“Inside Out” is the first song by the American alternative rock band Eve 6. It came out in May 1998 as part of their first album, also called “Eve 6.” The song was a big hit in North America, reaching number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart three times, and staying there for a total of four weeks.
“Inside Out” explores the pain of teenage heartbreak and all the emotions that come with young love. The lead singer of the band, Max Collins, wrote this song based on his own experience of being cheated on and having his heart broken by a girl he loved a lot when he was young.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the meaning behind the lyrics of “Inside Out.”
Table of Contents
“Inside Out” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
I burn, burn like a wicker cabinet
Chalk white and oh-so-frail
I see our time has gotten stale
The tick-tock of the clock is painful
All sane and logical
I wanna tear it off the wall
I hear words in clips and phrases
I think sick like ginger ale
My stomach turns and I exhale
In Verse 1, the singer uses vivid imagery to express his emotions after a heartbreak. He says he “burn like a wicker cabinet,” which suggests a delicate and easily damaged state. The mention of “chalk white and oh-so-frail” reinforces this fragility.
The singer is bothered by the ticking of a clock, finding it painful, which symbolizes the passage of time and perhaps a sense of urgency or anxiety. He expresses a desire to remove the clock from the wall, implying a wish to escape the relentless march of time.
The singer also mentions hearing words and phrases in a disjointed manner, feeling sick like after drinking ginger ale, and experiencing a stomach-turning sensation followed by an exhale.
These details paint a picture of inner turmoil, confusion, and discomfort, stemming from a heartbreak.
[Chorus]
I would swallow my pride, I would choke on the rinds
But the lack thereof would leave me empty inside
I would swallow my doubt, turn it inside out
Find nothin’ but faith in nothin’
Wanna put my tender heart in a blender
Watch it spin ’round to a beautiful oblivion
Rendezvous, then I’m through with you
In the Chorus, the singer expresses his willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of a relationship. He starts with the line “I would swallow my pride, I would choke on the rinds” to say that he can put aside his pride and swallow his ego to maintain the relationship. He’s ready to endure difficulties, even if it means choking on the tough parts, like the rinds of fruit.
In the following line “But the lack thereof would leave me empty inside,” the singer is saying that if he doesn’t take certain actions, he would feel empty inside.
When he sings, “I would swallow my doubt, turn it inside out/Find nothin’ but faith in nothin,” the singer means that he is also willing to overcome their doubts and uncertainties, and maintain his faith in the relationship, even if it seems to be based on nothing substantial.
In the final lines “Wanna put my tender heart in a blender/Watch it spin ’round to a beautiful oblivion/ Rendezvous, then I’m through with you,” the singer talks about putting his vulnerable heart in a blender, which symbolizes the willingness to take risks and face emotional turmoil.
He wants to experience the chaotic and beautiful aspects of love, but he also suggests that once the encounter is over (the rendezvous), they will be done with the relationship.
[Verse 2]
So-Cal is where my mind states
But it’s not my state of mind
I’m not as ugly, sad as you
Or am I origami
Folded up and just pretend
Demented as the motives in your head
In Verse 2 , the singer shifts his focus to a different perspective and emotions. In the beginning lines “So-Cal is where my mind states/But it’s not my state of mind,” the singer mentions “So-Cal,” which is a colloquial term for Southern California.
But he clarifies that it’s not just a geographical reference. Instead, it’s a metaphor for his mental state or mindset. He’s saying that his current thoughts and emotions are influenced by his surroundings, yet, this is not necessarily reflective of his overall state of mind.
In the lines “I’m not as ugly, sad as you/ Or am I origami/ Folded up and just pretend/ Demented as the motives in your head,” the singer seems to be comparing himself to someone else, suggesting that he may not be as negatively affected or emotionally troubled as this other person (“you”).
However, he introduces the idea of being like “origami,” which implies that he may be concealing his true emotions and feelings, folding them up like a paper figure. This suggests that he might also be struggling internally, even if he appears composed on the surface. The reference to “demented motives in your head” hints at complex and possibly conflicting thoughts and intentions.
[Bridge]
I alone am the one you don’t know you need
Take heed, feed your ego
Make me blind when your eyes close
Sink when you get close, tie me to the bedpost
I alone am the one you don’t know you need
You don’t know you need me
Make me blind when your eyes close
Tie me to the bedpost
In the Bridg, the singer starts by emphasizing his unique role in the relationship. He sings, “I alone am the one you don’t know you need/ Take heed, feed your ego.” He suggests that he’s the one his partner doesn’t realize she needs or desires. This hints at a deep emotional connection that the partner might not fully recognize.
The following line “Make me blind when your eyes close” suggests a desire for intimacy and connection. The singer wants their partner to be so immersed in their feelings that they become “blind” to the outside world when they close their eyes.
In the final line “Sink when you get close, tie me to the bedpost,” the singer expresses his desire to feel overwhelmed or “sink” when their partner gets close. The reference to being tied to the bedpost can be seen as a metaphor for a passionate and intimate connection, akin to making love.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Inside Out”
“Inside Out” by Eve 6 is about teenage heartbreak and all the messy emotions that come with young love. Max Collins, the band’s lead singer, wrote it based on his own painful experience as a teenager. He got cheated on and had his heartbroken by someone he really cared about.
“We were 16 and 17 years old when we wrote Eve 6, and it sounds like it,” said Collins in a 2018 interview with Stereogum. “For that whole record, I was pretty much writing it at this one girl who cheated on me and broke my heart,” he says. “My muse would have been that relationship and that girl, and not really having the emotional equipment to know how to deal with it.”
This personal story makes the lyrics of “Inside Out” feel real. The song captures the confusion and vulnerability that usually come with your first heartbreak.
When we’re about to break up with someone we deeply love, we’re always willing to make sacrifices, even if it means giving up our pride and going through tough times, just to keep the relationship going. The chorus goes, “I would swallow my pride, I would choke on the rinds, But the lack thereof would leave me empty inside.”
The song also discusses how we might conceal our inner turmoil during a heartbreak. It suggests that even when you appear fine on the outside, there can be a lot happening inside. It reflects a longing for understanding and a deep emotional connection.
In the end, “Inside Out” becomes a song that many can relate to, especially if you’ve gone through the ups and downs of young love and heartbreak.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.