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Hot Knife
Fiona Apple Lyrics


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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

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)

Overall Meaning

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
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@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)



All comments from YouTube:

@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.

21 More Replies...

@cakredi4132

This is something between a playful children song and chants in a witches' ceremony.

@iksaxophone

You'd be surprised how many "children's songs" actually ARE witches' chants...our few remaining vestiges of pagan tradition fly under the radar as innocuous kids' games.

@contrafax

Jazz

@ikeepscreamingbutgodwontan3132

@@iksaxophone what

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