Lyrics
The mob demands some proof, while shoutin' liar, whore
The crowd demands evidence while accusing someone of being a liar and a whore.
And suddenly I'm back on the Place de la Concorde
The narrator recalls being in the Place de la Concorde.
Confessing all the sins of other men who took
The narrator confesses sins committed by other men.
Just wanting to be held, instead I get that look
Desiring comfort or affection but receiving a judgmental or disapproving look instead.
It says you're so naive, you expect me to believe you
A criticism implying the narrator is too trusting or inexperienced, and the speaker doubts the narrator's story.
Bitter silence on a million Rue-Saint-Somethings
A reference to a million streets with a specific name (Rue-Saint-Somethings) portraying a sense of anonymity or lost identity.
"What did you expect?" He said, "you had it coming"
Someone blames the narrator, suggesting they deserved what happened.
You taught me how to keep a secret
Someone taught the narrator how to keep a secret.
I learned real young it was "all my fault"
The narrator learned early that everything was their fault.
You sent me back right to that beach
The narrator was sent back to a particular beach where a negative experience occurred.
Where no was not enough
A situation where the word "no" was not sufficient.
On my knees and counting stars
The narrator, likely in a vulnerable position, possibly feeling small or insignificant, counting stars.
I was only six, with bloody knees again
Revisiting a childhood memory of being hurt at a young age, possibly physically.
Pushed off of the swings by a boy named Benjamin
The narrator was pushed off swings by someone named Benjamin.
Crying out for help the teacher shakes her head
Despite seeking help, the authority figure (teacher) doesn't intervene, encouraging the narrator to keep their problems to themselves.
No one likes a tattle, bottle it instead
Implying that reporting incidents or speaking up about them is discouraged or seen as undesirable.
Boys they will be boys, in their nature to destroy
Stereotypical justification for destructive behavior in boys.
Bitter silence, in the corner of the class
Feeling isolated and ignored in a classroom setting.
You can join us when you think you've learned your lesson
Allowed to rejoin a group after learning a supposed lesson.
You taught me how to keep a secret
Reiteration that someone taught the narrator how to keep a secret.
I learned real young it was "all my fault"
Reinforcement of the idea that everything was the narrator's fault, learned at a young age.
You sent me back right to that beach
A repetition of being sent back to a distressing or traumatic location.
Where no was not enough
A situation where saying "no" was ineffective.
On my knees and counting stars
Similar to line 12, the narrator is on their knees, possibly feeling vulnerable, while counting stars.
On my knees and counting stars
Repetition emphasizing vulnerability while counting stars.
On my knees and counting stars
Continued vulnerability and introspection, counting stars while possibly feeling insignificant.
On my knees and counting stars
Repeated sense of vulnerability and insignificance while counting stars.
You taught me how to keep a secret
Reaffirmation that someone taught the narrator how to keep a secret.
I heard you have a daughter now
Implication that the person being addressed (referred to earlier) now has a daughter.
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