Counting Backwards
Throwing Muses Lyrics


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Counting backwards, I count you in
I don't remember him
I don't remember

Counting backwards, I count you in
I don't remember him
I don't remember
In time I rope you in again
I try and turn you back through him
I built a tower in my bones
I spill the mortar through my home

Counting backwards, I count you in
I don't remember him
I don't remember him
I don't remember

Don't let your heartbeat keep you safe
No telling what keeps me awake
One hundred fingerprints I hear
A hundred linger in my ear

Counting backwards, I count you in
I don't remember him
I don't remember

Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah (measure fortune killing time)
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah (measure fortune killing time)




Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah (measure fortune killing time)
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah

Overall Meaning

"Counting Backwards" is a song by American alternative rock band Throwing Muses. The lyrics in the song are characterized by Kristin Hersh’s distinct vocal style that adds an air of mystery to the song. The song appears to be about trying to recall someone or something from the past, but not being able to remember the details. The opening lines of the song, "Counting backwards, I count you in, I don't remember him," suggest that the singer is struggling with a memory. They are trying to recollect something from the past but are struggling to remember the details.


The chorus repeats the lines "Counting backwards, I count you in, I don't remember him," which emphasizes the singer's confusion about their past. The lines "In time I rope you in again, I try and turn you back through him," suggest that the singer is trying to reconnect with someone they once knew. However, they have forgotten the details, and this makes it difficult for them to rekindle their relationship. The lines "Don't let your heartbeat keep you safe, no telling what keeps me awake" imply that the singer is haunted by their past and finds it hard to move on.


Overall, "Counting Backwards" is a haunting song that delves into bitter-sweet nostalgia. The lyrics are open to interpretation but evoke a sense of longing and loss. The singer is trying to reconnect with someone from their past, but their memories are hazy, making it difficult to remember the details.


Line by Line Meaning

Counting backwards, I count you in
Revisiting the past, I remember you and the memories we shared together


I don't remember him
The memory of someone else who was once important to me has faded away


In time I rope you in again
As time passes by, I find ways to bring you back into my life


I try and turn you back through him
I use another person to try and reconnect with you, but it doesn't work


I built a tower in my bones
I have built walls around myself to protect my heart and emotions


I spill the mortar through my home
Despite my attempts at protection, my emotions still spill through my daily life


Don't let your heartbeat keep you safe
Sometimes feeling too safe and comfortable can prevent us from experiencing new things


No telling what keeps me awake
I'm unsure of the reasons behind my insomnia and racing thoughts


One hundred fingerprints I hear
Memories and reminders of people I've encountered leave their mark on my mind


A hundred linger in my ear
The echoes of those memories and people stay with me, impacting my present and future


Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
This vocalization represents the pain and frustration felt by the singer


Measure fortune killing time
The measure of wealth and success can be deceiving and may contribute to feelings of emptiness and discontent




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kirstin Hersh

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

Manly O'Beeferton

Counting backwards I count you in
I don't remember him
I don't remember(2x)

In time I rope you in again
I try and burn you back through him
I built a tower in my bones
I spill the mortar through my home

Counting backwards I count you in
I don't remember him
I don't remember(2x)

Don't let your heartbeat keep you safe
No telling what keeps me awake
One hundred fingerprints I hear
A hundred linger in my ear

Counting backwards I count you in
I don't remember him
I don't remember.

(Measure fortune killing time)



All comments from YouTube:

Larry David

This was a genius band yet - relatively speaking - barely anyone knows about them. So if you are watching this video you are very fortunate.

s mac

IS .... not was

Lee

there is some info but ye they rlly underrated

The official Sean O’Donnell

Saw Kristin at a tiny club in Portland Maine a few years ago! Most amazing experience of my life!

Raving Mavis

Those who know…..know …I have all their albums in CD - yep CD’s are now ‘retro’ ….they are very amazing ❤️❤️❤️

Who One Is

@Raving Mavis I have kept The Throwing Muses cassettes I bought in the ‘90s. I got into them through being a fan of The Pixies.

22 More Replies...

kraorh

Two of the loveliest, classiest and smartest ladies rock music has ever had. And together with the other ultra-talented members of their band, a criminally underrated band.

vee kay

"Ladies?" Do you refer to men in musical groups as "gentlemen?" They're women.

Ian Israel

You mad ?

BRAVO 20 VET

Good,more for us....

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