Fugue
jawn Lyrics

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You can say what you like
About all of the good you could do
But your hands are opposed
and idle in prayerful fugue

So come on, come on,
I dare you to notice
Come on, come on,

I dare you to bleed

So whitewash your walls
and powder the marks on your face
The trappings of riches,
the sugar that masks the distaste

So come on, come on,
I dare you to notice
Come on, come on,
I dare you to bleed

Take me through to morning
Gold to breakfast blue

and I
will follow you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Fugue in 2-3 by jawn explore concepts of hypocrisy and dishonesty in one’s actions and beliefs. The opening line, “You can say what you like about all of the good you could do,” sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is challenging someone who speaks of doing good but fails to follow through. The line “But your hands are opposed and idle in prayerful fugue” further emphasizes this point as it describes the person as being idle in prayer rather than taking action.

The chorus of the song, “I dare you to notice, I dare you to bleed” is a challenge to the listener to be honest with themselves about their shortcomings and to take action towards self-improvement. The lines “So whitewash your walls and powder the marks on your face” describe the act of covering up flaws and imperfections with a superficial facade. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for people who try to hide their faults rather than acknowledge them and work towards self-growth.

Line by Line Meaning

You can say what you like
You have the freedom to express your opinion.

About all of the good you could do
You have the potential to do good things.

But your hands are opposed
You are not taking action towards doing good.

and idle in prayerful fugue
You are not actively pursuing your goals, but rather lost in thought or prayer.

So come on, come on,
Encouragement to take action.

I dare you to notice
A challenge to become aware of what's going on around you.

Come on, come on,
Further encouragement to take action.

I dare you to bleed
A challenge to be vulnerable and show your emotions.

So whitewash your walls
Cover up or hide something unpleasant.

and powder the marks on your face
Cover up or conceal your flaws.

The trappings of riches,
Material possessions that may lead to a false sense of happiness.