Following the release of the band's debut album, No Doubt (1992), Interscope Records paired the band with producer Matthew Wilder and rejected much of the band's material, refusing to let them record a second album under Interscope. This alienated songwriter Eric Stefani, who withdrew from and eventually left the band in 1994. Frustrated by their lack of progress with Interscope, No Doubt recorded and released their second album, The Beacon Street Collection (1995), independently. It sold 100,000 copies and ensured that Interscope would finance another album. During one of the recording sessions for Tragic Kingdom, No Doubt met Paul Palmer, owner of Trauma Records, who persuaded Interscope to sign No Doubt to him and released the album under his own label.
Upon its release, Tragic Kingdom received mixed reviews from music critics. It sold over sixteen million copies worldwide and was certified Diamond in the U.S. and Canada, Platinum in the UK and triple Platinum in Australia. At the 39th Grammy Awards, No Doubt earned nominations for Best New Artist and Best Rock Album. The album's sales helped to initiate the ska revival of the 1990s, persuading record labels to sign more ska bands and helping them attract mainstream attention. Tragic Kingdom yielded seven singles from 1995 to 1998, including "Just a Girl", "Spiderwebs", "Excuse Me Mr.", "Sunday Morning" and "Don't Speak".
Spiderwebs
No Doubt Lyrics
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That the chemistry's correct
Your words walk right through my ears
Presuming I like what I hear
And now I'm stuck in the
The web you're spinning
You've got me for your prey
Sorry I'm not home right now
I'm walking into spiderwebs
So leave a message
And I'll call you back
A likely story, but leave a message
And I'll call you back
You're intruding on what's mine
And you're taking up my time
Don't have the courage inside me
To tell you please let me be
Communication, a telephonic invasion
I'm planning my escape
Sorry I'm not home right now
I'm walking into spiderwebs
So leave a message
And I'll call you back
A likely story, but leave a message
And I'll call you back
And it's all your fault
I screen my phone calls
No matter who calls
I gotta screen my phone calls
Now it's gone too deep (now, it's gone too deep)
You wake me in my sleep (wake me in my sleep)
My dreams become nightmares (dreams become nightmares)
'Cause you're ringing in my ears
Sorry I'm not home right now
I'm walking into spiderwebs
So leave a message
And I'll call you back
A likely story (yeah), but leave a message
And I'll call you back
And It's all your fault
I screen my phone calls
No matter-matter-matter-matter who calls
I gotta screen my phone calls
Oh, spider webs
Leave a message and I'll call you back
I'm walking in a spider webs
So leave a message and I'll call you back
And It's all your fault
I screen my phone calls
No matter matter matter who calls
I gotta screen my phone calls
It's all your fault
It's all your fault
No matter who calls
No matter who calls
I'm walking into spiderwebs
So leave a message
And I'll call you back
I'm walking into spiderwebs
Leave a message
And I'll call you back
(It's all your fault) I'm walking into spiderwebs
Leave a message and I'll call you back (no matter who calls)
(I gotta screen my phone calls) I'm walking into spiderwebs
Leave a message and I'll call you back (it's all your fault)
(No matter-matter-matter who calls) I'm walking into spiderwebs
Leave a message and I'll call you back (I screen my phonecalls)
I'm walking into spiderwebs
Leave a message and I'll call you back
The song Spiderwebs by No Doubt is a pop-rock track about a persistent and unwanted romantic pursuit. The lyrics describe a situation in which the singer feels trapped and overwhelmed by another person's attempts to contact them. The person is a persistent caller who is intruding on the singer's time and privacy. The singer feels like they are caught in a web, unable to escape the person's persistent advances.
The first verse describes how the singer feels about the person's advances. The singer does not feel any connection or chemistry with the person but the person presumes they do. As a result, the singer feels trapped and helpless, and their only escape is to avoid the person's phone calls altogether. The second verse describes how the singer's phone calls are an intrusion on their life. The singer does not have the courage to tell the person to stop calling, so they are planning their escape. The chorus repeats the refrain of the singer being trapped in a spiderweb and unable to escape.
Overall, the song is about the importance of preserving personal boundaries in relationships. The singer feels powerless and trapped by the other person's advances and their only escape is to completely cut ties.
Line by Line Meaning
You think that we connect
You believe that we share a connection
That the chemistry's correct
You believe that there is a natural attraction between us
Your words walk right through my ears
I hear what you say, but it doesn't affect me emotionally
Presuming I like what I hear
You assume that your words have a positive effect on me
And now I'm stuck in the
I am now trapped within the
The web you're spinning
The manipulative situation that you have created
You've got me for your prey
You have successfully trapped me and I am now your victim
Sorry I'm not home right now
I am not available to talk
I'm walking into spiderwebs
I am avoiding unwanted communication
So leave a message
Please leave a message for me
And I'll call you back
I will return your call at my convenience
A likely story, but leave a message
I don't believe your excuses, but please leave a message anyway
You're intruding on what's mine
You are invading my personal space and time
And you're taking up my time
You are wasting my valuable time
Don't have the courage inside me
I don't have the confidence to confront you
To tell you please let me be
To ask you to leave me alone
Communication, a telephonic invasion
Your constant phone calls are an intrusive form of communication
I'm planning my escape
I am trying to find a way to avoid your attention
And it's all your fault
You are to blame for this situation
I screen my phone calls
I am selective about who I talk to
No matter who calls
I am cautious with all incoming calls
Now it's gone to deep (now, it's gone too deep)
The situation has become too intense
You wake me in my sleep (wake me in my sleep)
Your constant harassment has even invaded my dreams
My dreams become nightmares (dreams become nightmares)
Your unwanted attention has become a source of stress and anxiety
'Cause you're ringing in my ears
Your voice and actions are causing me distress
Ooh spider webs
The complex and manipulative situation created by your actions
It's all your fault
You are responsible for this situation
No matter who calls
I am cautious with all incoming calls
I'm walking into spiderwebs
I am avoiding unwanted communication
And I'll call you back
I will return your call at my convenience
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind