Cold Iron Bound
Tom Verlaine & The Million Dollar Bashers Lyrics


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I'm beginning to hear voices and there's no one around
Now I'm all used up and I fee so turned-around
I went to church on Sunday and she passed by
And my love for her is taking such a long time to die
God, I'm waist deep, waist deep in the mist
It's almost like, almost like I don't exist
I'm 20 miles out of town, Cold Irons bound
There's a wall of pride high and wide,
Can't see over to the other side
It's such a sad thing to see beauty decay
It's sadder still to feel your heart torn away
One look at you and I'm out of control
Like the universe has swallowed me whole
I'm 20 miles out of town and Cold Irons bound

There's too many people, too many to recall
I thought some of 'em were friends of mine
I was wrong about 'em all
Well, the road is rocky and the hillside's mud
Up over my head nothing but clouds of blood
I found my own, I found my one in you
But your love just hasn't proved true
I'm 20 miles out of town, Cold Irons bound

20 miles out of town, Cold Irons bound

Well the winds in Chicago have turned me to shreds
Reality has always had too many heads
Some things last longer than you think they will
Some kind of things you can never kill
It's you and you only I'm thinking about
But you can't see in, and it's hard looking out

I'm 20 miles out of town, Cold Irons bound

Well the fat's in the fire, and the water's in the tank
And the whiskey's in the jar, and the money's in the bank
I tried to love and protect you because I cared
I'm gonna remember forever the joy we've shared
Looking at you and I'm on my bended knee
You have no idea what you do to me




I'm 20 miles out of town Cold Irons bound
20 miles out of town, Cold Irons bound

Overall Meaning

The song "Cold Irons Bound" by Tom Verlaine and The Million Dollar Bashers is a slow and sad ballad about a person who is struggling with their emotions and their relationships. The opening lines "I'm beginning to hear voices and there's no one around / Now I'm all used up and I feel so turned-around" convey a sense of loneliness and confusion, as the person feels disconnected from the world around them. They are also haunted by their past, particularly their failed relationship with someone who they still love but who has moved on.


The imagery in the song is vivid and powerful, with the line "God, I'm waist deep, waist deep in the mist / It's almost like, almost like I don't exist" suggesting that the person feels lost and invisible. The wall of pride that they encounter is a symbolic representation of the barriers that people put up between themselves and others, and the sadness that comes when those barriers prevent us from connecting with the people we love. The line "It's such a sad thing to see beauty decay / It's sadder still to feel your heart torn away" expresses the pain of losing someone who was once beautiful and special to us.


Overall, "Cold Irons Bound" is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the universal themes of love, loss, and isolation.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm beginning to hear voices and there's no one around
I am experiencing hallucinations and there seems to be no one present.


Now I'm all used up and I feel so turned-around
I'm completely exhausted and disoriented.


I went to church on Sunday and she passed by
I saw her while attending church on Sunday.


And my love for her is taking such a long time to die
It's taking me a long time to move on due to the strength of my feelings for her.


God, I'm waist deep, waist deep in the mist
I feel completely lost and confused.


It's almost like, almost like I don't exist
I feel as if I'm invisible, like I don't matter.


I'm 20 miles out of town, Cold Irons bound
I'm 20 miles away from civilization, trapped and helpless.


There's a wall of pride high and wide
I have built up a barrier of pride that I can't see past.


Can't see over to the other side
The barrier is so high that I can't see beyond it.


It's such a sad thing to see beauty decay
It's heartbreaking to watch something beautiful wither away.


It's sadder still to feel your heart torn away
It's even more painful to have your heart broken.


One look at you and I'm out of control
Just one glance at you and I lose all self-control.


Like the universe has swallowed me whole
I feel completely absorbed and overwhelmed by your presence.


There's too many people, too many to recall
There are too many people in my life, too many to keep track of.


I thought some of 'em were friends of mine
I believed some of them were my friends.


I was wrong about 'em all
I was mistaken about all of them.


Well, the road is rocky and the hillside's mud
The journey is treacherous and the obstacles seem insurmountable.


Up over my head nothing but clouds of blood
I feel completely immersed and overwhelmed by violence and chaos.


I found my own, I found my one in you
I felt like I found my soulmate in you.


But your love just hasn't proved true
Unfortunately, your love for me hasn't been genuine.


Well the winds in Chicago have turned me to shreds
The harshness of life in Chicago has left me feeling devastated.


Reality has always had too many heads
There are too many confusing and conflicting versions of reality.


Some things last longer than you think they will
Certain things endure for longer than we expect them to.


Some kind of things you can never kill
There are some things that are impossible to destroy.


It's you and you only I'm thinking about
My thoughts are consumed entirely by you.


But you can't see in, and it's hard looking out
Though I wish you could understand my perspective, it's difficult for me to communicate my thoughts and feelings to you.


Well the fat's in the fire, and the water's in the tank
It's too late to change anything, the situation has already escalated.


And the whiskey's in the jar, and the money's in the bank
Everything is set in stone, there's no turning back now.


I tried to love and protect you because I cared
I did my best to care for you and keep you safe because I loved you.


I'm gonna remember forever the joy we've shared
Despite everything, I will always cherish the good times we had together.


Looking at you and I'm on my bended knee
When I see you, I feel humbly devoted to you.


You have no idea what you do to me
You don't even know how deeply you affect me.


I'm 20 miles out of town Cold Irons bound
I'm isolated, lost, and trapped – there's no way out.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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