Skeletons
The Yeah Yeah Yeah´s Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Love my name
Love left dry
Frost or flame
Skeleton me
Fall asleep
Spin the sky
Skeleton me
Wait, don't cry

Love, don't go
Love, don't cry
Skeleton me
Skeleton me

Soon comes rain
Dry your eyes
Frost or flame
Skeleton me
Fall asleep
Spin the sky
Skeleton me
Love, don't cry
Love, don't cry
Love, don't cry
Skeleton me

Skeleton me
Skeleton

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Skeletons" by The Yeah Yeah Yeah's have a hauntingly beautiful quality that leave much to the interpretation of the listener. The repeated phrase "Skeleton me" seems to suggest a yearning for someone to see beneath the surface and love the raw, vulnerable self. The choice of imagery - frost or flame, rain - suggests a focus on emotions that can be both beautiful and destructive. The first verse seems to be reflecting on love that has been lost or dried up, and pleading for someone to see and accept the real self. The repetition of "love, don't go" seems to be a plea not to abandon the self, despite vulnerability. The second verse brings a sense of renewal, with the arrival of rain and the reassurance to "dry your eyes" - again, suggesting a cycle of emotion that can be painful but ultimately cleansing.

The sparse instrumentation of the song, with just a piano and Karen O's achingly translucent voice, adds to the poignancy of the lyrics. "Skeletons" is a meditation on love, loss, and emotional vulnerability that is evocative and bittersweet.

Line by Line Meaning

Love my name
I am proud of my identity and my name.

Love left dry
I have experienced a lack of love and affection in my life.

Frost or flame
I have faced both coldness and passion in my relationships.

Skeleton me
I am raw and vulnerable on the inside, like a skeleton.

Fall asleep
I want to escape from reality and experience peace.

Spin the sky
I want to feel unrestrained and free, like I am spinning in the sky.

Wait, don't cry
I don't want to cause pain or hurt to others.

Love, don't go
I don't want to lose the love or connection I have with someone.

Love, don't cry
I don't want to be the cause of someone's tears or sadness.

Soon comes rain
I am bracing myself for a difficult and trying time.

Dry your eyes
I am offering comfort and support to someone who is hurting.

Skeleton me
I am still raw and vulnerable even in tough times.

Love, don't cry
I want to make sure that the people I care about are not hurt or upset.

Skeleton me
I am still vulnerable, even in the face of adversity.

Skeleton me
I am still raw and exposed, no matter what happens.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRIAN CHASE, KAREN LEE ORZOLEK, NICHOLAS JOSEPH ZINNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@mystalinsilver8256

5y↑79

Lyrics:
Love my name
Love left dry
Frost or flame
Skeleton me
Fall asleep
Spin the sky
Skeleton me
Love, don't cry
Love, don't cry
Love, don't cry
Skeleton me
Skeleton me

Soon comes rain
Dry your eyes
Frost or flame
Skeleton me
Fall asleep
Spin the sky
Skeleton me
Love, don't cry
Love, don't cry
Love, don't cry
Skeleton me
Skeleton me
Skeleton me

All comments from YouTube:

@Kwillow666

2y↑103

I was dying of an eating disorder at the time when this song came out (2009) & I was obsessed with the YYY’s. My memory is of my parents driving me 4 hours south to go to inpatient treatment & we listened to this album on repeat on the way down. We all cried when this song would play. It was the first time I ever saw my Dad cry. It ultimately gave me strength to overcome anorexia because I didn’t want my family to hurt. Impactful song in my life, forever.

@randmartinez1231

1y↑4

Thank you for sharing that, I hope you are doing well

@Kwillow666

1y↑3

@@randmartinez1231 thank you, I really appreciate that. These days I’ve mostly overcome my ED in general but this song will always make me feel feels.

@bugspot1

51w↑2

Thank you
I hope you continue to be well.

@sorlee1

17w

Thank you for sharing your story with the world. All my best wishes to you and your family.

@bandolinaful

❤ I hear you.

