Death Cab For Cutie - You've Haunted Me All My Life Lyrics

The intro has a slight Black Sabbath sound. It's a really moving song that griped me from the first time i listened. to it.

anyone else think this song could be written about a mother?

OMG, why haven't I ever heard this before! And why is there mostly crap on the radio when songs like this exist?

Hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking 💔

There’s a flaw in my hearts design

For I keep trying to make you mine

I don't know why but this song is eerie to me. I love listening to this song when its dark and im alone in the house.

This 🖤

If you listen very carefully and pick up the volume a bit (don't hurt your ears) you can hear a slight echo in the background

this song is so so haunting

Tremenda Banda!

Wow, I feel like this song could actually be about my feelings for this song... Regardless, it made me sob like a little bitch...

beautiful

19 seconds in and I'm weeping. Death cab for cuties music will always make me feel happy yet sad at the same time.

This must be the song that Littlefinger would write about his infatuation with Catelyn Tully.

I have a mistress,I have a wife,but only you will haunt me all my life..
Fuck it sucks to feel things...........

Fucking love this song...the real sadness is that this was Chris Walla's last recording with DCFC they'll never sound like this again without him..cherish it.....

❣️❣️❣️

Should have been on the Great Gatsby soundtrack. Describes his character perfectly.

James Dickson amazing thought brother

If I ever committed suicide, death cab for cutie would be the music in the background.

Chris Veliz Seriously so many people confused! Rock music! Does not condone or influence suicide! Rock music and suicide are not like peanut butter and jelly! They're like oil and water! Incubus wrote song about how they don't even acknowledge it!!!!! Music is the art of Melody and lyrics! People who try to bring the very word in to rock music should be banned from listening to it! Your not cool dude for saying such a comment! The rock industry is doing their best to keep people like you out! And away from music that would Advocate such a destructing message!

I'm a man why the hell am I crying? Why is this song so relatable like it describes my exact situation. I think god is telling me something.

I ame to a conclusion that DCFC is consistently on point

You've haunted me all my life you've haunted me all my life you are the mistress I can't make a wife....

Simply beautiful..this is why i have followed this band for over a decade.. much love to all the dcfc fans around the world x x x

Since I learned what kintsugi actually means i love this hole album even more

i substitute for 297 views on this vid...

This song is about happiness. That's what is haunting him yep. Just think about it. Awesome song

mickey nixxon or it could be about a girl he's had a crush on. songs have different meanings for everyone.

mickey nixxon I took it as true love, not happiness. love as seen through the eyes of a child; simple, beautiful and attainable... yet now he cannot tame love to keep it and has lost it rather than making it his wife....That's just what it means to me though, given that love is more important than happiness, although happiness is a consequence of love... (sometimes!)
Either way, a truly beautiful song on a phenomenonal album.

I Miss You So Hard :C

You've haunted me all my life
Through endless days and countless nights
There was a storm when I was just a kid
Stripped the last code of innocence

You've haunted me all my life
You're always out of reach when I'm in pursuit
Long winded then suddenly mute
And there's a flaw in my heart's design
For I keep trying to make you mine

You've haunted me all my life
You've haunted me all my life
You are the mistress I can't make a wife
And you've haunted me all my life

And so I wait but I never seem to learn
How to capture your diminishing returns
I still see you through the eyes of a child
Not even thinking we could tame the wild

You've haunted me all my life
You've haunted me all my life
You are the mistress I can't make a wife
And you've haunted me all my life

You've haunted me all my life
You've haunted me all my life
You are the mistress I can't make a wife
And you've haunted me all my life



Read more: Death Cab For Cutie - Youu2019ve Haunted Me All My Life Lyrics | MetroLyrics

8 years. i spent 8 years trying to love you... and what did i get in return? pain...

You got strength

I didn't have that long, but the one that I loved fell for another and told me that he'd fallen out of love with me... It was so hard to hear that. I cried like someone had died that night... I'm better now, but I can understand something of that pain. At least we know that we're not alone in our suffering, so we can lend each other our leftover strength.

amazing the lyrics and funny this speaks to so many people good to know I'm not the only one

Treat her right guys. If she's the best part of your life treat her as such. Never let her doubt it for a second. Same goes for all the girls out there

I'm such an idiot. I let her go when I should have held her tighter..how I miss her. If you have someone in your life that makes your heart jump and makes you fall a little in love every time you see them, don't let them go for anything in this world. Don't make the same mistake I did.

Ariel Ramos I'm hoping I don't make wrong what is right for I am the light and Erie spirit Ariel A

Ariel Ramos Why did you let her go?

I have a person that makes me feel like that. Thank you, I won let her go for the world.

I feel you, Ariel. I used to live in Missouri, and there was this girl I was almost practically in love with. I never had the guts to ask her out because I figured she was a million miles out of my league. It was only until a week before I moved to Florida that I found out she was interested in me. Now that I never asked her out, I feel awful. I guess the moral of that story is that if you love someone, go out on a limb and go get them. We all deserve to be happy. It's pointless to deprive ourselves of happiness because of lacking self-confidence. Because I was too scared of rejection, the situation left me over a thousand miles away from the girl of my dreams. If there's someone you want, and you have any confidence that you can have them, go get them.

