www.troubleovertokyo.com
Kryptonite
Trouble Over Tokyo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Syringes, needles and vials to get from red to grey
I tore the mask from my face and I replaced it with a blank page
And I let everyone else decide the colour of my veins
I woke up strapped in a chair with neon lights overhead
Wires and tubes to contain me and to keep me fed
They got me hooked up to 808s and loops to make a heartbeat
And so I found a curtain
And I spray-painted it red
And I took the covers from my bed
And I made a uniform instead
I took the antibiotics to stop the swelling in my head
And then I started to crumble
I, I cowered in corners simply to evade the fight
I, I pulled out my heart and filled it full of Kryptonite
I, I ran away into the darkness to avoid the light
I, I pulled out my heart and filled it full of Kryptonite
In Trouble Over Tokyo's song "Kryptonite", the singer describes their experience going to clinical trials to take away their powers. The use of syringes, needles, and vials is used to symbolize this process of losing oneself and becoming stripped of individuality. The singer refers to their veins turning from red to grey, indicating their loss of vitality and becoming numb to the world around them. They tear off their mask, replacing it with a blank page, and let others decide who they are, indicating the loss of identity.
The second verse describes waking up strapped in a chair with neon lights overhead and being hooked up to machines to keep them alive. They are connected to 808s and loops to maintain a heartbeat, which eventually causes their lungs to implode. Despite this, the singer finds a curtain and spray-paints it red. They take the covers from their bed and make them into a uniform. They take antibiotics to stop the swelling in their head, but despite all of this, they begin to crumble.
The chorus refers to the singer's fear and desire to avoid confrontation, causing them to pull out their heart and fill it with Kryptonite, a reference to Superman's weakness. They run away into the darkness to avoid the light, indicating their desire to hide from the world and live in isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
I went to clinical trials to take my powers away
I underwent experimental medical procedures to eliminate any special abilities I possessed.
Syringes, needles and vials to get from red to grey
Medical equipment such as needles, syringes and vials were used to drain me of my abilities and render me powerless.
I tore the mask from my face and I replaced it with a blank page
I removed the facade I had been portraying and left myself vulnerable and empty.
And I let everyone else decide the colour of my veins
I allowed the opinions and influences of others to determine my identity and worth.
I woke up strapped in a chair with neon lights overhead
I regained consciousness in a situation of captivity under bright, artificial lights.
Wires and tubes to contain me and to keep me fed
I was attached to tubes and wires to restrict my movements and provide me with necessary sustenance.
They got me hooked up to 808s and loops to make a heartbeat
My heart rate was artificially manipulated through the use of electronic equipment such as loops and 808s.
Until my lungs had imploded and I got back to my feet
The stressful situation caused my lungs to collapse, briefly rendering me unable to breathe before I stood back up again.
And so I found a curtain
In response to my confinement, I discovered a curtain.
And I spray-painted it red
I marked the curtain with bright red paint.
And I took the covers from my bed
I removed the bedding from my sleeping area.
And I made a uniform instead
I fashioned a garment that resembled a uniform from the materials I had on hand.
I took the antibiotics to stop the swelling in my head
I ingested antibiotics to treat the inflammation in my brain caused by the stress of my situation.
And then I started to crumble
Despite my efforts, I began to break down and deteriorate mentally and physically.
I, I cowered in corners simply to evade the fight
I retreated into corners to avoid conflict and confrontation.
I, I pulled out my heart and filled it full of Kryptonite
I metaphorically removed my emotions and replaced them with something that rendered me incapable of being hurt or vulnerable.
I, I ran away into the darkness to avoid the light
I fled into darkness in an attempt to avoid facing the more positive aspects of life.
I, I pulled out my heart and filled it full of Kryptonite
I continued on my path of emotional detachment, filling the void within me with a substance that made me invulnerable to pain.
Contributed by Tristan O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.