Bruised Sky – English Lyrics

• By: Poppy
• Album: Empty Hands

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw, powerful English of “Bruised Sky,” a standout metalcore anthem from Poppy. This track is an excellent choice for language learners interested in modern, aggressive rock lyrics, as it offers a blend of dramatic, surreal poetic language ("I'm collecting the names under the bruised sky") and intense, confrontational idioms that push emotional boundaries. Its dual vocal delivery—shifting from clean, melodic singing to guttural growls—will also challenge and excite you with the versatility of English lyrical expression.

[English]

There's no one to come for you

There's no one left to get close to

Too long stuck in my chest

Can't keep it under my breath

...

The only way to cope

Is to see you as a disease

Insisting to resolve

Resisting every prophecy

Get it off of me

And the moon is awake tonight

I'm collecting the names under the bruised sky

I know the ending, it keeps playing out in my head

And running around again

Don't try to tell me it's as good as it's gonna get

The feeling won't leave 'til darkness takes me

Don't forsake me (oh, oh, oh, oh)

How do I numb myself

When God is praying on the weak?

Instill the fear to fall

But it'll never work on me

Question everything

In the wake

Felt my whole world starting to shake

The cradle starts to break

And the red pools over me

And turns to white

And the moon is awake tonight

I'm collecting the names under the bruised sky

I know the ending, it keeps playing out in my head

And running around again

Don't try to tell me it's as good as it's gonna get

The feeling won't leave 'til darkness takes me

Don't forsake me (darkness takes me, don't forsake me)

Breathing in the light

Fend for your final form

The feeling you obscured

Will force you now to learn

Bathing in the light

There's nothing left to hide

Then never say a word

Under the bruised sky

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
bruised /ˈbruːzd/ B2	adjective - injured and marked with a bruise
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the expanse of air over the earth
moon /muːn/ A1	noun - the natural satellite that orbits the earth
darkness /ˈdɑːrk.nəs/ B1	noun - the state of being without light
feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ B1	noun - an emotional state or sensation
fear /fɪə/ A2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by danger or threat
disease /dɪˈziz/ B2	noun - an illness or disorder of the body
resolve /rɪˈzɒlv/ C1	verb - to decide firmly on a course of action noun - determination; a firm decision
resist /rɪˈzɪst/ B2	verb - to oppose or fight against something
prophecy /ˈprɒfəsi/ C1	noun - a prediction about the future
numb /nʌm/ B2	adjective - lacking feeling or sensation
pray /preɪ/ A2	verb - to speak to a deity, especially in request or thanks
weak /wiːk/ A2	adjective - lacking strength or power
awake /əˈweɪk/ B1	verb - to become or cause to become conscious after sleeping
collect /kəˈlekt/ B1	verb - to gather together items or information
ending /ˈɛndɪŋ/ B1	noun - the final part of something; conclusion
shake /ʃeɪk/ B1	verb - to move quickly back and forth or up and down
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - to separate into pieces, often by force noun - a pause or interruption in continuity
hide /haɪd/ A2	verb - to keep out of sight; conceal
obscure /əbˈskjʊr/ C1	verb - to make unclear or difficult to understand adjective - not clearly expressed or easily understood

Key Grammar Structures

• There's no one to come for you

  ➔ Infinitive clause after 'to' (purpose or result)

  ➔ The phrase 'to come for you' shows purpose — no one is coming with the intention of helping you.

• Can't keep it under my breath

  ➔ Modal verb 'can' with negative contraction and verb phrase

  ➔ 'Can't keep' expresses inability — the speaker cannot hold feelings inside any longer.

• The only way to cope is to see you as a disease

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose and simile 'as'

  ➔ The phrase 'to see you as a disease' uses 'as' to compare the person to an illness metaphorically.

• I'm collecting the names under the bruised sky

  ➔ Present continuous tense for ongoing action

  ➔ The phrase 'I'm collecting' describes an action continuing in the present moment.

• It keeps playing out in my head

  ➔ Present simple with third person singular and phrasal verb 'play out'

  ➔ 'It keeps playing out' means the event repeats itself mentally — 'keep + -ing' indicates repeated action.

• Don't try to tell me it's as good as it's gonna get

  ➔ Imperative form and comparison with 'as...as'

  ➔ The sentence starts with 'Don't try' — a negative imperative telling someone not to act. The phrase 'as good as' compares two conditions of quality.

• The feeling won't leave 'til darkness takes me

  ➔ Future with 'will not' and contraction with 'til for until'

  ➔ 'Won’t leave' shows that the feeling will persist into the future until another event ('darkness takes me') happens.

• Question everything

  ➔ Imperative form without subject

  ➔ 'Question everything' gives a command or advice, omitting the subject 'you' which is understood.

• The cradle starts to break

  ➔ Present simple and infinitive after 'start'

  ➔ The structure 'start to break' shows the beginning of an action — the cradle begins to fall apart.

• Breathing in the light

  ➔ Present participle phrase functioning as imagery or description

  ➔ The phrase 'Breathing in the light' uses the -ing form as a descriptive image rather than as a full clause.