@emily2381

7y↑628

Before I Fall ❤

@abigailtolano7940

7y↑14

When I heard this song in before I fall I instantly loved the movie so much more

@lorenzoarmendariz1456

5y↑2

Emily Chandler ♥ The only and beautiful movie i think after titanic, Forrest Gum, and others haha

@leagueofiniciante1577

5y↑1

Yeah

@im.1983

4y↑2

Yesss

@ivanmajola3536

4y↑5

been looking for this song ever since i watched that movie. the scene was so fucken perfect i could've cried 💙

5 More Replies...

@mystalinsilver8256

5y↑79

@Rubix9595RG

2y↑29

Watching “Before I Fall” and then this song starts playing on that one scene, literally started to cry because just the combination of both the movie and the song were perfect, I can’t express that enough

@ZYH909

7y↑190

My heart just explode when sam dies
BEFORE I FALL

@StevePenkFan

7y↑7

zak Hattab spoiling the ending here?

@ZYH909

7y↑4

Steve Penkfan sorry man i couldn't hold my self

@karen351974

5y↑5

I know right I literally watched it twice and cried twice

@lillady710

5y↑5

Couldn't help yourself from spoiling it for others? So disrespectful

@harrypotter6894

@@ameliacai572 that's still a spoiler lol ... Who reads discriptions on Google.

1 More Replies...

@chnmat005

10y↑111

Prior to the death of my dad, I had always struggled to fully understand this song, but when i listened to it, shattered a few days after his burial, I got it, I really and truly got it and for a moment it brought me comfort. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, I thank you.

@michelemichele7178

2y↑5

💖💖💖💖

@FullFrontalFromage

1y↑2

I hope you are well! ❤

@subjectsuperject

13y↑37

This band has quite some range: Dreamy, atmospheric numbers like this one; dancy songs like Cheated Hearts and Turn Into; dark-churning rock like Isis; straight ballads like Maps. And a frontwoman with electric stage presence! The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are definitely underrated...!

@iloveulll

11y↑43

it's weird as i'm hearing the lyrics "Love, don't cry" i start to feel a lump in my throat, my heart sinks, and all i actually want to do is cry my heart out. this song is just so absolutely beautiful it evokes so much emotion and melancholic but still also very comforting i can't really fathom it...this is why i love music

@dollydagger8492

2y↑2

It's just fractionation seduction. Like in land before time when little foots mom died, "I'll always be with you, even if you can't see me" high and low in one sentence, it's basically sandwich tactics ❤

@Greensky02

5y↑291

Heard it on Hanna and had to Shazam it! Season 1 was great!

@olivierlazure5720

5y↑10

You could have used the X-ray thing on Amazon Prime Video to find out the songs in the show for every scene. It also tells you the name of the actors for each character with a picture, it helps you to learn the names of the actors and actresses who are in each scene.

@akashdobhal3054

5y↑2

@@olivierlazure5720 It show the characters name but it didn't tell about song. If it does can you tell me how to enable it?

@arianao3661

5y↑2

Oliver Queen is oliver queen ur real name? asking for a friend 🤠

@tobyr987

5y↑3

Same here, it was amazing

@MisterKrees

5y↑3

Ahah same for me just finish the season and use shazam for find the title

15 More Replies...

@hephenstalking1626

4y↑113

This song makes me wanna stand on a rooftop in the night with a flare in my hand screaming until all tears are dry.

@TheAnecdote

3y↑2

Yes! The flare!

@akrobatish

3y↑2

hell yeah dude

@HotKnives4

2y↑1

Yes screaming until I can’t anymore

@lesliemartin3

2y↑1

Your name is totally rad

@DGiovanni

2y↑1

o the cringe

3 More Replies...

@derektrammell911

4y↑46

Can we all agree Before I Fall AND Hanna were amazing uses of this song?

Oh, and if you knew of this band before too, that's cool as well :)

@tyshi.audios493

2y↑1

I mean, i know of the artist and a few other songs but not this one, i learned this one from before I fall

@milocean

9y↑43

Karen O is such a legend... this song is so eerie, beautiful and sad at once

@leonardogabrieltrevinoloba2377

This songs belongs to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Is she the main singer?

@yukonone836

3y↑1

@@leonardogabrieltrevinoloba2377 yeah, yeah and yeahs

@LiamShannon

@@leonardogabrieltrevinoloba2377 C'mon man. You've got to know that shit.

