Skin by Breaking Benjamin Lyrics Meaning – Peeling Back Layers of Emotion and Identity

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Breaking Benjamin's Skin at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Well I know you don’t know the reason
And it’s cold, a sign of the season
‘Cause you’re old, and battered and beaten
And we’ll grow, ’til we hit the ceiling, yeah

Well I’ll be better, get away
Send a letter, bombs away

You’re covered in my skin
I couldn’t imagine anyone else
I’m off for the weekend
I couldn’t imagine why you would save yourself

Well it’s gone and it’s not returning
And your clothes and pictures are burning
‘Cause you’re old, and battered and beaten
And we’ll grow, til we hit the ceiling, yeah

Well I’ll be better, get away
Send a letter, bombs away

You’re covered in my skin
I couldn’t imagine anyone else
I’m off for the weekend
I couldn’t imagine why you would save yourself

Well I’ll be better, get away
Send a letter, bombs away

You’re covered in my skin
I couldn’t imagine anyone else
I’m off for the weekend
I couldn’t imagine anyone else

You’re covered in my skin
I couldn’t imagine anyone else
I’m off for the weekend
I couldn’t imagine why you would save yourself

The impressive discography of Breaking Benjamin often sees fans and critics delving into the deeper meanings behind their powerful lyrics and evocative melodies. Among their songs, ‘Skin’ stands out for its gripping exploration of personal identity and the complexities of human relationships. The band, known for its post-grunge sound punctuated with hard rock, crafts a journey through sound that goes beyond the superficial.

In ‘Skin,’ Breaking Benjamin invoke strong imagery and emotions, prompting listeners to think about the thin line that separates individuality from shared experience. With its heavy riffs and poignant lyrics, the song presents a narrative that speaks to the heart, stirring a blend of nostalgia, loss, and introspection.

The Cycle of Seasons: Understanding the Temporal Metaphors

The opening lines, ‘Well I know you don’t know the reason / And it’s cold, a sign of the season,’ touch upon the notion that change is often imperceptible and inevitable, just like the turning of seasons. It resonates with the idea that people cycle through phases in their lives, often without understanding why things happen the way they do. This sets the tone for the entire song, one that examines the cyclicality of growth and decay in human spirit and relationships.

The recurring theme of aging, ‘Cause you’re old, and battered and beaten,’ juxtaposes with the notion of growth, ‘And we’ll grow, ’til we hit the ceiling,’ evoking the universal struggle against time and the confines of our reality. By connecting these concepts, Breaking Benjamin presents a poignant reflection on the ever-present race between growth and the wear of time.

In the Thick of It: The Hidden Meaning of ‘Covered in My Skin’

Arguably the most cryptic and intimate phrase in ‘Skin’ is, ‘You’re covered in my skin.’ This line can be interpreted in multiple ways. On one hand, it could signify an intense bond between two individuals, sharing so much that they feel as one. Alternatively, it might represent a more possessive or dependent relationship, suggesting entanglement to a potentially unhealthy degree.

The line, ‘I couldn’t imagine anyone else,’ reiterates the theme of deep connection, but also carries a sense of resignation or acceptance that underscores the intensity of this bond. It’s a feeling many can relate to, the idea of being so wrapped up in someone else that their presence seeps into your very being.

The Symbolism of Fire: A Narrative of Loss and Destroyed Memories

In the stanza, ‘Well it’s gone and it’s not returning / And your clothes and pictures are burning,’ the listeners are confronted with potent symbolism of fire representing end, cleansing, or transformation. The act of burning one’s belongings signifies a deliberate desire to sever ties with the past or to eradicate painful memories. This could allude to a breakup or a personal reinvention, both requiring the shedding of one’s old ‘skin’ to progress.

The imagery of fire and the decisiveness of its destruction piece together a story of someone at a point of no return. Breaking Benjamin captures that moment of irrevocable change, delineating the before and after with the stark finality of fire.

‘I’m off for the weekend’: The Quest for Personal Escape and Uncertainty

At the chorus’ closure, ‘I’m off for the weekend / I couldn’t imagine why you would save yourself,’ vocalist Benjamin Burnley introduces a sense of escapism and ambiguity. The character in the story might be looking for a temporary reprieve from the realities of life, or maybe confronting the fact that this parting could indeed be permanent. There is a nuance of self-doubt, questioning the worthiness of being saved or the reasons why anyone would choose to do so.

‘I’m off for the weekend’ can also be an echo of modern society’s brief sabbaticals from the pressure and pretense of daily life. In these moments of detachment, Breaking Benjamin suggests that one might find clearer skies or deeper desolation, leaving the ending to the listener’s interpretation.

Echoes of Resilience: Memorable Lines that Resonate with the Listener

Breaking Benjamin’s songwriting holds a mirror up to the face of adversity and resilience. Lines such as ‘Well I’ll be better, get away / Send a letter, bombs away’ encapsulate a defiance that is both jarring and emboldening. It distills a sense of impending delivery from hardship, sending one’s troubles away with the same force as a dispatched bomb.

This reference to ‘sending a letter, bombs away’ might also symbolize the release of pent-up emotions and the proclamation of personal boundaries, as if declaring war on the sources of one’s turmoil. Listeners are left with a powerful takeaway – that there is strength in confronting and expelling the past, scrapping the old layers to reveal a new version of ‘skin’.