Third song from the album “The Great Annihilator” (1995), written by Michael Gira. Throughout the song, Gira speaks to a woman, thanking her for going insane, which seems to please him deeply.
[Verse 1]
Now I just want to thank you
For going insane
Every second that you suffer
Is a loss that I gain
Every breath is a drain down
Down into a hole
And your mind is a shrinking thing:
It was crushed by your skull
Now you feel time unfolding
Deep in your chest
And your body's expanding
Now there's none of you left
So I just want to thank you
For losing your mind
Yeah you burned just like Joan of Arc
Purified by the flames
[Refrain]
You're alive! You're alive!
You're alive! You're alive!
You're alive! You're alive!
You're alive!
[Verse 2]
Now I just want to thank you
For the light that you spread
And magnesium and sulphur
And the fear in your head
And I just want to tell you
You're nothing so new
Every time that you touch it
It'll turn against you
Now your future's a cold thing
Down in the damp ground
And your memory's a lead room
Containing this sound
So I just want to thank you
For killing your mind
All the life that you bleed out
Well I steal it for mine
[Refrain]
You're alive! You're alive!
You're alive! You're alive!
You're alive! You're alive!
You're alive!
[Instrumental]
She Lives! was written by Michael Gira.
She Lives! was produced by Michael Gira.
Swans released She Lives! on Mon Jan 23 1995.