@LiamShannon

She's one of the coolest people on the planet.

@DconnorStephens

10y↑393

Samantha <3

@DconnorStephens

10y↑11

it's in the trailer.

@superoxidedismutase5757

10y↑14

this song should have been the credits... holy crap my heart would bleed at the end.

@VicWho1213

10y↑3

Connor Stephens you are talking about "HER" ?

@GuerrierPacifiste

10y↑4

Mavi Juárez yes

@plumume4313

7y↑4

I have so many questions after reading this comments

13 More Replies...

@lolataylor9158

9y↑72

I don't know why but everytime i hear this song i just want to cry my eyes out

@lolataylor9158

8y↑1

+I like narwhals Yeah

@ismailbaloch3634

5y↑1

Reminds me of some old feelings I forgot I had. Makes me sad every time I hear it

@Dorisasaurus1133

5y↑3

Makes me think of my Father. He passed away 9 yrs ago. He was a musician and a D.j. he was a true artist could play his instruments all by ear. When he died a piece of me died and I never thought I would come to leave with his early death you see he was my biggest supporter. My favorite teacher my mentor. I've always loved The Yeah yeah yeahs and he did too. When I saw this video and heard the song for the first time. I felt his soul near me. I understand the lyrics in my own way. To me The lyrics are him saying that he will always be with me everywhere I go. At the cemetery he is mearly bones, a Skeleton. He is up there always spinning the sky and Rocking the Heavens.
Basically do not stand at my grave and cry. ( Love)

@baubrey5737

7y↑100

This song always makes me want to cry.... I think of my mother when I hear it.....

@alyxthebookworm5516

6y↑1

bestsundaydress I discovered this song through a piece that’s being performed by my dance studio, and the meaning behind it is to honor our main instructors father.... makes you think

@vitkomusic6624

6y↑2

Me too. She passed away 2013.

@CameronMcKee

who?

@petersonmasoryde3163

much love to you man

@aviationspotter12

I think of my mother too

1 More Replies...

@hedasgona4462

5y↑34

Hanna ♥️. What an ending 🤧.

@STARGRLS

42w↑4

growing up, it was always me and my mom. she was 19 years old and taking care of me by herself. around 2010-2012 , me and my mom were heavily poor and we were being abused by my father. he wasnt around at ALL. it was always me and my mom. her still being a teen, she had to work multiple jobs and move to multiple different houses while still attending college. i remember her always playing this song.I always called it the "cracked egg" because that was the album photo, lol. just recently, i asked my mom "whats the name of the song with the cracked egg?" she knew exactly what i was talking about it & when i listened to the song, i cried because it brung me right back to when we were seriously struggling. i cry HARD. my mom faught so hard to give me the best childhood ever while being mentally and physically abused. I seriously think this song is one of the reasons why she kept on fighting. thank you.

@arvid15

7y↑30

when this played in before i fall, i started to cry so hard

@adeebchoudhury7682

8y↑571

you know how sometimes you put on a random youtube mix late at night and start drifting off to sleep and a truly haunting song comes on and locks you in the limbo between wakefulness and dreams and the music takes you to some pretty dark but sublime places (in the greatness beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement, or imitation meaning of the word) in your mind and in the morning your alarm brutalizes you conscious and you see a gray sky and rain streaks on your window and feel a sense of I need to hear that song once more and you can't remember how it sounded but it still plays at the back of your mind and you kind of want to tear your hair out and set it on fire in the vain hope that the stinking sacrifice will somehow appease whatever memory demon that holds that tip of the tongue nonrecognition of the song hostage and it lets you remember and months go by suddenly one day youtube asks "hey wanna play this song again?" and you do and then you have to excuse yourself and go sob in the bathroom for a minute?

@YoInJal

8y↑8

ALL THE THIS.

@mahamkhattak4725

8y↑21

THIS IS SO LOVELY. YOU SIR HAVE A MAGICAL WAY WITH WORDS

@quique901

8y↑5

What you saying is you burnt your hair...

@samhall555

8y↑2

I tried. It didn't help.

