Hide In Your Shell

Album: Crime Of The Century (1974)
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  • Hide in your shell, 'cause the world is out to bleed you for a ride
    What will you gain, making your life a little longer?
    Heaven or hell, was the journey cold that gave you eyes of steel?
    Shelter behind painting your mind and playing joker

    Too frightening to listen to a stranger
    Too beautiful to put your pride in danger
    You're waiting for someone to understand you
    But you've got demons in your closet (you've got demons in your closet)
    And you're screaming out to stop it (and you're screaming out to stop it)
    Saying life's begun to cheat you
    Friends are out to beat you
    Grab on to what you can scramble for

    Don't let the tears linger on inside now
    'Cause it's sure time you gained control
    If I can help you, if I can help you
    If I can help you, just let me know
    Well let me show you the nearest signpost
    To get your heart back and on the road
    If I can help you, if I can help you
    If I can help you, just let me know

    All through the night as you lie awake and hold yourself so tight
    What do you need, a second hand movie star to tend you?
    I as a boy, I believed the saying the cure for pain was love
    How would it be if you could see the world through my eyes?

    Too frightening the fire's becoming colder
    Too beautiful to think you're getting older
    You're looking for someone to give an answer
    But what you see is just illusion (what you see is just illusion)
    You're surrounded by confusion (you're surrounded by confusion)
    Saying life's begun to cheat you
    Friends are out to beat you
    Grab on to what you can scramble for

    Don't let the tears linger on inside now
    'Cause it's sure time you gained control
    If I can help you, if I can help you
    If I can help you, just let me know
    Well let me show you the nearest signpost
    To get your heart back and on the road
    If I can help you, if I can help you
    If I can help you, just let me know

    I wanna know, I wanna know,
    I wanna know, I've got to know
    I wanna know you, I wanna know you,
    Well let me know you, I wanna feel you
    Oh, I wanna touch you,
    Please let me near you, let me near you
    Can you hear what I'm sayin'?
    Well I'm hopin', I'm dreamin', I'm prayin'
    And I know what you're thinkin'
    See what you're seein'
    Never, ever let yourself go
    Hold yourself down, hold yourself down
    Why don't ya hold yourself down?

    Why don't you listen, you can trust me (So what you gonna take him to?)
    Oh there's a place I know the way to (So what you gonna make him do?)
    A place there is no need to (So what's he gonna)
    To feel you (So what's he gonna)
    To feel that you're not alone (So what's he gonna do?)

    Oh won't you hear me? (So what you gonna take him to? )
    I know exactly what you're feelin' (So what you gonna make him do?)
    'Cause all your troubles are within you (So what's he gonna)
    So begin to (So what's he gonna)
    To see that I'm just bleeding too (So what's he gonna do?)

    Love me love you, love is the way to (So what you gonna take him to?)
    Help me help you (So what you gonna make him do?)
    Why must we be so cool? (So what's he gonna)
    Oh so cruel? (So what's he gonna)
    Oh, we're such damn fools (So what's he gonna do?)

    (So what you gonna take him to?)
    (So what you gonna make him do?)
    (So what's he gonna)
    (So what's he gonna)
    (So what's he gonna do?) Writer/s: RICHARD DAVIES, ROGER HODGSON
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • Jean Colas from BelgiumTo Bertrand, Paris
    Thanks for your comment, you summarized the song perfectly. And that's my wife's life, sadly...
  • AnonymousI have listened to this most beautiful song since I was in college in the 70's and get the same haunted feelings today as I did then. I believe it's discussing depression, self esteem & hiding from who you really are. The song pulls you in & tries to show you there's hope but only you can open up that she'll you hide in. It brings out great emotions every time I hear the lyrics & haunting melody. I love the Tramp!!
  • Waitwatcher from UkHaving lived in Canada most of my life, I used to wonder why British bands seemed to have such an adverse opinion regarding the educational system. Another song that made me wonder about this was “Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd. When I moved to the UK I learnt about the practice of “Caning” which was a theme of a Charles Dickens novel, “Nicholas Nickleby”, and to some degree appears to have had a holdover into the 20th century. Other such uses of psychological intimidation have also been employed in an attempt to bring about conformity to their vision of desirable social behaviour. It might well be best to get some feedback from Roger Hodgson or any other band members who may have contributed to the lyrics of “School”.
  • Der Lange from MannheimSteve, sorry but could your explain why 'School' and 'Bloody Well Right' should be about PARANOIA? We all know, that 'School' is about confusion after school, just like 'The Logical Song'. Thematically it's kind of a prequel. I think your classifications are pretty unprecise - sorry. I don't see why 'Bloody Well Right' should have ANYTHING TO DO with Paranoia. Could you explain? Please! Thanks!
  • Steve from Torrance, CaThis song, along with "Asylum", comprises one of four themes on the concept album "Crime of the Century": in this case, Mental Illness. The other themes are: Paranoia ("School" and "Bloody Well Right"), Disillusionment/Self-Deception ("Dreamer" and "Rudy"), and Self-Destruction ("If everyone was listening" and "Crime of the Century"). The album's overall concept is the fatal flaws/hubris of human nature.
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