Sometimes it isn't your choice and you have to let go

I'm here for the Lady Midnight playlist, thanks Cassandra Clare hahaha

Any thoughts on what this is about? I'm leaning towards religion as something that can certainly haunt you all your life and has diminishing returns, strips innocence, and always out of reach.

Or it could just be about love....lol. Probably that.

I would have said Zooey Deschanel

caeaves id feel the same if I'd lose zooey deschanel lol

Death Cab for Cutie has the astounding ability to make me feel nostalgic with songs I'm hearing for the first time

i've just discovered this band and i completely agree with you.

Welcome to absolute amazingness

An utter masterpiece of sound and songwriting. Astonishingly good. Feel it.

Devastating..

Julian and Emma ❤

His lyrical content it's the best to ever walk this earth.. Such such such unbelievable relateable lyrics.. They're geniuses..

This song makes me happy and sad

This song corresponds so well with this stucky fanfic I'm reading

I can't help but smile at how this song makes me hurt in such an authentic way. They never cease to voice what I could never explain, and that is such a bittersweet talent.

what a beautiful thing to say about somebody

Lady Midnight

through endless days and countless nights

Is anyone here from the Lady Midnight playlist ?

+Zainab Choonara Ha! Yeah I am! High five! I'm reading tales of the shadowhunter academy so I haven't started LM yet but I LOVE the playlist

+Mamadi Kanoute heyyyy ! 😄💪🏻 the best fandom ! 😌... It's an amazing story ! You'll love it 😉

YAAAS! 🙋🏻

the album cover is an old family photo

This is sadly the story of my life.. What's with this crazy planet huh?
The beauty and the pain, most of the time I'm lost on either side

I still see you through the eyes of a child....

Not even thinking we could tame the wild.

That's poignant shit

I think this song is about the future...

I sometimes hate Death Cab cuz they make me feel the pain I want to forget. But then I read all the comments and remember I'm not the only one. So let me just say that whoever you are, whatever is happening right now, I promise you're not alone.

sorry Sofie, i got dumped today by a girl that promised me alot. Don't stop being good to people just because it's not what they're used to. It's not your problem.

Much love to everyone. Going through a lot this second. This comment meant alot to me.

Beautifully said. Death cab is so deep that way.

I really, really need to hear this. @Jathan Clark, please tell me things get better and have gotten better for you so that I can take just one more breath.

Yes I am. Nice try...

ELMA why... why did you leave

by far my favourite song of this album. Can't wait to see them March in Alberta!

i dont think i need to listen to any other musicians or bands except Death Cab For Cutie now

"There was a storm when i was just a kid, that stripped the last coat of innocence."

God damn...

+Nick Randles That happened to me. I was always happy and fun but after i fell in love with that girl. I became a different person.. a darker person.

+Abel gonzales (Dante) happens to a lot of us , I'm better now darker yes but maybe the devastation caused clarity

i feel the same way. Things are darker but i see things the way they are. Like taking off the rose colored glasses.

I know how that feels buddy. A boy changed me too

This song fits my narrative of our story like a glove. I hope it makes you think of me as much as it makes me miss you .

This song caused a nice relapse for me.

Same here bro.Stay strong.

You are the mistress I can't make a wife
And you've haunted me all my life

Devastating

Nothing more to say about this song, it's amazing!

I think one of my favorite things I find whilr going through DCFC's comments is the number of people who analyze the song/lyrics. it's a special thing when so many people open up because of a song. :)

I saw them live earlier this week and they were absolutely amazing as I expected

INCREDIBLE MUSIC for anyone who can see real lyrical genius

This song speaks to me

i thought i was gonna hate this album but i love it

Beautifully devastating.

my stars - - this is hauntingly delicious .

i'm crying instantly

This has such a strong 'Kodaline - All I Want' vibe to it :v

+Hrishikesh Sonowal That song is almost an anthem. Such a powerful, singable melody.
This... this is just mellow and creepy. (In the best way possible)

does this remind anyone of love in the time of cholera? because im almost crying.

You've haunted me all my life Through endless days and countless nights There was a storm when I was just a kid Stripped the last code of innocence

You've haunted me all my life You're always out of reach when I'm in pursuit Long winded then suddenly mute And there's a flaw in my heart's design For I keep trying to make you mine

You've haunted me all my life You've haunted me all my life You are the mistress I can't make a wife And you've haunted me all my life

And so I wait but I never seem

This song correlates almost perfectly with Haruki Murakami's "South of the Border, West of the Sun". Phenomenal song and phenomenal book.

NERV Official ah yes I love that book

i just listened to death cab today they have replaced artic monkies as my new favorite band love them

Ha. Those are my two favorites too. Although I think Death Can takes first place as well.

