The Great Escape Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I can understand how the edges are rough
And they cut you like the tiniest slivers of glass
And you feel too much
And you don't know how long you're gonna last

[Pre-Chorus 1]
But everyone you know, is trying to smooth it over
Find a way to make the hurt go away

But everyone you know, is trying to smooth it over
Like you're trying to scream underwater

[Chorus]
But, I won't let you make the great escape
I'm never gonna watch you checking out of this place
I'm not gonna lose you
'Cause the passion and the pain
Are gonna keep you alive someday
Gonna keep you alive someday

[Verse 2]
I feel like I could wave my fist in front of your face
And you wouldn't flinch or even feel a thing
And you've retreated to your silent corner
Like you decided the fight was over for ya
[Pre-Chorus 2]
But everyone you know, is trying to smooth it over
Find a way to make the hurt go away
But everyone you know, is trying to smooth it over
Everyone needs a floor they can fall through

[Chorus]
But, I won't let you make the great escape
I'm never gonna watch you checking out of this place
I'm not gonna lose you
Cause the passion and the pain
Are gonna keep you alive someday
They're gonna keep you alive someday

[Bridge]
Oh, terrified of the dark, but not if you go with me
And I won't need a pill to make me numb
And I wrote the book on running
But that chapter of my life will soon be done, oh

[Chorus 2]
I'm the king of the great escape
You're not gonna watch me checking out of this place
You're not gonna lose me
'Cause the passion and pain
Are gonna keep us alive, someday
Yeah, the passion and the pain
Are gonna keep us alive someday, someday

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About

Genius Annotation

The song is about being so afraid to feel that you hide from your emotions – even if that means using medical drugs as suppressants.

P!nk says she wrote this song to remind people that it’s better to feel than to just clock out.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did P!nk say about "The Great Escape"?
Genius Answer

For me, it’s about how I think the entire world is numbed down on something, whether it’s antidepressants, or anti-anxiety, or…. It just seems like there’s a pill for everything now.

I personally need my highs; I need my lows. I have a gig that requires them and I just… I want them. I wanna feel. I wanna sit in my misery sometimes and just cry. But I think a lot of people are now taught to be afraid of their emotions or to hide them or to swallow them down, and… emotions make people uncomfortable.

Credits
Produced By
Written By
Keyboards
Strings Arranger
Recording Engineer
Mastering Engineer
Vocals
Tambourine
Acoustic Guitar
Concertmaster
Release Date
September 18, 2012
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