Skin
Tom Day Lyrics

The lyrics to Tom Day's song "Skin & Bone" depict a person grappling with their own thoughts and acknowledging their need for love. The first two lines suggest the person is easily overwhelmed by the complexity of their own mind when left alone, indicating a possible struggle with anxiety or other mental health issues. However, the following line unequivocally states that their love is required to prevent them from feeling worthless or empty without it; this statement is repeated in the following line to emphasize its importance. The refrain "skin and bone" is a metaphor for a person's basic physicality when stripped of their essence or vitality, highlighting the potential for the person's existence to feel hollow without love.

The second half of the verse uses animal and textile imagery to further illustrate the person's feelings. The dogs that "bay into the night" represent the person's inner fears, anxieties, or intrusive thoughts that refuse to be quieted, while the "bonds" that "fray in my mind" likely represents the mental effort required to control or suppress them. Finally, the idea of time passing and memories being all that's left adds a sense of urgency to the person's plea for love, as it's unlikely they'll be able to hold onto anything else forever.

Overall, the lyrics to "Skin & Bone" depict the struggle of needing someone's love to feel complete, while also acknowledging the internal chaos that can occur when left alone with one's thoughts.