Bruises

* Studio Version
* Live Version

## Audio

* Music Video
* Visualizer

## Track Listing

"**Bruises**" is the seventh track and fourth on Ellise's debut studio album, *Chaotic*. The song was released on May 14th, 2021, with the rest of the album.

On August 27th, 2021, a music video was released, and on September 10th, 2021, a live version of the song was released.

## Background

On June 21st, 2021, Ellise reconfirmed the song's upcoming music video, stating that it's "fucking creepy".

On August 27th, 2021, Ellise announced the music video, with a short teaser. It was released later that day.

## Song Leakage

* 2018 - The full demo of the song is accidentally posted by Ellise in high quality via SoundCloud.
* May 25th, 2019 - A lyrical snippet is shared by Ellise on Twitter.
* March 31st, 2020 - A snippet of the final version is shared by Ellise on her Instagram Live.

### Snippet

* Demo

## Theme

The song is about Ellise's history with a man who damaged her emotionally. She wasn't able to see the errors in his ways at the time and regrets her past decisions. Ellise mentions having "bruises" to be an example of a piece of your past being stuck with you.

## Lyrics

* Final
* Music Video
* Demo

**[Verse 1]**

Black and blue, I'm on the edge

Forgave you with your hands around my neck

You steal my breath, you throw me away

I'm only left with bruises

Always play too close to fire

I thought I saw the devil in your eyes

You pull me down, I can't act surprised

I know your kind, the truth is

**[Pre-Chorus]**

No chains, no ropes

Don't need em' I'm not going home

Can't be alone

You hurt me and I pull you close

**[Chorus]**

I can't tell you why, when you kill me with a smile

I don't wanna lose it, wish I could unchoose it

All I have are bruises

Let you see inside my mind

Got no tears behind my eyes

I don't wanna skew it, wish I could undo it

All I have are bruises

**[Verse 2]**

Black and blue, I still regret

Forgave you even when I know what's next

But I'm not scared, I'm out of my head

Lay down to rest with bruises

Cross my heart and hope to die, I knew I saw the devil in your eyes

If love is hell, I guess I tell lies

At least you're mine, the truth is

**[Pre-Chorus]**

No chains, no ropes

Don't need em' I'm not going home

Can't be alone

You hurt me and I pull you close

**[Chorus]**

I can't tell you why, when you kill me with a smile

I don't wanna lose it, wish I could unchoose it

All I have are bruises

Let you see inside my mind

Got no tears behind my eyes

I don't wanna skew it, wish I could undo it

All I have are bruises

**[Bridge]**

I can't tell you why I let you kill me with a smile

**[Chorus]**

I don't wanna lose it, wish I could unchoose it

All I have are bruises

When you see inside my mind

Got no tears behind my eyes

I don't wanna skew it, wish I could undo it

All I have are bruises

**[Intro]**

Home.

I let you into mine.

The place I've lived forever.

The body I'll one day die in held hostage.

My brain and heart both crawling with the disease of you.

It festers deeper and attaches itself to me in ways

That seem almost impossible to break.

It's as if I need the pain to keep me whole.