For some unknown reason, this song haunts me now! I keep replaying it over and over. Love the lyrics, the phrasing, the music...his voice! Incredible. Death Cab has never disappointed me, and this goes above and beyond.

I love Death Cab... their songs make me want to write! So deep and rich!

All I heard was the intro.
That's all I needed.
Whoa.

"and so I wait but i never seem to learn..... how to capture your diminishing returns"

Well... at least for this album he didn't deliver too many vocal notes that didn't quite fit his range and capacity.

I saw them perform this live last night and I swear my soul exploded... So good

i love death cab a lot, just their music is so good unlike a lot of mainstream bands, any suggestions on bands like death cab?

@Hugh O'Sullivan modest mouse

+Hugh O'Sullivan Boy And Bear

She & Him

Ugh such depressing music ... but so good.

saw them preform this last night on the first night of the tour....wow is all I can say

@Jenna Zeck I am 30 something years old and cried for the second time ever at a concert last night, when he played follow you into the dark, i lost it and noticed I wasnt the only one who did :)-we were up in the balcony

transatlanticism made me about cry too, i cant stop thinking about it, and we were in the section below the balcony

@Jenna Zeck balcony is the way to go at the venue, the only song they didnt play that i love was meet me on the equinox other than that i was beyond happy with it and really impressed

I wasn't that big of a fan before and didn't really know a lot of songs but after last night I'm hardcore. I wish they sung Lack of Color tho

@Jenna Zeck Thats how i got to be a huge fan of Foster the People I saw them at beach ball 2 years ago and was hooked, then saw them last year at power and light, I love them and their acoustic stuff-they put on a badass show see them if you get a chance

Anybody else just deeply love this song !!!!!

I feel like this song is about God, or the idea of a God, who he can't discover, but can't shrug off either.

I think it's about Love in general.. not anyone in particular..

Death Cab for Cutie is my breathe.

great song !

To those wondering what the song is about, here's my interpretation.  If you're familar with The Open Door EP, a few of the songs are about Ben's wandering eye and inability to be happy with what he has.  The person haunting him, the mistress he cannot make a wife, is the hypothetical perfect woman that he sees in a new opportunity.

It could be interpreted several ways...depending on what your own personal struggle is (depression, sobriety, career, etc.) I guess that's why Ben's a great songwriter!

I like it.

This song kinda goes well with The Great Gatsby

LOL the only song that didn't download on my iTunes

Wow, this is just...amazing!, i was listening to Of monster and men and this was in the suggestion bar and im glad i clicked, is there any hardcore fan of this band that can tell me if their albums are as worth listening as this song? I wouod really apreciate it :)

+robbie Perez Plans is the quintessential album. Listen to these songs off of it: Marching bands of Manhattan, What Sarah Said (as long as you are prepared to cry like seriously this will make a grown man cry,) Soul Meets Body, and I will follow you into the dark.
Those are my takeout tracks, but theres plenty of others. Heck that was only one album!

I'm going to see them tonight!!!!!!!!  Can't wait!!!

Lucky! I can't wait to see them again.

+Summer Julian I hear they're amazing live! This is the first time I could get tix.

Oh they are!

Here's looking at you, L.L. Every word in this song, me to you. Tangle up in blue.
(Only, not the mistress part.)
I hope you're happy at State. I hope you find somebody who understands.
(Breaks down.)

This is real death cab... Why we all started listening

it's incredible how appropiate can be their songs, always.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was about depression. It has haunted him quite a bit and he uses similar imagery for Oh, Woe on his solo album

This is so pretty but I wonder if the lyrics are just random. Like he's a divorced guy with girlfriend. Who could he be talking about? None of my business I guess but I can't help but wonder...

@Kate Pettersen He's not talking about a specific person or a thing. I was listening to one of the interviews with him on the radio, and he said it's more about trying to accomplish things in life. Like if you're going after a certain goal, and it haunts you all your life until you get it. So 'You're the mistress I can't make a wife' is basically saying you're so close to it, but you can't completely grasp it. Haha I hope it makes sense!

@Maria Kagarlichenko
Yes! That's an awesome metaphor. Ben Gibbard is a lyrical genius.

@Kate Pettersen He really is. :)

@RichKimPrice your right it is about love... But deeper within showing love with both people .. Of the feeling of were it as love will will never happen...

+Maria Kagarlichenko thanks for that interpretation

You've haunted me all my life.

So incredible how this song makes you feel things you can't even comprehend.

I agree. This song will make you question every poor choice you've made, every goal you had but never achieved, every relationship you let slip away. This might be my new DCFC favorite. Everybody of a certain age has things that haunt them. These lyrics hit home in a very cathartic way.

blahblahblahblwwah1263

Wow, this is amazing! This is giving me the same flood of emotions and depths of beauty I heard when I first heard " we have the facts and we're voting yes" and every fantastic album after that. I'm definitely not disappointed :D

Sorta sounds like Mandocello by Cheap Trick at the beginning. Love it.