@shyamolikadube4161

8y↑3

Your words are very Bengali.

34 More Replies...

@LanDope

9y↑652

This song belongs in a movie. Like a scene where the main character comes to a realization about life or something like that

@frankwolftown

9y↑25

I always imagine d something like a funeral where they launch a body out to see then at the music rises it a flaming arrow hits it. Something like that.

@themcweasel9479

8y↑11

+Warrior17 this is in the tv show "Manhattan"

@themcweasel9479

8y↑2

+theMCweasel very good show, about the building of the first atomic bombs

@frankwolftown

8y↑1

What episode?

@themcweasel9479

8y↑2

Jose Alfonso Villalobos the show is on amazon and is called "manhattan" and idk what episode but it is good show

70 More Replies...

@violetbowie4567

8y↑137

if this isn't a beautiful song, then i don't know what is

@juliotorres5103

6y↑1

violet bowie I do recommend to you to try to collect the band "Yeah Yeah Yeahs" albums discography. -J.T

@karlmarx1745

6y↑2

OMAM's version.

@captkuso

14y↑18

This was something special to hear live, it was hands down the best gig I've ever been to. So happy that they've finally made a video for it.

@nb5738

9y↑156

The irony is that under this video, everyone seems to be talking about Of Monsters and Men, whereas under the Of Monsters and Men cover video, everyone seems to be talking about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

@camilaanderson5853

9y↑1

ikr

@TNCMAD

9y↑1

Electra Hansford Yeah, that's funny.

@kaih5247

7y↑1

Electra Hansford gotta love OMAM

@fizzle6793

5y↑17

This song is so perfect at the end of Hanna!!

@biashacker

3y↑7

This is a timeless song. It deserves more views. I am willing to bet that some hipster will rediscover this song in 10 years and it will jettison to the top of the charts.

@NatureArtHealing

2y↑4

This song offered me deep comfort during a time of walking away. 🖤

@renee4262

8y↑10

I miss you yeah yeah yeahs!! I need more!

@VivaLaHorror

14y↑6

This goes perfectly with how I'm feeling at the moment. . . it's almost enough to bring me to tears. This song isn't just great music, it's ART. This is something special.

@CrysisJim98

11y↑8

"Her" trailer is one of the best trailers ever!

@dustieredhart

2y↑6

One of the most haunting yet beautiful songs I've ever heard. This puts me in a trance every time I hear it

@darrellwhittington4645

50w↑2

I'm 73 years old,,,love this video !

@mashpatin3759

5y↑4

Hanna last scene with Clara

Really awesome
Yeah yeah yeahs its awesome

@evenhasawatermark

10y↑37

Really glad Of Monsters and Men covered this, I probably never would have heard of it otherwise. Great song.

@christopherlimbaugh8721

10y↑1

I never knew they covered it! Thanks, I'll have to try it as I like everything else they do.

@SLYGUY79

8y↑32

Finally the bomb goes off,awesome series cool ride.
Nice tune.

@hardenizzle

8y↑1

+Brandon Sly was perfect what a ride.

@MikeTho323

8y↑2

+Brandon Sly This song fit the theme and mood perfectly! I was really hoping for a little something beyond the explosion, it left so many loose ends and I really doubt they're going to renew it for a third season.

@eddiebcha

7y↑444

before i fall brought me here

@dimaal-yassin1858

7y↑1

eddiebcha same

@leirbag04

7y↑2

Of Monsters and Men brought me here

@jayscacca912

eddiebcha me too

@carsonmurphy9594

Same!

@ava_5295

same

10 More Replies...

@thehausofsovran

3y↑4

The song that my beloved proposed to me with. It is one of my favorite songs ever. We were dancing to this in the park at night while it was raining and he got done on one knee. 🖤

@l.4649

4y↑9

I came here for Hanna - Prime Video! 💙
R.I.P Erik 😟

@1whokncallthethunder

5y↑5

this was perfect for closing out Hanna Season 1.

@melissaschmitt3352

I interpret the lyric “ Love don’t cry” two ways. #1 - she’s telling her Love/ loved one not to cry and #2 - she’s saying that Love (the supposed loving actions of others) aren’t supposed to make you cry. #2 is a good reason to peace out IMHO.

