Separate
by Trampled By Turtles Lyrics
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You're the one that can make it all okay
Maybe today
Filled with fatal flowers and praying
For the sky to turn from black to grey
Hear what I say
It's breaking my heart
But I'm working hard
To separate
War from beauty
Born of fire, earth and water
All in all a current through a wire
To know when it's hot
I'll survive on dirty paper
Miracles that make me wanna die
I wonder why
Oh my god, I'm sinking
It's breaking my heart
But I'm working hard
To separate
War from beauty
The lyrics of "Separate" by Trampled By Turtles describe a struggle to separate the elements of destruction and chaos from those of peace and beauty. The singer pleads with someone to bring them back to a state of calm, calling for them to "drop [them] from the ceiling" and make everything okay. The lyrics also contain a hope for the future, as the singer prays for the sky to turn from black to grey.
The second verse introduces the idea that the struggle to separate war from beauty is not an easy one. The singer says that it "is breaking [their] heart" but that they are "working hard" to accomplish it. The verses contain a sense of urgency and desperation, as if time is running out for the singer to find their way back to the peaceful side of things.
The chorus brings all of these elements together, with the singer crying out that they must "separate war from beauty." The imagery used throughout the song is powerful, particularly the lines "born of fire, earth and water / all in all a current through a wire." This seems to suggest that even things that are destructive can be harnessed for good, if we can only learn to separate the two.
Line by Line Meaning
Drop me from the ceiling, baby
I'm in a tough place right now and need your help to escape.
You're the one that can make it all okay
I can't do this alone, but I trust you to make everything better.
Maybe today
I'm hopeful that things will improve soon.
Filled with fatal flowers and praying
I'm surrounded by danger and desperately seeking a way out.
For the sky to turn from black to grey
I need some positivity and hopefulness in my life.
Hear what I say
I need someone to listen and understand what I'm going through.
Never plain nor simple
My situation is complex and hard to navigate.
It's breaking my heart
This is really difficult and painful for me.
But I'm working hard
I'm doing my best to overcome these challenges.
To separate
To create a distinction between two things.
War from beauty
To find a way to appreciate beauty while also acknowledging the harshness of the world.
Born of fire, earth and water
I am made up of many elements and experiences.
All in all a current through a wire
All of these things combine to make me who I am and influence my actions.
To know when it's hot
To be aware of when things are dangerous and potentially damaging.
I'll survive on dirty paper
I can still make something meaningful out of difficult circumstances.
Miracles that make me wanna die
Sometimes beautiful things can be overwhelming or make me feel more pain.
I wonder why
I question the reasons behind the difficult things I experience.
Oh my god, I'm sinking
I feel like I'm drowning and need help.
Lyrics © TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: DAVID PATRICK CARROLL, DAVID PAUL SIMONETT, ERIK ROBERT BERRY, RYAN DAVID YOUNG, TIMOTHY POWELL SAXHAUG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind