Don’t Listen To That

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of a pervasive, oppressive "system" that seems to inflict pain, described as making "her bleed." This isn't about a personal conflict between two individuals, but a larger, almost historical force, hinted at by the jarring inclusion of "Charlemagne" as a "member / Of a game." The narrator urges the listener to reject this destructive influence, repeating the command "Don't listen to that noise" as a central refrain. This "noise" appears to be the insidious messaging of the system itself, which traps individuals, as suggested by "She surrendered." The core tension lies in the ephemeral nature of existence versus the enduring sorrow associated with this system. The lines "Here today / Gone is tomorrow" highlight a sense of transience, but this is immediately contrasted with the warning "Never date / The Witch's sorrow." This "witch's sorrow" seems to represent a deep, perhaps ancient, despair or a destructive feminine archetype that, once engaged with, leads to ruin. The imagery of "selling matches" and the "fire catches" leading to "the witches burn" evokes a sense of cyclical destruction and persecution, where vulnerability or attempts at warmth are met with catastrophic consequences. The most striking craft element is the juxtaposition of historical figures with abstract concepts and folklore. Placing "Charlemagne" within a "game" that leads to surrender and sorrow creates a disorienting effect, suggesting that these oppressive systems have deep, perhaps even foundational, roots in human history. The repeated chorus acts as a shield, a desperate plea to disengage from a narrative that promises only pain and destruction, emphasizing the power of external "noise" to dictate one's fate. The lyrics suggest that recognizing and actively ignoring this harmful "noise" is the only path to avoiding the "witch's sorrow" and the inevitable burning.