**[Verse 1]**

Black and blue, I'm on the edge

Forgave you with your hands around my neck

You steal my breath, you throw me away

I'm only left with bruises

Always play too close to fire

I thought I saw the devil in your eyes

You pull me down, I can't act surprised

I know your kind, the truth is

**[Pre-Chorus]**

No chains, no ropes

Don't need em' I'm not going home

Can't be alone

You hurt me and I pull you close

**[Chorus]**

I can't tell you why, when you kill me with a smile

I don't wanna lose it, wish I could unchoose it

All I have are bruises

Let you see inside my mind

Got no tears behind my eyes

I don't wanna skew it, wish I could undo it

All I have are bruises

**[Verse 2]**

Black and blue, I still regret

Forgave you even when I know what's next

But I'm not scared, I'm out of my head

Lay down to rest with bruises

Cross my heart and hope to die, I knew I saw the devil in your eyes

If love is hell, I guess I tell lies

At least you're mine, the truth is

**[Pre-Chorus]**

No chains, no ropes

Don't need em' I'm not going home

Can't be alone

You hurt me and I pull you close

**[Chorus]**

I can't tell you why, when you kill me with a smile

I don't wanna lose it, wish I could unchoose it

All I have are bruises

Let you see inside my mind

Got no tears behind my eyes

I don't wanna skew it, wish I could undo it

All I have are bruises

**[Bridge]**

I can't tell you why I let you kill me with a smile

**[Chorus]**

I don't wanna lose it, wish I could unchoose it

All I have are bruises

When you see inside my mind

Got no tears behind my eyes

I don't wanna skew it, wish I could undo it

All I have are bruises

**[Verse 1]**

Black and blue, I'm on the edge

Forgave you with your hands around my neck

You steal my breath, you throw me away

I'm only left with bruises

Always play too close to fire

I thought I saw the devil in your eyes

You pull me down, I can't act surprised

I know your kind, the truth is

**[Pre-Chorus]**

No chains, no ropes

Don't need em' I'm not going home

Can't be alone

You hurt me and I pull you close

**[Chorus]**

I can't tell you why, when you kill me with a smile

I don't wanna lose it, wish I could unchoose it

All I have are bruises

Let you see inside my mind

Got no tears behind my eyes

I don't wanna skew it, wish I could undo it

All I have are bruises

**[Verse 2]**

Black and blue, I still regret

Forgave you even when I know what's next

But I'm not scared, I'm out of my head

Lay down to rest with bruises

Cross my heart and hope to die, I knew I saw the devil in your eyes

If love is hell, I guess I gone blind

At least you're mine, the truth is

**[Pre-Chorus]**

No chains, no ropes

Don't need em' I'm not going home

Can't be alone

You hurt me and I pull you close

**[Chorus]**

I can't tell you why, when you kill me with a smile

I don't wanna lose it, wish I could unchoose it

All I have are bruises

Let you see inside my mind

Got no tears behind my eyes

I don't wanna skew it, wish I could undo it

All I have are bruises

**[Bridge]**

I can't tell you why I let you kill me with a smile

**[Chorus]**

I don't wanna lose it, wish I could unchoose it

All I have are bruises

Wish you saw inside my mind

I got no tears behind my eyes

I don't wanna skew it, wish I could undo it

All I have are bruises

## Cross-References

* The lyric "I saw the devil in your eyes" is referenced in Daggers.

## Music Video

### Song

Performed by Ellise

Written by Ellise and Jackson Williams

Produced by Micah Gordon

### Music Video

Director: Roxana Baldovin /  @senoradirectora

Producer: Garrett Brockschmitt / @gveews

Production Company: @onemachinemedia

DP: Lerry Kin / @lerry.kin

1st AC: Grant Friesen / @twinkryptos

Gaffer: Daniel Kusnir / @danielkusnir

Grip: Caleb Seth Czuszak / @honoraryfilms

Grip: Matt Marks @mattmarks

1st AD: @ryanthejames

Prod Coordinator: Isabelle Lesh/  @isabellesloane

Production Designer: Michael Avina / @mikeyy\_15

Art Director: Jesus Alvarado / @jesuss\_xciii

Post production @digitalsword\_

Lead editor : @Joanpabon\_

Assistant editor: @Comakev

Color: Kinan Chabani / @kinanchabani

VFX:  Tomash Kuzmytskyi / @tomashvfx

Key Makeup: Teresa Ammons @teresaammons

Key Hairstyling: Sean Fears  @seanchristopherfears

Special FX Makeup: Faina Rudshteyn @fainafx

Special FX Makeup Assist: Brittany Turpen @brittanyyynicole

Nails (Ellise): Raily De Anda / @nail\_by\_raily

Ellise/Cast Styling: Orchid Satellite / @orchidsatellite

Shabari Specialist: Joshua P Mcvety / @mellow\_code\_music

Choreographer: Tyler Worth / @justdoinit

Dancer: Jeze Zankich / @jeze23

Dancer: Kaleigh Allen @kaleighmallen

Ghost ballroom dancer: Charles Karafotas

Ghost ballroom dancer: Irina Samodanova

PA: @lukegargano

PA/additional hair: Talya Boz @teeboz

PA: Castro Zambian @afterlifecastro

PA: Ally Palacci: @versacepalacci

Bts & still photos: Walter Brady @walterwbrady Marc Heller @carkheller

Ellise CD: Thiron Colon @PWPR

HBIC: Adèllynp

Mgmt asst: @cannajoanna

Label: Empire

## Videos

Ellise - bruises (official music video snippet)Reupload of the teaserEllise - Bruises (Acoustic Piano Version)Acoustic piano performance of a section of the song
## Trivia

* Because of the song's demo accidentally being posted on SoundCloud, the URL for the released version lists the song as "bruises-2".

## References

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/ellise/status/1407099895849263107
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/ellise/status/1431289765974867971
3. ↑ https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/ra7Gp
4. ↑ https://twitter.com/ellise/status/1132432142284120065