Hot Knife
Fiona Apple Lyrics
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If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife
He makes my heart a cinema scope
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise
If I'm butter, if I'm butter
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife
He makes my heart a cinema scope
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise
He excites me
Must be like a genesis of rhythm
I get feisty
Whenever I'm with him
If I'm butter, if I'm butter
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife
He makes my heart a cinema scope
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise
(I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife)
(I'm a hot knife, he's a pad of butter)
(If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that)
(He's never gonna need another, never need another)
If I'm butter, if I'm butter
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife
He makes my heart a cinema scope
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise
If I'm butter, if I'm butter
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife
He makes my heart a cinema scope
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise
He excites me
Must be like a genesis of rhythm
I get feisty
Whenever I'm with him
I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife
I'm a hot knife, he's a pad of butter
If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that
He's never gonna need another, never need another
If I'm butter, if I'm butter
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife
He makes my heart a cinema scope
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise
I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife
I'm a hot knife, he's a pad of butter
If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that
He's never gonna need another, never need another
I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife
I'm a hot knife, he's a pad of butter
If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that
He's never gonna need another, never need another
He excites me
Must be like the genesis of rhythm
I get feisty
Whenever I'm with him
(I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife)
(I'm a hot knife, he's a pad of butter)
(If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that)
(He's never gonna need another, never need another)
If I'm butter, if I'm butter
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife
He makes my heart a cinema scope
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise
If I'm butter, if I'm butter
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife
He makes my heart a cinema scope
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise
If I'm butter, if I'm butter
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife
He makes my heart a cinema scope
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise
(I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife)
(I'm a hot knife, he's a pad of butter)
(If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that)
(He's never gonna need another, never need another)
If I'm butter, if I'm butter
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife
He makes my heart a cinema scope
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise
(I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife)
(I'm a hot knife, he's a pad of butter)
(If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that)
(He's never gonna need another, never need another)
(I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife)
(I'm a hot knife, he's a pad of butter)
(If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that
(He's never gonna need another, never need another)
Fiona Apple's song Hot Knife appears to be a passionate love song that compares the singer, possibly Fiona herself, to butter and her lover to a hot knife. The metaphor suggests that the two are perfect for each other, as a hot knife easily cuts through butter and complements its texture and taste. The lyrics have a sense of urgency; the singer wants to prove to her lover that he doesn't need anyone else in his life. In the second verse, the lyrics become more sensual, indulging in a detailed description of the effects of the lover on the singer's body, how he excites her and makes her feel feisty. The repetition of "If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife" is reminiscent of an incantation, perhaps suggesting the strength and power of their love.
There are a number of possible meanings and interpretations for this song. It may simply be a celebration of the intensity of the singer's love for her partner. However, the cinematic scope reference could also suggest that their love is like a movie, a fantasy world in which everything is perfect, but perhaps not real. The metaphor of the hot knife cutting through the butter could also be read as a potentially violent or dangerous relationship dynamic, with the hot knife being the dominant or controlling partner.
Overall, Hot Knife is a complex and evocative song, full of passion and intensity, but also with a sense of danger and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
If I'm butter, if I'm butter
If I am soft and malleable like butter
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife
If I am butter, he is the sharp and intense heat of a hot knife
He makes my heart a cinema scope
He expands and magnifies my emotions like a wide-screen cinema
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise
He is revealing to me the joyful and exotic beauty of life
He excites me
He arouses my passion and enthusiasm
Must be like a genesis of rhythm
He embodies the creative and primal energy of the beginning of music
I get feisty
I become playful and assertive
Whenever I'm with him
When I am in his company
(I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife)
(I am also intense and sharp like a hot knife)
(I'm a hot knife, he's a pad of butter)
(I am intense and he is soft and easily affected)
(If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that)
(If an opportunity arises, I will demonstrate my passion)
(He's never gonna need another, never need another)
(He will never require anyone else for his satisfaction)
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Fiona Apple Maggart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@luciakalei4495
If I'm butter, if I'm butter,
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife,
He makes my heart a cinemascope screen
Showing the dancing bird of paradise.
If I'm butter, if I'm butter,
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife,
He makes my heart a cinemascope screen
Showing the dancing bird of paradise.
He excites me
Must be like a genesis of rhythm
I get feisty
Whenever I'm with him
If I'm butter, if I'm butter,
If I’m butter, then he's a hot knife,
He makes my heart a cinemascope screen
Showing the dancing bird of paradise.
I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife,
I'm a hot knife, he's a pat of butter.
If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that
He's never gonna need another, never need another.
If I'm butter, if I'm butter (I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife)
If I’m butter, then he's a hot knife (I'm a hot knife, he's a pat of butter)
He makes my heart a cinemascope screen (If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that)
Showing the dancing bird of paradise (He's never gonna need another, never need another)
If I'm butter, if I'm butter (I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife)
If I’m butter, then he's a hot knife (I'm a hot knife, he's a pat of butter)
He makes my heart a cinemascope screen (If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that)
Showing the dancing bird of paradise (He's never gonna need another, never need another)
He excites me
Must be like the genesis of rhythm
I get feisty
Whenever I'm with him.
If I'm butter, if I'm butter (I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife)
If I’m butter, then he's a hot knife (I'm a hot knife, he's a pat of butter)
He makes my heart a cinemascope screen (If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that)
Showing the dancing bird of paradise (He's never gonna need another, never need another)
If I'm butter, if I'm butter (I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife)
If I’m butter, then he's a hot knife (I'm a hot knife, he's a pat of butter)
He makes my heart a cinemascope screen (If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that)
Showing the dancing bird of paradise (He's never gonna need another, never need another)
I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife,
I'm a hot knife, he's a pat of butter.
If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that
He's never gonna need another, never need another.
I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife,
I'm a hot knife, he's a pat of butter.
If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that
He's never gonna need another, never need another.
He excites me
Must be like the genesis of rhythm
I get feisty
Whenever I'm with him.
[7x]
If I'm butter, if I'm butter (I'm a hot knife, I'm a hot knife)
If I’m butter, then he's a hot knife (I'm a hot knife, he's a pat of butter)
He makes my heart a cinemascope screen (If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that)
Showing the dancing bird of paradise (He's never gonna need another, never need another)
@elbonia17
if you just looked at the lyrics to this, you'd think it's a simple love song, but between the drums and her delivery it just has this almost frightening energy to it... like she can't decide if she wants to sleep with this guy or eat him alive. I love it.
@juliaangelina1984
+hail satan those two desires are not mutually exclusive.
@pedrohitzfeld4803
hail satan is on for dudes.
@narizota
okay but that’s ur personal opinion
@abigailrose4188
I see it deeper than sleep could provide
@manda1123889
It is absolutely eat him alive.
@tonybates7870
How can just drums, a sprinkling of piano, and her multitracked voice produce all this intensity? She is fantastic.
@atlas7409
her sister also sings on this track!
@ison7834
Because it's Fiona Apple
@daveontomas7495
Not even drums, just drum!