This Corrosion
The Sisters of Mercy Lyrics

Hey hey hey ye hey now no now now
The song's opening lines, which express the singer's demand for attention and excitement, while implying a sense of urgency or anxiety.

Gimme the ring, kissed and told
The singer demands the object he desires-a symbol of romantic accomplishment and power-suggesting that his need or satisfaction is fueled by external validation.

Gimme something that I missed (gimme the ring)
The singer's dissatisfaction with his life and his perceived lack of fulfillment in romantic or other achievements of life, which he hopes to remedy with the acquisition of the ring.

A hand to hold, wild and what it seems (gimme the ring)
The singer desires a partner who is exciting and unpredictable, and who matches his emotional intensity, which can be demonstrated by the possession of the ring.

Kill the king with love is the law
The singer declares his intention to overcome dominant or oppressive systems through love and passion, rather than violence or destruction.

And then we'll turn round (gimme the ring)
The singer imagines a future in which everything will change for the better, and the acquisition of the ring will be the catalyst for this change.

Gimme dream child
The singer desires a life of inspiration and creativity, rather than mundanity or routine, in which he can realize his full potential.

And do you hear me call? (Gimme the ring)
The singer continues to demand attention, validation, and response from his imagined lover, linking his desire for the ring with his longing for this person.

On the loan and on the level
The singer suggests either that he is in debt or that he is living modestly and honestly.

Still on the floor (gimme the ring)
The singer implies that his life is stagnant, or that nothing has changed, and asks again for the ring, perhaps viewing it as a magical solution to his problems.

Sing dream child
The singer repeats his plea for a creative, inspired life, possibly viewing it as a way to transcend his current difficulties.

Hey now, hey now now, sing this corrosion to me
The chorus of the song, which expresses the singer's desire to be immersed in decay, destruction, and death, which may be interpreted as a desire to escape his current life or to indulge in self-destructive tendencies.

Gimme siren, child and do you hear me?
The singer repeats his request for a partner who is stimulating, exciting, and attentive.

Sing, child, of right and wrong
The singer asks for a reorientation towards morality and justice, after having indulged in self-destructive fantasies before.

Gimme things that don't last long
The singer implies a strong preference for experiences that are intense but brief, suggesting a desire for transient pleasures or excitement.

On days like this / In times like these
The singer acknowledges the difficulty and uncertainty of his current situation, and suggests that his inner animal is a manifestation of the stress and anxiety he feels.

I feel an animal deep inside / Heel to haunch on bended knees
The singer describes his intense, almost animalistic emotions, which he struggles to contain, and which have brought him to a state of supplication or submission.

Living on if and if I tried / Somebody send me please
The singer acknowledges the precarious nature of his existence, and asks for assistance or support in improving his life.

Dream wars and a ticket to seem / Giving out and in / Selling the don't belong
The singer suggests that he is caught in a struggle between his imagination and reality, and that he is giving in to societal pressures by compromising his values or sense of self.

Well, what do you say / D'you have a word for giving away? / Got a song for me?
The singer sees his own struggles as part of a broader cultural malaise, and asks for guidance or inspiration from his listeners.

I got nothing to say I ain't said before / I bled all I can, I won't bleed no more / I don't need no one to understand / Why the blood run hold / The hired hand
The singer suggests that he has already expressed his pain and dissatisfaction, and that he doesn't want to continue dwelling on it. He also implies that his struggles are private and difficult to comprehend for others, even those he depends on.

On heart / Hand of god / Flood land and driven apart / Run cold (hey now, hey now now) / Turn / Cold, burn like a healing hand
The singer describes the chaotic and conflicting emotions that he feels, which involve both a sense of divine purpose and a sense of detachment and disconnection. He also suggests that he can achieve some form of healing through this expression.