@umutcanhaliloglu8939

5y↑21

Hanna, Eric, we're gonna miss you so much :///

@masonlatschar9296

5y↑1

Hanna and Eric where the best in the movie it really made me cry😂

@brookeelise7775

6y↑5

This song is extremely amaazing to the max, makes me dwell on how thankful I am to be alive.. so beautiful! Just a little slice of heaven..

@thepicker0

9y↑6

Best version of this song. It also happens to be the original. Very beautiful.

@ronaldwells4427

1y↑3

Her voice is always very beautiful 😍

@haileywood2618

6y↑35

who else is here bc of Before I Fall?? my favoriteee movie omfg

@MrRaymo88

Hailey Wood, Have you heard of monsters and mens version of this song? Check it out.

@evasanchez1968

6y↑11

before I fall brought me 💙💔

@evasanchez1968

okay serrinda😘😫

@dianatps

3y↑3

Thanks to Before I Fall, I found this beautiful music !

@missjojo177

7y↑1

this song brings comfort to me whenever i'm feeling down. thank you Yeah Yeah Yeahs & OMAM.

@Ana.Anelli_Bertoldo

3y↑2

Before I fall
i love this movie

@TheZabuza49

10y↑9

Can't wait to see the movie, Her... I listen to this song over and over to prep myself

@dgraykage231

14y↑4

how does this video only have 314,000 views??? this is such a wonderful song!!!! Way better than any pop hit out there!!! This band deserves way more love and recognition than it currently has!!!!!!!!!!

@anavi2282

3y↑10

The music is magical, it penetrates deep under the skin 🤩...

@OMaMaRMY

@jessicaharrison8583

8y↑2

thank you for this song. This is exactly what I need right now

@lia-ee2hk

7y↑45

Before I Fall 😍😍

@Bettercallsuol

Yes

@menaguga

4y↑19

I need to see "before I fall" because everything here talk about It.

@raquelberger7909

4y↑2

watch it, its really beautiful

@aamiri_clux3137

4y↑2

It’s now on Netflix good movie but sad

@ChristianBelman

3y↑1

Don't watch it. READ IT. based on a book

@menaguga

@@ChristianBelman 👀 ooh! Thanks I didnt know, both are excellent option!

@aguajoeykolkia9649

6y↑2

Before I Fall brought me here. Love this Song. The music is heavenly 😍

@ncisbuffyvmfan

13y↑1

Gives me goose bumps everytime i listen.

@ismailbaloch3634

5y↑5

First heard it on Hanna. Been on repeat for a few days.

@hansayog

5y↑4

Thanks Hanna...I have found gem of a song

@danyellbella35

14y↑1

Sooo great. I love YYY's so much! Their music is incredible

@NAIHDALP

14y

Just remembered the yeah yeah yeahs tthis evening! and omg... love her voice. Reminds me of when i was child... needed music like this back then. LOVE IT.,,, Heard her when i was with my cousin driving from manitoba to ontario.

@rigobertorivera813

4y↑3

Before I fall in the ending made me felt who I really am for the first time in a while thank u 🙏

@Bettercallsuol

Yes

@ruthieemedleyyy7352

5y↑7

My mom introduced me to this band when I was 2 I love it still ❤️

@leonard2384

One of my favorite bands for many years, truly unique and honest songwriting....

@fran-mg

Two bands I listen to have made covers of songs by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I remember vaguely listening to the OMAM cover, and a few months later. getting into YYYs, finding this song and instantly recognizing it. You can almost feel your mind travel to a distant place. This is a great song.

@davidmccarthy4690

2y↑5

So we are all in agreement the song is haunting and invokes a powerful emotional response that is unique to each of our life experiences. Now let’s acknowledge the talented musicians who brought it to life. This was covered by the band of monsters and men okay but yeah yeah yeahs did it best. Finally a nod to the music director who chose the original artists version for the movie Before I Fall hope they were paid well for a job well done!

@speckgens

Thanks for revealing this. I always found this song resembled the sound of OMAM (especially "Yellow Light") somehow.

