.


You've still got a view of the summer sky
You can still appreciate the beauty of the world around you.


To make it hurt twice when your restless body
The pain is intensified when your body feels unsettled and anxious.


Caves to its whims
Yields to its desires.


And suddenly struggles to take flight
And finds it difficult to move forward or achieve your goals.


Three thousand miles north east
I traveled thousands of miles to the northeastern part of the country.


I left all my friends at the morning bus stop shaking their heads
My friends thought I was making a mistake by leaving.


"What kind of life you dream of? You're allergic to love"
My friends questioned my ability to have a fulfilling life because I had a fear of love.


Yes, I know but I must say in my own defense
I understand their concerns, but I have my own reasons for my choices.


It's been undeniably dear to me, I don't know why
I hold my beliefs and experiences close to my heart, though I can't explain why they are important to me.


When every other part of life seemed locked behind shutters
Similarly to before, everything else in life felt inaccessible to me.


I knew the worthless dregs we are
I recognized humanity's flaws and imperfections once again.


The selfless, loving saints we are
Despite our flaws, humans are capable of great love and selflessness.


The melting, sliding dice we've always been
Humanity is uncertain and unpredictable, like a pair of dice rolling on a table.




Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: James Russell Mercer

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@frostedflake773

Shut out, pimpled and angry
I quietly tied all my guts into knots
Gave up on trying to make them
I figured it'd take them too long to look up and besides
It was undeniably clear to me I don't know why
When every other part of life seemed locked behind shutters
I knew what worthless dregs we've always been
Lucked out, found my favorite records
Lying in wait at the Birmingham mall
The songs that I heard
The occasional book
Were the only fun I ever took
And I got on with making myself
Yeah, the trick is just making yourself
But when they're parking their cars on your chest
You've still got a view of the summer sky
To make it hurt twice when your restless body
Caves to its whims
And suddenly struggles to take flight
Three thousand miles north east
I left all my friends at the morning bus stop shaking their heads
"What kind of life you dream of? You're allergic to love"
Yes, I know but I must say in my own defense
It's been undeniably dear to me, I don't know why
When every other part of life seemed locked behind shutters
I knew the worthless dregs we are
The selfless, loving saints we are
The melting, sliding dice we've always been



All comments from YouTube:

@Belle-eg7mh

Lunch, listening to music and reading a good book...

@breestinydiary2565

Rory Gilmore rules!!

@harshmahatme9005

And being bothered by the guidance counselor

@luciacanela4404

I left all my friends at the morning bus stop shaking their heads.
"what kind of life you dream of? you're allergic to love."

@Cabinesete

Rory Gilmore

@skinni_the_P00hBear

Lol yep

@shairamirez5754

jajsjaj por eso vine

@Greene1209

I just want to listen to The Shins, forever and ever and ever.

@sbear29

One of the best albums of all time

@badas45

The shins are criminally underrated

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