Don't Look Down
Vicious Cabaret Lyrics


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Your bridges burn so very bright
Retina burn in the clear black night

Say "when"

Your bridges burn so very bright
Pedal to the metal, hold on tight
Say "when"

The lawns that looked so green from across the way
Have been scorched brown
Don't look down

Nostalgia chokes you as you sing the old refrain
Can't stand the sound
Don't look down

It gnaws at your skull
Your senses dull




It sears your throat
Always gets your vote

Overall Meaning

The song Don't Look Down by Vicious Cabaret deals with themes of self-destruction and the destructive impact of nostalgia. The first verse invites the listener to witness the burning of bridges, an action that isn't usually seen as destructive, but rather liberating. However, the retina burn in the clear black night implies that the destruction is not just external, but also internal - a bright light that blinds and hurts the eye.


The repeated phrase "Say 'when'" suggests a reckless abandon or a disregard for consequences. The pedal to the metal, hold on tight line implies that the character is speeding towards their own destruction without any attempt to stop or slow down. The second verse carries on the theme of destruction, with the vivid imagery of once-lush lawns now burned brown. The advice to "don't look down" in this context suggests that the character is in denial about their actions and the consequences of their actions.


The chorus describes how the character is choking on nostalgia, as they sing an old refrain, which they can't stand the sound of. The past has a hold on them, and they are struggling to let go. The sensory experience of the past - it gnaws at your skull, your senses dull, it sears your throat - is described in a harrowing way. Finally, the line "always gets your vote" suggests that the character is aware of the destructive pattern they are repeating but are consistently giving in to it.


Line by Line Meaning

Your bridges burn so very bright
You're going down in flames, and it's impossible for anyone not to notice.


Retina burn in the clear black night
Your burning life is so bright and blazing that it can damage and even impair others' vision in the dead of night.


Say "when"
You've reached a breaking point, but you can't let go. You demand someone else to make the call for you.


Pedal to the metal, hold on tight
You're living on the edge, pushing yourself to the limit without regard for the consequences.


The lawns that looked so green from across the way
Things seem perfect and pristine from a distance, but the reality is far from it.


Have been scorched brown
Your actions have destroyed everything you've touched, leaving nothing but destruction and ruin behind.


Don't look down
The truth is too hard to face, so keep your head held high even though everything's falling apart beneath you.


Nostalgia chokes you as you sing the old refrain
You long for the past, but every time you revisit it, you're reminded of how much you've lost and how much you've changed.


Can't stand the sound
The truth hurts, and acknowledging it makes you feel sick to your stomach.


It gnaws at your skull
The negativity consumes your thoughts and eats away at your being, leaving you feeling damaged and debilitated.


Your senses dull
You're becoming numb to everything around you, losing touch with reality and existing in a haze of your own making.


It sears your throat
Your guilt and sadness are so overwhelming that you feel like you're choking on them, unable to speak or breathe.


Always gets your vote
Even though you know deep down that you're making bad choices, you can't help but repeat them over and over again, trapped in a cycle of self-destruction.




Contributed by Colton E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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