@edwardthegreat7255

9y↑4

I cry every time. RIP Connor and Daniella 2015

@edwardthegreat7255

8y↑1

Here I am about a year later, crying again.. but it feels good to remember how much they mean to me still..

@TheCourtt0

8y↑2

Still the best after more than a decade.

@idrinklipton3520

3y↑1

Just watched before i fall and I can't stop crying. The ending hurt so badly, but taught me a lesson and made me realize some things. Amazing move.

@maureenatieno007

4y↑4

Hanna brought me here! Beautiful song

@1gglywggly580

4y↑3

i havent heard this song in yeeeeeears. I forgot all about it and it gave me goosebumps when i heard it again on Hannah. NICE 👍

@WordsOfMassDeception

5y↑2

Finding an old good song is like reconnecting with a childhood friend

@hyena_cyclone

5y↑1

Yes, im glad we're here together

@disslinwixie

12y

Havent been so happy to hear a sing for the first time in so long I couldnt say what it even was. Thank you YYYs.

@kovogli

7y↑65

Who else loves Samantha?

@leonardogabrieltrevinoloba2377

"You are my friend until the end, love Theodore".

@raine5412

ME FROM BEFORE I FALL SHE SAVED JULIET

@notroe2237

5y↑5

Hanna season one finale broke me 💔

@CDAN4L

14y↑1

Absolutely great song....I'm glad that released a video for it

@waedjradi

The drums are the best part and that synth.

@illstplaya

8y↑9

Manhattan brought me here. it was a great show and the last two episodes were some of the best out of any show that I've watched. I hope there's a season 3

@revenueeeeeee

8y↑6

Absolutely beautiful.

@blastermaster5009

30w↑1

Why hasn't this music video gotten a 4k restoration? It's so beautiful.

@arebimbahe

12y

yes you do. their lyrics are so cool because they are not obvious and you can give them your own interpretation... they are free to be themselves!

@navinsingh5838

6y↑3

Before I fall 🔥🤘

@marxoxander

7y↑58

Here thanks to Before I Fall, which was amazing

@alicemaynardd7384

yaassss

@amolraval3626

me too. lets all fall together :P

@gabrieletrovato3939

Yeha me too

@GoreStelios

11y

Yes, the desire to listen to freaking good music

@Moochael77789

I'm glad I found the yeah yeah yeahs prior to watching or listening to them, best choice ever

@jonathantan2469

5y↑5

Reminds me of those German Expressionist films from the 1920s

@alisandramachado4119

7y↑24

before i fall❤️

@hellokittymagicful

12y

this song makes me calm<3

@amygorham9668

11y

I love the yeah yeah yeahs so much!!! So inspiring and such a huge help when studying for finals!!

@masonlatschar9296

5y↑13

PERFECT FOR HANNA AND ERIC. LOVE THE MOVIE HANNA REST IN PIECE ERIC!!!😢

@minimarksmen5288

omg!!!YESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@mikecowell911

3y↑4

"definitely a power, not a dominion." ~ Chloe

@mrjoshweidy

14y

it fits the song so well, its close to what you picture when you hear it

@zacharyjames8026

39w↑1

I'm late to the game as far as Yeah Yeah Yeahs are concerned although so grateful I finally got here. This song is transcendental and this album (It's Blitz) is flawless. Literally not one bad song.

@chrisandrews3793

7y↑7

My thoughts: stop comparing the different versions of this song. It's not about who "did the song better." Music Artists release covers of songs to put their own spin on it/ leave their mark but not because they think their performance will be superior! Enjoy as many versions of this song as you like.

@zeusroulette

6y↑3

Antes que eu vá❤❤

@akatallilos83

One of the best songs ever made!!! thank u YYY!!!

@AdrianaMusic

13y

Awesome song! Awesome band! Awesome singer! Just lovely!

@vintageribs3910

7y↑43

Before I Fall

@Abhorification

9y↑8

The real irony is that people have forgotten how to sit back and just enjoy the music itself. Who cares who did it better? You like which version you like and that's fine. Stop wasting time writing on the song you don't like and try to be positive for once. There's too much war, negativity and sadness in the world. SPREAD POSITIVE WORDS AND THOUGHTS. Put the word human back in humanity and love each other.