Ribs Lyrics & Meaning: Poppy’s Introspective Rock Journey of Vulnerability, Emotional Weight, and Self-Discovery

Ribs Lyrics


[Verse 1]
Can I hold your love between my ribs
While you weigh me down to something thin?
When I get back up, feeble and frail
Then I won't see you as the same again
You were oh-so quiet when I needed you
Was clamoring for something true

[Chorus]
Now I, if I close my eyes, I can feel you
Vanish into blinding light to what I can't recognize
Now I splinter and divide, but go on breathing
Leave me to my own device, time was all I'd need to see it

[Verse 2]
Before I quit, I got to vent
But the sorrow draws lines across my chest
Ooh, pale in my lips, my chin's so high it broke my neck
And I can nеver see you as the same again
I ignorеd the chatter of my mind, I sink into the scene to hide
All the color is a mess, is there a means? Is there an end to this?

[Chorus]
Oh, I, if I close my eyes, I can feel you
Vanish into blinding light to what I can't recognize
Now I splinter and divide, but go on breathing
Leave me to my own device, time was all I'd need to see it

[Bridge]
You drift further by the day
You took a twist of a memory that we made
Ribbed with loneliness and shame
All to my own dismay

[Chorus]
I, if I close my eyes I can feel you
Vanish into blinding light to what I can't recognize
Now I splinter and divide, but go on breathing
Leave me to my own device, time was all I'd need to see it

[Outro]
Hey
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Ribs Song Meaning [Poppy]

"Ribs" is a track from Poppy’s seventh studio album "Empty Hands", released January 23, 2026 via Sumerian Records. The album continues Poppy’s evolution away from simple genre labels, blending rock, alt‑metal, industrial textures and raw emotional expression under producer Jordan Fish. Critics describe Empty Hands as an unpredictable but deeply felt record that balances aggressive energy with vulnerability throughout its tracklist, of which Ribs plays a pivotal, introspective role.

Song Meaning:

"Ribs" functions as a centerpiece of emotional tension — it positions the body as metaphorical terrain where love, pain, and identity are physically felt. Throughout "Empty Hands", Poppy uses corporeal language intentionally, repeatedly referencing bodily elements to make complex emotional states tangible; this stylistic choice reflects her interest in how love and grief register not just mentally but physically.

The song opens by conjuring intimate vulnerability. Rather than offering straightforward confession, the narrative feels like an internal dialogue between clinging affection and unavoidable transformation. There’s a sense of pressing emotional weight that’s not just felt but embodied — suggesting that deep connection can be both sustaining and constricting. This layering gives Ribs a bittersweet core, as the narrator grapples with attachment that reshapes them.

Mid-song, the listener encounters a shift from exterior connection to interior fracture. Emotional clarity blurs as memories of closeness fade into unfamiliarity. The sense of “splintering” that emerges here captures the disorientation that arises when a bond — once grounding — begins to unravel. In this way, Ribs doesn’t merely depict loss; it makes listeners feel the inner disjunction that comes with it.

The bridge of the track deepens this theme of distancing. The symbolic drift there alludes to the gradual separation that can occur even when two people remain present in each other’s lives. This isn’t dramatic separation, but an emotional unraveling that leaves the narrator alone with their evolving self — and the remnants of what that bond once meant.

Towards the conclusion, Ribs circles back to an uneasy acceptance. The interplay between consciousness and memory becomes central; what once felt inseparable now registers as both a part of the narrator and something they must reconcile with. The ending is less about resolution and more about acknowledging that transformation — even painful — is part of the human condition.

Emotional Core and Themes:

At its heart, "Ribs" treads the fine line between yearning and self‑discovery. It navigates the tension of holding onto someone emotionally while recognizing that attachment alters, sometimes irrevocably, who you are. Poppy’s use of vivid physical imagery underscores how deeply feeling and body awareness intersect — a theme that recurs throughout Empty Hands.

Connection with Listeners:

Listeners connect with "Ribs" because it feels both personal and universal. The song mirrors experiences of emotional transition — when closeness begins to feel distant, when love itself exerts pressure, and when letting go becomes part of knowing oneself. Poppy’s visceral framing — literally situating emotion in the body — helps translate abstract emotional change into something tactile, giving audiences a way to feel what the narrator is processing beyond mere language.

Conclusion:

"Ribs" stands out on "Empty Hands" as an emotionally charged moment of introspection and transformation. In a record defined by its shifts between aggression and vulnerability, this track offers a reflective pause — where themes of attachment, change, and embodied feeling converge into a compelling narrative. By tying emotional nuance to physical metaphor, Poppy crafts a song that resonates deeply with listeners navigating their own evolving relationships.
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Music Video


Song Details

Song Name: Ribs
Artist: Poppy
Album: Empty Hands (2026)
Lyricist: Poppy, Julian Gargiulo & Jordan Fish
Producers: Jordan Fish
Genre: Rock
Language: English
Label: Sumerian Records
Released: January 23, 2026

[Disclaimer: Lyrics are for educational and entertainment purposes only. All rights belong to the original owners.]