Lyrically, “Handmade Ego” forms a self-examination of the struggles of falling too deep into self-absorption.
Tying in with the album’s overarching theme of contradiction, the song focuses on sexual tension and the feeling of wanting more from a partner, despite experiencing a sense of helplessness...
[Verse 1]
I’ll be looking for the scent when it goes cold
I’ve been trying to beat the maze with a blindfold on
I’ve been foraging through mud and sticks
Searching for that power that don’t exist
Gather my strength and I’ll pull my weight
Run so hard I can only taste blood in my mouth
And I’ll do my work and I’ll break a sweat
Feel your nails drag across my chest
It's all worth the pain
Your sex and savage ways
[Chorus]
So caught up, so caught up in my self-indulgence
I tell myself that I'm not hopeless
When I need you, I need you to struggle with me too
So wrapped up, so wrapped up in my handmade ego
Well knock me down a peg and watch me wallow
'Cause I need you, I need you to struggle with me too
[Verse 2]
I’ve been trying to find the path, keep me on track
Trying to solve the puzzle with my hands tied behind my back
I’ve been keeping my head in the sand
Won’t get involved in what I don’t understand
Sink my teeth into what is mine
I hunt and kill so you can wine and dine
It's all worth my time
Our bodies intertwine
[Chorus]
So caught up, so caught up in my self-indulgence
I tell myself that I'm not hopeless
When I need you, I need you to struggle with me too
So wrapped up, so wrapped up in my handmade ego
Well knock me down a peg and watch me wallow
'Cause I need you, I need you to struggle with me too
[Bridge]
So draw the line, it's there to cross
I think we’ll find a cause we lost
So draw the line, it's there to cross
I think we’ll find a cause we lost
A cause we lost
[Chorus]
So caught up, so caught up in my self-indulgence
I tell myself that I'm not hopeless
When I need you, I need you to struggle with me too
So wrapped up, so wrapped up in my handmade ego
Well knock me down a peg and watch me wallow
'Cause I need you, I need you to struggle with me too
Handmade Ego was written by James Cullen & Daniel Cobb.
Handmade Ego was produced by Daniel Cobb & James Cullen & Gianluca Buccellati.
TENDER released Handmade Ego on Wed Sep 26 2018.