Summary
This song is about a girl who can't stick to one. She's in love with a guy, who is also very in love with her. She's trying so hard to stay faithful to him but she just can't. They split up, but when she cried for him and she said she was gonna change, he decided for them to get married. And when they were married she repeated her crime, and he didn't give her any reaction. He got so fed up with her cheating that he just shrugged his shoulders and gave her the silent treatment. And she felt worse.
I
"Meet you downstairs in the bar and heard
Your rolled up sleeves in your skull T-shirt
You say, "What did you do with him today?"
And sniffed me out like I was Tanqueray"
"Meet you downstairs in the bar and heard
Your rolled up sleeves in your skull T-shirt
You say, "What did you do with him today?"
And sniffed me out like I was Tanqueray"
Verse I: She went to their bar downstairs and there he was. His guy/boyfriend was there all stressed out. He asked her questions as if accusing her of a crime. He was sniffing/finding evidence that she cheated on him.
II
"'Cause you're my fella, my guy
Hand me your Stella and fly
By the time I'm out the door
You tear men down like Roger Moore"
"'Cause you're my fella, my guy
Hand me your Stella and fly
By the time I'm out the door
You tear men down like Roger Moore"
(Line 1,2) She explains to him that she doesn't have anyone else. It's only him that she loves. And she says these lines so that he could leave the house and forget what he's thinking.
(Line 3,4) Whenever she goes out the house, he always thinks that she's cheating on him.
III
"I cheated myself
Like I knew I would
I told you, I was trouble
You know that I'm no good"
"I cheated myself
Like I knew I would
I told you, I was trouble
You know that I'm no good"
(Line 1,2) She made a pact to herself that she was never gonna cheat on him, but she cheated herself. But she had it coming.
(Line 3,4) She told him prior to their relationship of her nature. She told him she can't stick to one.
IV
"Upstairs in bed with my ex-boy
He's in a place but I can't get joy
Thinking on you in the final throes
This is when my buzzer goes"
"Upstairs in bed with my ex-boy
He's in a place but I can't get joy
Thinking on you in the final throes
This is when my buzzer goes"
(Line 1,2) She had sex with her ex, he knows how to please her but he can't make her happy.
(Line 3,4) But when she realizes the pain she'll bring him when he finds out, that's when she had to leave his ex.
V
"Run out to meet you, chips and pitta
You say, "When we married", 'cause you're not bitter
There'll be none of him no more
I cried for you on the kitchen floor"
"Run out to meet you, chips and pitta
You say, "When we married", 'cause you're not bitter
There'll be none of him no more
I cried for you on the kitchen floor"
Verse V: She remembers the time he told her to get married so that she wont go out with other men anymore. He's not angry at her for cheating on him while they were together, but he wants it to end. And it made her cry, she was so happy to get married with him.
VI
"Sweet reunion Jamaica and Spain
We're like how we were again
I'm in the tub, you on the seat
Lick your lips as a I soak my feet"
"Sweet reunion Jamaica and Spain
We're like how we were again
I'm in the tub, you on the seat
Lick your lips as a I soak my feet"
(Line 1,2) They went back to feeling together like Jamaica and Spain. Everything felt like how they were before.
(Line 3,4) They were gonna be intimate.
VII
"And then you notice likkle carpet burns
My stomach drop and my guts churn
You shrug and it's the worst
Who truly stuck the knife in first"
"And then you notice likkle carpet burns
My stomach drop and my guts churn
You shrug and it's the worst
Who truly stuck the knife in first"
(Line 1) Then he notices her likkle/little carpet burns. When they were bear naked, he saw her flaws.
(Line 2) She got scared on how he'll feel about it.
(Line 3) He didn't speak a word. He was just numb. He gave the "silent treatment. And it was the worst punishment he can ever give to her.
(Line 4) She was the first to hurt him every time she cheats, and now she's the one hurting.
Hi dear. I love Amy! but i think she said no to life...
