Six bottles went down the drain
One hour’s a waste of time
I’d ask if you feel the same
Still pushing that chance to try
Your breath in this cool room chill
Long hair that blows side to side
You speak and make time stand still
And each time you walk right on by
Like violence you have me
Forever and after
Like violence you kill me
Forever and after
Can’t count all the eyes that stare
Can’t count all the things they see
She kills with no life to spare
Just victims are left to bleed
One drink and the pain goes down
Soft shadows lay by her feet
Lay soft as you slowly drown
Lay still as you fall asleep. (Fall asleep)
Like violence, you have me, forever and after
Like violence, you kill me, forever and after
And after, and after
And after, and after
Like violence you have me, forever and after
Like violence you kill me, like violence you have me
Forever and after, like violence you kill me
Like violence you kill me, like violence
(A certain look in your eyes, when you open your eyes
Who’ll stand by your side? So watch my eyes
Watch ’em turn while you go change, curtains down
When all their skill was cut, and I bled
There were forces of John Jones, I can’t make you happy
It seems all I ever do is try, you could never cut me
Deep enough to leave a scar
So take this gift, it’s something to save)
Like violence you have me, forever, and after
Like violence you kill me, forever and after
Like violence you have me, forever, and after
Like violence you kill me, forever and after
[Lady’s voice:]
My dearest
I’ve missed you very very much since that last night we were together
And will hold that night especially in my memories for years to come
I’ve been turning it over and over in my mind lately
I’ve read your letter through at least 4 times
And will probably read it more times before I’m through
I’ve been sitting here
Looking at your picture and getting more homesick every minute
I’ve wanted that picture more than anything else I know of
Except of course you, yourself
I keep thinking of you darling
I keep wishing I could be home with you
I want to leave in the worst possible way
So I could come home to see you
But things don’t look too good on that subject
This war has spoiled a lot of things for everyone I guess
I’ve never been so lonesome in my life as I am right now
I’m completely lost without you darling
I never realized I could miss any one person so much
I just hope it won’t be too much longer ’til I’m able to be with you again
And live a sane and normal life
Unpacking the Turmoil in “Violence”
Blink-182’s “Violence” delves into the chaos and intensity of emotional relationships, using raw, evocative imagery to convey feelings of longing, pain, and internal struggle. The song juxtaposes violence with love, suggesting both the addictive allure and destructive power of intense connections. Lyrics like “Like violence, you have me, forever and after” highlight a sense of surrender and vulnerability, as the protagonist feels both captivated and wounded by their attachment. The recurring motif of struggling to escape emotional pain—”One drink and the pain goes down”—reflects an attempt to cope with overwhelming feelings. The spoken-word outro, a heartfelt wartime letter, grounds the song in real longing and loss, adding a deeply personal and historical layer to the narrative.
Song Credits
- Artist: Blink-182
- Songwriters: Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, Travis Barker
- Release Year: 2003
- Label: Geffen Records