Rats! Rats! Rats!
Deftones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is this safe to say?
Decide
Is that your style?
Is this decided?
Decide
Is this it?
Is this decided?
Decide
Really?
Fine
You walked in here
Was it like a dream?
You got in here
Was it like it seemed?
I won't say nothing, nothing
Not a fucking thing
Wish you would've said something, something
Something
Decide, decide
Is this safe to say?
Decide
Is that your style?
Is this decided?
Decide
Is this it?
Is this just fine?
Decide
Just fine
Everything is fine
Everything's just fine
Everything is fine
Everything's fine
You walked in here
Was it like a dream?
You got in here
Was it like it seemed?
I won't say nothing, nothing
Not a fucking thing
I just wanna say something, something
Something
And I wish one thing, one thing
Just one fucking thing
I heard her say something
Something, something
Decide, decide
Is this safe to say?
Decide
Is that your style?
Is this decided?
Decide
Is this it?
Is this just fine?
Everything's fine
Everything is fine
Everything just fine
Everything is fine
The lyrics to Deftones's song Rats are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation. At its core, the song seems to be about uncertainty and indecision. The repeated refrain of โdecide, decideโ highlights the singerโs internal struggle to make a choice. However, the lyrics suggest that the singer is also hesitant to speak out, perhaps out of fear that what they have to say will be met with indifference or hostility. In fact, the singer goes so far as to say โI wonโt say nothing, not a fucking thingโ and โI just wanna say something, something, something.โ
The two stanzas that repeat throughout the song also seem to be addressing a specific person who has entered the singerโs life. The lyrics ask if the arrival of this person was like a dream, or if it was as it seemed. These lines could suggest that the person in question is someone who the singer has romantic feelings for, or someone who they see as a source of inspiration. However, the singer is ultimately unable to express their feelings or opinions, and the song ends with the repeated refrain of โeverything is fine.โ
Overall, Rats is a moody and atmospheric song that leaves a lot up to interpretation. The lyrics hint at a struggle between indecision and desire, while also addressing the complexities of communication and the fear of rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
Decide, decide
Asking for clarification and affirmation
Is this safe to say?
Questioning the safety of communication
Decide
Implying a need for action and resolution
Is that your style?
Questioning authenticity and hypocrisy
Is this decided?
Asking if the situation has been resolved
Decide
Continuing to push for resolution
Is this it?
Questioning the finality of the situation
Is this decided?
Reiterating the need for resolution
Decide
Continuing to push for action
Really?
Expressing disbelief or surprise
Fine
Accepting the current situation, but potentially with reluctance
You walked in here
Describing a significant event of someone entering a space
Was it like a dream?
Asking if the experience was surreal or unbelievable
You got in here
Describing the act of entering a space
Was it like it seemed?
Asking if the experience was expected or unexpected
I won't say nothing, nothing
Refusing to speak or communicate
Not a fucking thing
Emphasizing the refusal to communicate
Wish you would've said something, something
Expressing regret over lack of communication or openness
Something
Expressing a desire for communication or connection
Decide, decide
Reiterating the need for resolution
Is this safe to say?
Questioning the safety of communication
Decide
Pushing for resolution and action
Is that your style?
Questioning authenticity, honesty, and transparency
Is this decided?
Questioning if the issue has been resolved
Decide
Continuing to push for resolution
Is this it?
Questioning if the current state is final
Is this just fine?
Asking if the current state is satisfactory
Decide
Continuing to push for resolution
Just fine
Expressing a lack of enthusiasm or satisfaction with the current state
Everything is fine
Potentially masking a deeper issue or problem
Everything's just fine
Potentially reiterating a lack of enthusiasm or satisfaction with the current state
Everything is fine
Repeating the same phrase as before
Everything's fine
Potentially implying that everything is not actually fine
You walked in here
Repeating a previous line
Was it like a dream?
Repeating a previous line
You got in here
Repeating a previous line
Was it like it seemed?
Repeating a previous line
I won't say nothing, nothing
Repeating a previous line
Not a fucking thing
Repeating a previous line
I just wanna say something, something
Expressing a desire for communication or connection
Something
Repeating a previous line
And I wish one thing, one thing
Expressing a desire or regret for something specific
Just one fucking thing
Emphasizing the importance of the desired thing
I heard her say something
Recalling a past interaction or communication
Something, something
Repeating a previous line
Decide, decide
Reiterating the need for resolution and action
Is this safe to say?
Questioning the safety of communication
Decide
Pushing for action and decision-making
Is that your style?
Continuing to question authenticity and honesty
Is this decided?
Continuing to question if the issue has been resolved
Decide
Pushing for resolution and action
Is this it?
Questioning if the current state is final
Is this just fine?
Questioning if the current state is satisfactory
Everything's fine
Repeating a previous phrase, potentially masking a deeper issue or problem
Everything is fine
Repeating a previous phrase
Lyrics ยฉ Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ABE CUNNINGHAM, ABRAN CUNNINGHAM, CHI CHENG, CHINO MORENO, CHINO CAMILO MORENO, FRANK DELGADO, STEPHEN CARPENTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Chedda_chz
Whole band was hittin on this one.
@samoyolo
Hahaha
@nikobellic3526
chi era hit different ngl
@HeffewiezenDudeGuy
Not Chino. That dude was like, screw this odd time signature crap. Imma just shout out random shit. I think 1/2 his lyrics were about he and Steph's riff (pun intended).
@py16667
King of making simple riffs sound unique & complex
@CheeriosBox_
Tommy Lommi? I mean he basically invented metal doing that. Steph's rad also tho lol.
@Praisestothemosthigh369
Bro nothing about this is simple its elegant trust me I can Strum this up but never like this not even close lol
@jag-stang29
@Bloodofabram yeah theres nothing simple abt it but the main riff is like one chord and i think thats what they were referring to. isnt the song in like 9/8 or smth
@HalfStepTides
Top Tier 'Tones. Probably one of the most underrated songs in their catalogue, and it has the most savage breakdown.
@ireallydontcareabouthandles
Centerpiece moment of the album for me. Saturday Night Wrist is an album that constantly feels like it's tearing itself apart at the seams, and if drifting between angrier self-titled and proto-Koi No Yokan with Chino screaming to decide doesn't capture that feeling, I don't know what does.