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.
I think the "carpet burns" line means she literally had carpet burns from cheating, from having sex on the floor-do you follow? And the fact that he doesn't care or show any emotion about it hurts her and begs her to ask the question, "Who really stuck the knife in first?"
ReplyDeleteyou are spot on Carmen -- this interpretation seems closest to reality. I have seen some other crazy interpretations -- Amy Winehouse lyrics were raw and truthful and this hits it right.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Deletein the official music video the scene partner with Amy is looking at her arm. not her knees... since Amy would have fixed the interpretation visually to be more in line with the meaning of what she wrote. I also had the cheating visual when I heard the song. A testament to her brilliance as an artist. We truly lost this little shinny penny two soon!
DeleteI think the "carpet burns" line means she literally had carpet burns from cheating, from having sex on the floor-do you follow? And the fact that he doesn't care or show any emotion about it hurts her and begs her to ask the question, "Who really stuck the knife in first?"
ReplyDeleteAgree. That makes more sense
ReplyDeleteI recently heard this song in a new light and here is my findings. This song is actually about her struggle staying off drugs.
ReplyDelete"Meet you downstairs in the bar and heard ---- (being "upstairs at a bar is a literal reference to he so called "drug room" in many bars and clubs where people would go to do illicit substances, usually with the owner-----
Your rolled up sleeves in your skull T-shirt
You say, "What did you do with him today?"----consider him being drugs----
And sniffed me out like I was Tanqueray"---knew she was hiding something and kept poking and prodding for the truth----
II
"'Cause you're my fella, my guy ---you are important to me and should take precedence but you don't----
Hand me your Stella and fly---i imagine this refers to the beer? and he storms out in anger because he knows she has done something---
By the time I'm out the door
You tear men down like Roger Moore"---i think the line is tear me down but either way considering men or the other guy is drugs, so soon after the upset she caused because of doing drugs, she is seeking comfort by taking more, the you in this can either be the boyfriend making her feel so deflated and sad or the druggs grabbing a hold of her so easily again.----
III
"I cheated myself ----SHE cheated herself by using again---
Like I knew I would---like she knew she would when she promised to stay clean---
I told you, I was trouble
You know that I'm no good"
IV
"Upstairs in bed with my ex-boy ----now she's hidden away in the sanctuary of the home or soul or whatever, using, her ex-boy is the drugs she swore not to take anymore---
He's in a place but I can't get joy ---but even though she is using again she is unhappy---
Thinking on you in the final throes ---she still thinks of the man she promised she would stop using drugs for---
This is when my buzzer goes" ---and this is what causes her to use again to bury that pain, like a true addict---
CONTINUED
These ARE my findings
DeleteV
ReplyDelete"Run out to meet you, chips and pitta ---in her messy state she tries to gather herself and prove she can be good and normal---
You say, "When we married", 'cause you're not bitter ---he gives her another chance because he loves her---
There'll be none of him no more ---and says when we get married you can't use drugs anymore---
I cried for you on the kitchen floor"---now depending on WHO is saying this, if he is saying this, then because they cause him so much pain and it hurts for him to see her struggling with addiction like that. and if SHE is saying this then it's just expressing how depressed she was to have lost him and now she has him back she wants to really try again to stay clean----
III
"I cheated myself ----SHE cheated herself by using again---
Like I knew I would---like she knew she would when she promised to stay clean---
I told you, I was trouble
You know that I'm no good"
VI
"Sweet reunion Jamaica and Spain --- i think this is metaphorical, jamaica and spain both being considered sweet and romantic and exciting, perhaps a reference to the "honeymoon" phase---
We're like how we were again---the relationship has returned to normal---
I'm in the tub, you on the seat---spending time together, she soaks while he watches---
Lick your lips as a I soak my feet"---still in love and attracted to each other---
VII
"And then you notice likkle carpet burns---in jamaica or reggae they say lickle instead of little, these carpet burns are a reference to track marks on her arms. he has noticed them now, they are the evidence of her drug use---
My stomach drop and my guts churn---her bubble burst, she didn't want to lose him but couldn't stop using and now he has found her out again she is so heartbroken that she ruined it again---
You shrug and it's the worst ---now he is almost apathetic like he expected it, and this is what hurts so much, that even he didn't have faith in her---
Who truly stuck the knife in first"---this is not asking was it him that hurt her or her that hurt him but more, was it her that hurt herself and the situation by using again behind his back or was it when she realised she had been caught that was the problem---
III
"I cheated myself ----SHE cheated herself by using again---
Like I knew I would---like she knew she would when she promised to stay clean---
I told you, I was trouble
You know that I'm no good"
Likkle carpet burn means track marks
ReplyDeletetrue. but he shrugged, saying he did not care. Ergo he stuck the knife in first. This Virgo was a deep troubled soul.
