Like A Tattoo by Sade Lyrics Meaning – The Emblem of Internal Battles and Past Regrets
Lyrics
Heavy with the burden of the truth
And he spoke of his dreams
Broken by the burden
Broken by the burden of his youth
“Fourteen years,” he said
“I couldn’t look into the sun
She saw him laying at the end of my gun”
Hungry for life
And thirsty for the distant river
I remember his hands
And the way the mountains looked
The light shot diamonds from his eyes
Hungry for life
And thirsty for the distant river
Like the scar of age
Written all over my face
The war is still raging inside of me
I still feel the chill
As I reveal my shame to you
I wear it like a tattoo
I wear it like a tattoo
I wear it like a tattoo
Sade, known for her sultry voice and poignant lyrics, weaves a tale of sorrow and haunting memories in her song ‘Like A Tattoo.’ The track resonates with listeners through its metaphorical depth, exploring the remnants of a past that cling to the soul as indelibly as ink on skin.
Much more than a simple ballad, ‘Like A Tattoo’ is a nuanced journey through the consequences of a young life interrupted by a moment of irreversible action. Let’s delve into the layers of meaning behind this evocative song, carried by Sade’s languid melodies.
The Ghosts of Youth’s Indiscretions
The opening lines of ‘Like A Tattoo’ introduce us to a tale of ‘sweet lies of sweet loves’, contrasted by the ‘burden of the truth.’ This sets the stage for a narrative where dreams are smothered by a weighty reality. Sade’s lyrical prowess lays bare the irreversible impact of choices made in youth, tethering the protagonist to a past marked by heavy consequences.
Through fragmented storytelling, the listener learns of a time in the protagonist’s life that has profoundly shaped their existence. A moment is encapsulated where light and life are overshadowed by the specter of darkness—a gun, an end, and the loss of innocence.
The Indelible Marks We Bear
By repeating the phrase ‘I wear it like a tattoo,’ Sade elevates the song’s central metaphor. Tattoos, often regarded as symbols of personal narratives or commemorative emblems, here become the painful etchings of life’s mistakes that one cannot escape. It’s a scarring that is both physical and emotional, a story written out for the world to witness.
The skin becomes an unwilling canvas for experiences that are not easily left behind. Time may fade a tattoo, but the story it represents, much like the scars of our protagonist’s decisions, remains starkly characterized by youthful transgressions.
A Reflection in Metaphorical Verses
One of the song’s standout elements is its lyrical finesse—wrapping literal and metaphorical meanings into one. References to hands, mountains, and light shooting diamonds from eyes paint a vivid landscape of recollection. However, beneath this poetry lies a deeper narrative of life’s duality: the wonder of being ‘Hungry for life / And thirsty for the distant river,’ yet cognizant of a stain that tarnishes the journey.
Sade, with her signature nuance, invites the listener to traverse the boundary between the tangible and the symbolic, searching within their profound personal impacts or regrets, as pieces of themselves that, once inscribed, persist indefinitely.
The Hidden Meanings: Confessions and Redemption
Beyond the story of the protagonist’s past, ‘Like A Tattoo’ explores the catharsis of confession and the quest for redemption. In revealing her shame, Sade uncovers the human desire to be unburdened from our history, seeking absolution in the vulnerability of disclosure.
It’s an acknowledgment that living with inner turmoil—a war raging inside—demands a release. While the scars may never vanish, speaking them into existence can begin the process of healing. This, juxtaposed with the permanence of a tattoo, draws a complex relationship between eternal regret and the potential for inner peace.
Memorable Lines: A Lyrical Mirror to the Soul
‘Like the scar of age / Written all over my face / The war is still raging inside of me.’ These lines are perhaps the most hauntingly beautiful of the song and among the most memorable in Sade’s oeuvre. They speak to the internal battle that each of us fights, the aging scars we bear, and the wars we wage within our souls.
In a world that often seeks to cover up imperfections and hide pain, Sade offers an alternative narrative—one that accepts the delineations of our experiences as inherent parts of who we are. The scars, like tattoos, are not to be erased but understood and incorporated into our beings.
