Lungs Go Numb
The Story Behind The Song
I wanted this song to have an atmosphere of a calming nature. I looked at the floor in my house as I strummed between two chords and saw a face in the wooden panels. I thought that would make an interesting lyric, and after that, the rest of the lyrics came to me.
The song is about shutting down emotionally in order to cope with pain. By not feeling it at all, you don’t have to hurt. The music is quite peaceful as the verse and chorus shift smoothly between each other, while the lyrics within are darker. This represents how on the surface you may seem calm, but in reality you are internally struggling.
There are two uses of symbolism in the lyrics: fire and water. Fire and water are both things that if out of control, can hinder your breathing. The fire and the water both represent overwhelming emotions that the narrator is completely encompassed by, but because they’ve closed themselves off, they are unbothered; their lungs are numb.
Credits
Performed by Ren McLean
Lyrics and Music by Lauren McLean
Co-Produced by Ren McLean and Johnny Cummings
Mixed and Mastered by Sam Polizzi
“Seeing faces in the wooden floor...”
Lungs Go Numb: Music, Lyrics and Sound Recording are © 2022, All Rights Reserved.
Lyrics
Seeing faces in the wooden floor
Don’t know what they’re asking for
Oak lines drawing out my ghosts
They’re up to no good
Mm
Once you’ve opened up the doors
They won’t shut like they did before
Overwhelming that’s for sure
What’s inside is no good
Mm
But I’ll wait til the smoke calms down
No I’ll wait til the flames go out
No I’ll wait til the sirens sound
And my lungs go numb
Mm
Where’s the nearest hospital
Save me with some chemicals
They say my heart is black as coal
And my blood has run cold
Mm
mind stuck in comatose
(in comatose)
body in auto mode
(in auto mode)
With hurricanes coming up the coast
(up the coast)
The rain falls cold
Mm
But I’ll wait til the floods calms down
No I’ll wait til the storm dies out
No I’ll wait til the sirens sound
And my lungs go numb
Mm