Tourniquet – Zach Bryan

There’s delays on the planes out of Eastern Montana

Where you told me you were leaving from

You’ve been stabbed in your back and the rest of your body

Won’t you tell me where you’re bleeding from

If you need a tourniquet or if you want to turn and quit

Know that I’ll be by your side

You bled your whole soul into things you can’t control

In a world you’ll never satisfy

I bandage up your body and your bones and your bad days too

Take care of the blood that your love runs through

I know all the damage that some days in this dark world does

You were laughing last week at something I dreamed of

When you finally feel the blood you spill into everybody else

A tourniquet you tossed to the ground

Pull you in and hold you tight love you through the heart of night

Spring your kind ass into town

You’ve been playing your guitar from arenas to the bars

Since you were old enough to rhyme a word

But your face is getting thinner

And you’re praying for the winter

And I heard you fucked it up with her

I bandage up your body and your bones and your bad days too

Take care of the blood that your love runs through

I know all the damage that some days in this dark world does

You were laughing last evening at something I dreamed of

I bandage up your body and your bones and your bad days too

Take care of the blood that your love runs through

I know all the damage that some days in this dark world does

But you were laughing last evening at something I dreamed of

There’s delays on the planes out of Eastern Montana

Where you told me you were leaving from

You’ve been stabbed in your back and the rest of your body

Won’t you tell me where you’re bleeding from

Finding Healing in Vulnerability

Zach Bryan’s “Tourniquet” delves deep into the emotional wounds we carry and the quiet devotion of those who help us heal. The song crafts a raw narrative of someone battered by life’s hardships, both physical and emotional, and the steadfast presence of a loved one offering comfort. Bryan’s lyrics use powerful imagery—blood, bandages, and a tourniquet—to symbolize the process of tending to someone’s pain, even when the scars are invisible. The repetition of caring, patching up wounds, and acknowledging damage reflects a profound empathy and love, while the references to laughter hint at moments of hope and lightness amidst the darkness. At its core, “Tourniquet” is a testament to the strength found in vulnerability and the healing power of connection.

Song Credits

Songwriter: Zach Bryan
Release year: 2024