DeleteNah. Him shrugging, not caring, equates to him also becoming a cheater so it doesn't hurt him any more when she cheats. Who truly stuck the knife first= she shouldn't be mad at him AND/OR she is also left to wonder if he had done this before. She cheated herself has as double meaning now. Lived it. Sing it, Amy.
ReplyDeleteThere is a male recording of the song you can listen to here http://www.singsnap.com/karaoke/watchandlisten/play/c78e7254e The lyrics are modified to fit a male point of view for most of the song but the last verse is an entirely different. It is the original verse to a song called "Sailing" which was written in Japan by an American teacher and songwriter. His recording studio was limited and knew it would end up in the garbage unless he explicitly gave up rights to the song and encouraged the America's Cup organizers (A British institution) to find a artist who will take full ownership of the song to change as they saw fit. He recommended re-working the chorus and giving the song a grittier feel. This was 1992. In 2006 he heard the song and instantly recognized it. He called it a "Message in a Bottle" as it was a shot in the dark and a gift free and clear to anyone who chanced upon it. He could not have been more pleased with the outcome. Lyrics to the linked version are below:
ReplyDeleteI'll meet you downstairs at the bar at Hurt
Me and my rolled sleeves and my skull t-shirt
You say "what did you do with him today?"
Did I snuff him out like he was Tanqueray?
Cause I'm your fellow your guy
Hand me your Stella and fly
And by the time he flees to floor three
I tear him down like I'm Sean Connery
You cheated yourself
Like I knew you would
You told that you was trouble
You know that you're no good
Upstairs in bed with my ex Stace
I'm her toy but I feel out of place
Thinking of you in the final throws
Well this is when her buzzer goes
Run out to meet you, Chips and pita
You say 'when we're married..' 'cause you're not bitter
There will be none of Stace no more
As you cry for me on the kitchen floor
I cheated my myself like you knew i would
You told me that you was trouble
You know that I'm no good
We left our homes in Hamamatsu
Took to the sky and the sea so blue
Counting on the wind to set us right
We pulled the anchor and sailed into the night
Then I notice little carpet burn,
My stomach drops, my guts churn
You shrug, and it's the worst,
Who truly stuck the knife in first?
You cheated yourself like i knew that you would.
You told me that you was trouble
You know that you're no good.
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ReplyDeleteI'm Tonia Anderson by name, I am from the States, Suffolk county to be precise. I am here today to testify of the good works LORD ZAKUZA has done in my life, I never knew great men still exist until I found him. I have been suffering from heart break for the past 3 years, my partner who I invested on cheated on me with my best friend on my matrimonial bed, I was yet to recover from this terrible shock until I meant LORD ZAKUZA, a friend of mine directed me to him , I doubted him at first but as things went further, I had to give him my trust and did exactly as he told me to do. Ever since then, I have been happy all my life and my love life with my partner has been so wonderful. You can also need his help and here's his contact information. WhatsApp: +1 740 573 9483, Email: lordzakuza7 @ gmail. com, Website: lordzakuzaspells.com
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