1
You're sharp as a knife and you fit like a glove
That is no way to live that is no way to love
Full of fear in your skin and the weakness in giving in
Your stabbed in the back but you feel no pain
Push the heaviest doors that you can't open
Yeah they tied me up and my body lies still, again
You're as bright as the sun and as calm as the wind
I don't know when you'll break but it's gonna be soon
If my will caves in, I'll be in the same boat as you
I've got the salt skin
Running to where he is
Never going to give in
Even with the strength
He's stealing salt skin
Telling me I'm winning
Wars they created
Just to understand
The meaning (of)
Hands on strings and my mouth open
Find the perfect words that I've not spoken
And I won't tell the truth unless you want me to
For all of the times that I lost my head
When it rolled to the floor and I found it again
But when it came back,
I didn't know my own name
I've got the salt skin
Running to where he is
Never going to give in
Even with the strength
He's stealing salt skin
Telling me I'm winning
Wars they created
Just to understand
The meaning (of)
Of, of
I've got the salt skin
Running to where he is
Never going to give in
Even with the strength
He's stealing salt skin
Telling me I'm winning
Wars they created
Just to understand
I've got the salt skin
Running to where he is
Never going to give in
Even with the strength
He's stealing salt skin
Telling me I'm winning
Wars they created
Just to understand
The meaning (of)
That is no way to live that is no way to love
Full of fear in your skin and the weakness in giving in
Your stabbed in the back but you feel no pain
Push the heaviest doors that you can't open
Yeah they tied me up and my body lies still, again
You're as bright as the sun and as calm as the wind
I don't know when you'll break but it's gonna be soon
If my will caves in, I'll be in the same boat as you
I've got the salt skin
Running to where he is
Never going to give in
Even with the strength
He's stealing salt skin
Telling me I'm winning
Wars they created
Just to understand
The meaning (of)
Hands on strings and my mouth open
Find the perfect words that I've not spoken
And I won't tell the truth unless you want me to
For all of the times that I lost my head
When it rolled to the floor and I found it again
But when it came back,
I didn't know my own name
I've got the salt skin
Running to where he is
Never going to give in
Even with the strength
He's stealing salt skin
Telling me I'm winning
Wars they created
Just to understand
The meaning (of)
Of, of
I've got the salt skin
Running to where he is
Never going to give in
Even with the strength
He's stealing salt skin
Telling me I'm winning
Wars they created
Just to understand
I've got the salt skin
Running to where he is
Never going to give in
Even with the strength
He's stealing salt skin
Telling me I'm winning
Wars they created
Just to understand
The meaning (of)
Lyrics submitted by LondonTom, edited by CaughtDeliria
Salt Skin Lyrics as written by Finlay Graham Dow Smith Ellie Goulding
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
She said in concert this song was about running away from someone.
ah cool, i thought it may have had some reference to sex aswelll, for some reason.
I looked it up and she said in an interview "It's about wanting to run to someone, and this time the guy wants the same thing, and wanted me, which is quite rare. Some people think the salt skin in the title is from tears, but it's actually about sweating. If you go to the gym or out for a run, you get salty skin from sweating. So Salt Skin is just a sign that I've been running, which is my favourite thing to do, and in this case, running toward someone special."
A few minor corrections...
"Stabbed in the back but you feel no PAIN"
"Telling me I'm winning wars they created just to UNDERSTAND the "the meaning of"
"For all of the times that I LOST my head"
"when it came back I didn't know MY own name"
And second and third choruses should contain "the meaning of" after "just to understand"
I have been reading about the meanings of Ellie's songs for a while now and it's like listening to her songs for the first time when I find out what they mean. It's so wonderful. I like Ellie even more now. This song in particular made much more sense to me now that I know it's about running away. :D
My favorite ellie song!
