What is the meaning of “bedshaped”?

Question

I was listening to a song called 'Bedshaped' by the English band 'Keane'. But, I couldn't find any meaning of it from any dictionaries. Maybe I can guess, but I would like to make sure about this. What do you think about the meaning?
And, also, 'legs of stone' got me confused.

Here are the lyrics below.

You'll follow me back
  With the sun in your eyes
  And on your own
  Bedshaped
  And legs of stone
  You'll knock on my door
  And up we'll go
  In white light
  I don't think so
  But what do I know?
  What do I know?
  I know!

Kris · Accepted Answer

wikipedia:

&hellip; in hospital when someone is ill and has to spend a lot of time in bed they can become 'bedshaped'. It sounds a bit depressing (...) but in the context of the song I wanted to suggest old age and frailty(...)

keaneshaped:

The word 'bedshaped' - I don't know if it's a made up word, but my mum's always talking about people being bedshaped, just from spending too much time being bed-ridden basically. It's quite a sad image of someone stuck there, stuck in a bed, until they become completely useless and start to lose their humanity. But just that idea of crumbling and being really frail and decrepid is something that eventually happens to everyone. That, I guess was the basis for the song in a way. So whatever happens when you're younger, even if you go off in search of glamour and ambitious and exciting things; once you get to your really old age, you've got all that side of life that just disappears.

Orco · Answer

There's also a slang definition of bedshaped:

bedshaped: a term used to describe being very drunk
(from urbandictionary.com)

so by looking at the original video, that's also an explanation of the void many people with alcohol problems experience.

Amanda Jayne · Answer

Ok so here’s my guess on what it means- I get the reference to ‘bed shaped about old age / frailty etc but I think this song is talking about a couple who have been together and or known each other a long time but are maybe drifting apart. I think the bit about ‘ up we go’is falling into bed together which a lot of people do to try and prolong a dying relationship ( a bed shaped) relationship. When he says’ I don’t think so’ he’s trying to resist the toxic cycle of this but ‘what do I know?’ Suggests he understands his own frailty to resist her and the continuation of the relationship) - again frailty. Just my take but I’ve thought this from the first time I heard it.

Answered by Amanda Jayne on March 1, 2021

What is the meaning of “bedshaped”?

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