Red Violins lyrics

there is no use to holler, no use to cry. twenty pounds of curses came to visit me tonight. salt for all the cuts, blankets for the cold. prayers to keep the devil far away from those i love. and there were red violins, playing in my dreams. one for me and two for me, and one at jesus’ feet. and one i only reach to for sympathy.

and if you want it, then you want it. for when you’re falling on your knees. i seen you howling now, you water at the mouth. i seen you fawn and faint in need. are there red violins playing you sleep?

chariot swing low, if you come for me. ain’t it now, the strangest sound we call on for relief? look at the all these people clapping steady to the beat, of the ambulances on their way to me...

so if you wanna, then you wanna. everybody pays the price to feed. and since you’re howling now, and foaming at the mouth and since you’re struck right off your feet. i’ll play red violins...

and you are now of my existence, you’re part of that which still remains. and you’re
lingering like fingered strings, i seem to call on to feel the pain. on red violins... on red violins.

and if you wanna, then you wanna. can’t you see me crawling at your feet? you see me howling now... i’m foaming at the mouth. come on and grieve for my disease...

and there were red violins playing in my dreams. there were red violins playing in my dreams.





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Red Violins

There is no use to holler, no use to cry
Twenty pounds of curses came to visit me tonight
Salt for all the cuts, blankets for the cold
Prayers to keep the devil far from those I love
And there were red violins playing in my dreams
One for me and two for me and one at Jesus' feet
And one I only reach to for sympathy

And if you want it, then you want it
For when you're falling on your knees
I seen you howling now, you water at the mouth
I seen you fawn and faint in need
Are there red violins playing you to sleep?

Chariots swing low if you come for me
Ain't it now, the strangest sound we call on for relief
Look at all these people clapping steady to the beat
Of the ambulances on their way to me

So if you wanna, then you wanna
Everybody pays the price to feed
And since you're howling now, you're foaming at the mouth
And since you're struck right off your feet
I'll play red violins
And you are now my existence
You're part of that which still remains
And you're lingering like fingered strings
I seem to call on to feel the pain
On red violins
On red violins

And if you wanna, then you wanna
Can't you see me crawling at your feet?
You see me howling now, I'm foaming at the mouth
Come on and grieve for my disease
There were red violins playing in my dreams
There were red violins playing in my dreams
There were red violins
There were red violins
There were red violins
There were red violins playing in my dreams

Quote :

Look at all these people clapping steady to the beat
Of ambulances on their way to me.

Seems linked to The Patient Ferris Wheel lyrics

I think it's "salt for all the cuts", which would make sense because the next line is "blankets for the cold"....and Brian has used the "salt in your wounds" phrase before

So...what does it mean? Red Violins are definitely a metaphor for something. Any thoughts?

mja271 wrote:

So...what does it mean?  Red Violins are definitely a metaphor for something. Any thoughts?

As it happens, Brian actually talked about this during a recent interview:

Q: One motif I noticed that keeps coming up in the album is dreams, like the type where people are asleep.

A: I can’t remember a dream in I don’t know how many years. It’s become a thing: why don’t I remember dreams? Everyone else has dreams. I seem to limited myself. I can’t see beyond what’s in front of me, I’ve been searching around for that, in a longing way. “There are red violins playing in my dreams” (lyrics from the song “Red Violins”). You know how people say that they are playing violins for themselves, that they have sympathy for themselves? That song is like a shill for sympathy.
There are songs where I’m marking myself, which is weird. Why am I so self-defeating? I don’t know. I don’t like me. Can I be you? Let’s change!