Vendetta Red is an alternative rock band which formed in 1998 in Bakersfiel… Read Full Bio ↴Vendetta Red is an alternative rock band which formed in 1998 in Bakersfield, California, United States, though the band resided in Seattle, Washington for most of their career. They were known for their unusual lyrics and frontman Zach Davidson's distinctive vocal style.

Vendetta Red independently released their first record, Blackout Analysis, in 2000, and followed that with White Knuckled Substance in 2001, through Loveless Records. Vendetta Red signed to Epic Records and released their major label debut, Between the Never and the Now, in 2003. Sisters of the Red Death, released in late 2005 before the band's 2006 breakup, charted at #21 on the Top Heatseeker's Chart

After their split, former Vendetta Red members Zach, Leif, and Jeff started the band Sirens Sister.

Vendetta Red reunited in March 2011, playing the entirety of Sisters of the Red Death at El Corazon in Seatle, Washington. Afterwards they started creating new record and played the 2011 Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival. In 2012 they released single Close To Me.
In 2013 they released two EPs: Scripture and Light Year Anniversary.
In 2018 they suddenly released an LP Quinceañera.

Current Members
Zach Davidson - Vocals (Sirens Sister)
Leif Anderson - Guitar (Sirens Sister)
Jonah Bergman - Bass (Schoolyard Heroes)
Burke Thomas - Drums (Megasapien)

Studio Albums
- Blackout Analysis (2000)
- White Knuckled Substance (2001)
- Between the Never and the Now (2003)
- Sisters of the Red Death (2005)
- Quinceañera (2018)

EPs
- 6 Kisses, A Blatant Reminder of Why We Are Alive (1999)
- Cut Your Noose EP (2002)
- Shatterday EP (2003)
- Scripture (2013)
- Light Year Anniversary (2013)

The Bruise Vaccine
Vendetta Red Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Let's pretend we're in the movies and kiss me with the tongue
And I'll become carcinogen and blacken up your lungs.
Impatient amputees are longing for a hand to hold
It's so hard to get the lead out when your hearts been made of gold
Who am I to say we shouldn't reconsider suicide
when we're so desperate for someone else to mourn?
You're the fracture in my frame,
and sometimes I wish that I was never born.

We disemboweled our enemies and left them for the birds
We suffocate in silence building fortresses with words
You'll prey upon the weak and fester underneath their skin.
I'll pray for sunny days to suck the poison from my pen.
Stand up and be accounted for make your presence known
before you lose your voice amidst this choir of liars.

So acrimonious in your inebriated arrogance
I'll fill your hollow abdomen with cinders, ash and coal.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Vendetta Red's "The Bruise Vaccine" initially present themselves as a call to escape reality and step into a film-like scenario. However, as the song progresses, it quickly becomes apparent that there is a deeper, more sinister undertone to the words. The lines "kiss me with the tongue" and "I'll become carcinogen and blacken up your lungs" suggest a willingness to engage in self-destructive behavior in the name of passion or emotion. The reference to amputees searching for a hand to hold further emphasizes this feeling of desperation and need for human connection.

The phrase "It's so hard to get the lead out when your hearts been made of gold" can be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be seen as an acknowledgement that even when we want to let go of something toxic, it's difficult to do so when our intentions are pure. Alternatively, it could be an admission that despite having a good heart, we can still do harm to others - or to ourselves - without even realizing it.

Line by Line Meaning

Let's pretend we're in the movies and kiss me with the tongue
Let's immerse ourselves in a fantasy world and kiss passionately.

And I'll become carcinogen and blacken up your lungs.
Our passionate kiss will be as dangerous as a cancer-causing substance.

Impatient amputees are longing for a hand to hold
Those who have lost limbs are eager to find companionship.

It's so hard to get the lead out when your heart's been made of gold
It's difficult to let go of someone you care for deeply.

Who am I to say we shouldn't reconsider suicide when we're so desperate for someone else to mourn?
In times of despair, it's tempting to contemplate suicide and want to be missed.

You're the fracture in my frame, and sometimes I wish that I was never born.
You are the cause of my emotional pain, to the point that I question my existence.

We disemboweled our enemies and left them for the birds
We defeated our foes and left their remains for nature to handle.

We suffocate in silence building fortresses with words
We deal with inner turmoil in silence, while constructing a facade of strength.

You'll prey upon the weak and fester underneath their skin.
You take advantage of vulnerable people, causing emotional damage that festers.

I'll pray for sunny days to suck the poison from my pen.
I hope for brighter days to cleanse the negativity from my writing.

Stand up and be accounted for make your presence known before you lose your voice amidst this choir of liars.
Assert yourself and be heard before you get lost in a sea of dishonest people.

So acrimonious in your inebriated arrogance
Your drunken arrogance is causing hostility.

I'll fill your hollow abdomen with cinders, ash and coal.
I will metaphorically destroy you and leave nothing but emptiness.

Contributed by Anthony H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS