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Civilian
Wye Oak Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am nothing without pretend
I know my faults
Can't live with them
I am nothing without a man
I know my thoughts
But I can't hide them

Must you keep my baby teeth
In the bedside table with my jewelry
You still sleep in the bed with me
My jewelry, and my baby teeth

I don't need another friend
When most of them
I can barely keep up with them
Perfectly able to hold my own hand
But I still can't kiss my own neck

I wanted yo give you everything
But I still stand in awe of superficial things
I wanted to love you like
My mother's mother's mother's did
Civilian, civilian

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Wye Oak’s song “Civilian” are a powerful and introspective reflection on the human need for connection and the struggle to reconcile personal faults with the desire for love and acceptance. The opening lines, “I am nothing without pretend, I know my faults, can’t live with them,” establish a sense of honesty and vulnerability that sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer acknowledges their flaws, but also recognizes the importance of presenting a façade to the world in order to feel accepted.


The second verse is particularly poignant, as the imagery of baby teeth and jewelry creates a sense of innocence and vulnerability that is juxtaposed with the more adult idea of sharing a bed with someone. The lines “I don’t need another friend when most of them I can barely keep up with them, perfectly able to hold my own hand but I still can’t kiss my own neck” speak to the idea that while the singer is capable of being alone and independent, they still crave the warmth and intimacy of a romantic relationship.


The chorus of the song, with its repeated cry of “Civilian, civilian,” adds an extra layer of meaning to the lyrics. On one hand, the word “civilian” can be interpreted as a desire for anonymity and simplicity in the face of the complexities of modern life. On the other hand, it can also be seen as a yearning for a connection to something larger than oneself, for the sense of belonging that comes with being part of a greater whole.


Overall, “Civilian” is a deeply emotional and introspective song that speaks to the universal human experience of seeking connection and struggling to reconcile our flaws with our desire for love and acceptance.


Line by Line Meaning

I am nothing without pretend
Without imagination, I feel as though I lack an identity entirely


I know my faults
I am aware of my flaws and shortcomings


Can't live with them
I struggle to come to terms with my flaws and tend to let them take over


I am nothing without a man
I feel incomplete without a romantic partner


I know my thoughts
I am in touch with my innermost feelings and ideas


But I can't hide them
Despite my best efforts, my emotions and thoughts are often on display for others to see


Must you keep my baby teeth
Do you have to hold onto such small and insignificant things, like my childhood teeth?


In the bedside table with my jewelry
Why keep my baby teeth, something so personal and intimate, alongside my accessories?


You still sleep in the bed with me
You are physically present in my life, despite the emotional distance between us


My jewelry, and my baby teeth
These objects hold little significance on their own, but to me they represent my past, my identity


I don't need another friend
I am content with the relationships I have and do not require any more social connections


When most of them
The majority of my current friendships are superficial and lack depth


I can barely keep up with them
I struggle to maintain these superficial friendships because they lack meaning and substance


Perfectly able to hold my own hand
I am capable of being alone and finding comfort in myself


But I still can't kiss my own neck
Despite being independent, there are still limitations to what I can provide for myself


I wanted to give you everything
I desired to provide my partner with all that I am capable of


But I still stand in awe of superficial things
I am still enamored by the surface-level aspects of life, despite wishing for deeper connections


I wanted to love you like my mother's mother's mother's did
I desired a deep, unconditional love that has been passed down through generations of my family


Civilian, civilian
Used as a refrain throughout the song, it represents the mundanity and routine of everyday life




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JENNIFER LYNN WASNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@pweko2104

Lyrics :

I am nothin' without pretend I know my thoughts
Can't live with them
I am nothin' without a man
I know my faults, but I can't hide them
I still keep my baby teeth
In the bedside table with my jewelry
You still sleep in the bed with me
My jewelry and my baby teeth
I don't need another friend
When most of them I can barely keep up with
Them perfectly able to hold my own hand
But I still can't kiss my own neck
I wanted to give you everything
But I still stand in awe of superficial things
I wanted to love you like my mother's, mother's, mother's did
Civilian
Civilian



@al_aqua

I am nothing without pretend
I know my thoughts
Can′t live with them
I am nothing without a man
I know my faults
But I can't hide them

I still keep my baby teeth
In a bedside table with my jewelry
You still sleep in the bed with me
My jewelry and my baby teeth

1:24
I don′t need another friend
When most of them I can barely keep up with them
Perfectly able to hold my own hand
But I still can't kiss my own neck
1:56
I wanted to give you everything
But I still stand in awe of superficial things
I wanted to love you like my mother's mother′s mother did

Civilian
Civilian



All comments from YouTube:

@TheEternalOuroboros

Since that The Walking Dead episode came out with this song, this has been a favourite of mine.

@AlejoConejo-vb8ln

Same. Shane looking at the lonely walker is my favorite scene of the whole show. And this song elevates it!

@gamingdreams2142

@@AlejoConejo-vb8ln my favorite too. Shane was right the whole time. Rick figured it out after killing Shane.

@lordoftherats

Likewise

@twinkthatloveslotrtrilogy7676

Same

@christianxurula856

Essa é minha música das horas ruins... Desde The Walking Dead... 10 anos quase...

36 More Replies...

@SSoundSShare

God, I miss the old TWD.

@pedrouscuchagua8289

I PLAY PROJECT ZOMBOID LISTENING THIS SONG❤‍🩹❤‍🩹❤‍🩹❤‍🩹

@kingwarrior8098

Knk twd 1. Sezonun yarısından itibaren bozdu.

@dasarimusic

💯

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