I think... "You're as sharp as a knife and you fit like a glove that is no way to live, that is no way to love"- He's sharp with words,living a bitter life. "Full of fear in your skin and weakness in giving in"- This one doesn't really need interpretation. She says it plainly, he's full of fear and has a weakness for giving in. This is his salt skin. "Your stabbed in the back but you feel no pain Push the heaviest doors that you can't open"- The reason for his salt skin: he's so used to being hurt; pain, that he expects it. He tries to break out of this routine of his, this negative outlook on life, but that's an obstacle (a heavy door) he can't overcome (can't open). "You're as bright as the sun and as calm as the wind I don't know when you'll break but it's gonna be soon If my will caves in, I'll be in the same boat as you"- He has a lot of potential, but he keeps to himself. One day though, he'll explode. It's not healthy, and she knows that if she gives in to negativity and isolation, she'll be in the same position. "I've got the salt skin running to where he is never going to give in Even with the strength"-now she has the fear and weakness for giving in in her skin, and she's headed towards his position, his way of life, but she promises herself she won't end up like him. "he's stealing salt skin telling me i'm winning wars they created just to undestand the meaning (of)"- Now this maybe a long shot, but to me, I think she's having an affair with this guy. And he's telling her, that she's winning wars they created, as in conflicts him and his girlfriend couldn't overcome, in other words its easier being with her..yet he's still with his girlfriend, so basically he's trash. Another reason she doesn't want to end up like him, a cheating saltskinned guy who has a fear of commitment and love. And she knows this affair is wrong, but she's drawn to it, she needs him even though she doesn't want him, and in this she begins to understand the meaning of...love, I believe. And she understands this is NOT real love.
"Hands on strings and my mouth open Find the perfect words that i've not spoken And I won't tell the truth unless you want me to"- The perfect words that she hasn't spoken, are the words that would end their affair... but she won't come clean unles he wants her to. He has a hold over her. I believe this is her weakness, her salt skin, letting him control her, almost like a puppet (Hands on strings and my mouth open).
"For all the times that I lost my head When it rolled to the floor and I found it again But when it came back, I didn't know my own name"- For all the times she's been in quite a pickle, so to speak, she got out of it somehow. This time its different. She's so far gone into this affair, she doesn't even recognize herself anymore.
All in all. She's in love with a dirtbag whose got saltskin(fear of commitment)and it's rubbing off on her. He's her weakness, her salt skin. And if she keeps this up, she'll end up like him. All the while knowing, understanding, that no matter what hold he has over her, this is NOT real love.
I agree w/ your interpretation, especially your last few words. It's true; s/he's probably told himself he's not worthy of love, so he settles for cheap thrills and temporary bliss. He's predictably frightened of emotional ties for fear he will cause them to break and then he'll be alone. And he just doesn't seem to get that he's already alone, even when he's with those poker faced dates of his that take so little effort...and in the end also provided so little comfort. He's chosen to live a life essentially alone due to his fear, and he chases away all chances he has for anything more. It's as though he wears a sign that reads, "I lie because I'm scared you'll actually see me for who I am (and I don't like me) and I lie because I can." He can't break the cycle; he's simply not strong enough to because temporary conquests are so easy and appealing. And anyone who truly falls for this type of gal/guy will eventually walk away due to his actions/inactions; it's a self-fullfilling prophesy...and he gets bragging rights to say "I told you so" after s/he walks and never returns. Kudos to him...such a successful man :)
Oh, very good song. I left out that part:)
<br /> I like your interpretations and it make sense even if that's not the artist <br /> intent. I definately think the salt skin is mixed from sweat and fear but also like a drug when you taste it you know its not right but its addictive.<br /> Its actually funny because i've been trying to avoid an affair of sorts, and Ive been listening to this song and thinking its like the good and bad.<br /> "Sharp as Knife and Fits like a glove" to me its not that he is smart per say, just that what he does can hurt, cut her, his girlfriend, himself. <br /> but "He fits like a glove" So much of what attracts us to affairs of the heart, is that someone sees us or makes us feel they are so much like us. We find ourselves in place in our life and we feel completely gone and this person comes and give us the attention and newness we crave. Also murders tend to wear gloves.<br /> <br /> New to this site and like you're contributions<br /> SmallTranslations - Will
She HAS stated in an interview that this song is about running away.
The way I understand it, the verses are sort of like she's talking to herself. She's realised that she has a bad habit of becoming exactly what anyone wants from her. Like a puppet, they can control her. (Hands on strings and my mouth open Find the perfect words that I've not spoken And I won't tell the truth unless you want me to). It's to the point where, when she finally cracks and stops, she doesn't know who she is anymore.
The chorus is where she "runs away" to try and find herself. And trying to be strong enough to not lose herself again.
ellie has stated the term "sakt skin" is the salt from the sweat of running away