Numb
Wellu Rowaltz Lyrics


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Lyrics by: Rory Winston

The bottle was broken
But I never yelled: cut
A window was open
Thought I heard someone say, "Jump"

What if I'd just turn my back?
What if I was built that way?
I've empathized
But I'm done with it
Down with it... Numb

My well-groomed reactions, I've gleaned from TV
The self-satisfaction as tears they drop
My needy emotions
To all I don't feel
Our seedy devotion won't stop

What if I'd just turn my back?
What if I was built that way?
I've empathized
But I'm done with it
Done with it!

And we shake as we cope
And we pray when we don't
And we fake
And we fake
And we... break

What if I rewrote my past?
What if you were here today?

What if I'd just turn my back?
What if I was built that way?
I've empathized




But I'm done with it
Down with it... numb

Overall Meaning

In Wellu Rowaltz's song "Numb" by Rory Winston, the lyrics describe the singer's emotional detachment and disinterest in continuing to empathize with others. The opening lines of the song reference a sense of danger, as the singer hears someone suggest that they should "jump" out of an open window, and yet is so numb that they never even yell for help when a bottle is broken. As the song goes on, the singer reveals that they have learned their emotional responses from television and that they are tired of pretending to care when they really don't feel anything. The chorus repeats the lines "What if I'd just turn my back? / What if I was built that way? / I've empathized / But I'm done with it / Down with it... Numb."


The lyrics also touch on the idea of rewriting the past and wondering what might have happened if things had gone differently. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is ready to break free from their emotional paralysis and move forward in a more authentic way. The repeated use of the word "fake" underscores the singer's sense of disconnection from genuine emotion, while the word "numb" suggests a lack of feeling that has set in over time.


* Wellu Rowaltz is a Finnish musician and producer who has worked with a variety of different artists and genres over the years.
* "Numb" is a single from his 2017 album, "Versus."
* The song was produced by fellow Finnish musician Vuonnem.
* The music video for "Numb" was directed by Ida jokela and features imagery of the sea and underwater.
* The song has been compared to the work of other electronic and alternative artists like The XX and Bon Iver.
* Wellu Rowaltz has cited Radiohead, Nicolas Jarr, and James Blake as some of his biggest musical influences.
* The lyrics to "Numb" were written by Rory Winston, an American writer and musician who has collaborated with artists like Dorian Grey and Badda Skat.
* Winston has described his lyrics as being influenced by his experiences living in New York City and traveling around the world.
* "Numb" has been praised for its atmospheric sound and introspective, emotionally resonant lyrics.
* The song has been featured on a number of popular streaming playlists, including Spotify's Indie Chillout and Indie Pop playlists.


Chords (as written by Wellu Rowaltz):
Verse: F#m, E, D, A
Chorus: F#m, D, A, E


Line by Line Meaning

The bottle was broken
Something was destroyed


But I never yelled: cut
I didn't react to it in a typical way


A window was open
There was an opportunity to escape


Thought I heard someone say, "Jump"
I felt like someone was urging me to take a destructive action


What if I'd just turn my back?
What if I ignored everything going on?


What if I was built that way?
What if I was incapable of feeling anything?


I've empathized
I've tried to understand others' feelings


But I'm done with it
I'm tired of feeling things for other people


Down with it... Numb
I want to be emotionless


My well-groomed reactions, I've gleaned from TV
My reactions to things are rehearsed and not genuine


The self-satisfaction as tears they drop
I feel good when I see others cry


My needy emotions
I want others to feel sorry for me


To all I don't feel
I have no emotional connection to anyone


Our seedy devotion won't stop
Our unhealthy commitment will continue


And we shake as we cope
We are barely holding it together


And we pray when we don't
We turn to religion when we are desperate


And we fake
We pretend everything is okay


And we... break
We eventually fall apart


What if I rewrote my past?
What if I could change things that happened in the past?


What if you were here today?
What if someone important to me was still alive?


Down with it... numb
I want to be emotionless




Contributed by Gavin T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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