Tell Tale Signs

Album: Tape Deck Heart (2013)
Play Video
  • God dammit Amy, we're not kids any more.
    You can't just keep waltzing out of my life,
    Leaving clothes on my bedroom floor,
    Like nothing really matters, like pain doesn't hurt.
    You should be more to me by now than just heartbreak in a short skirt.

    You kind of remind me of scars on my arms that I made when I was a kid,
    With a disassembled disposable razor I stole from my dad,
    When I thought that suffering was something profound,
    That weighed down on wise heads,
    And not just something to be avoided,
    Something normal people dread.

    God dammit Amy, well of course I've changed.
    With all the things I've done and the places I've been
    I'd be a machine if I had stayed the same.
    But you're still back where we started, you haven't changed at all.
    You're still trying to live like a kid, like you can always have it all.

    You know you kind of remind me of scars on my arms that I hid as best I could,
    That I covered with ink, but in the right kind of light they still bleed through,
    Showing that there are some things I just can't change no matter what I do:
    The tell-tale signs of being used,
    Of being trapped inside of you.

    You're a beautiful butterfly
    Burned with a branding iron
    Onto my outsides into my insides
    As a simple sign:
    To show off your ownership.
    Burned into my naked skin,
    Onto my outsides into my insides.

    It's not even love any more,
    It's just a claim upon my soul.
    It stains my skin, yeah it's on my breath,
    And I'm ashamed to get undressed
    In front of strangers in case they see
    The tell tale signs that you have left all over me.

    God dammit Amy.
    You'll always remind me of scars on my arms that I know will never fade.
    And it's not like it's something I think about each and every day -
    I just occasionally catch myself scratching them, as if they'd ever go away.
    But these tell tale signs are here to stay, and in the end you know that's OK.
    You will always be a part of my patched-up patchwork taped-up tape-deck heart. Writer/s: FRANK TURNER
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.