Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Kill V. Maim
Grimes Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got in a fight, I was indisposed
I was in, despite all the wicked prose
But I'm only a man
And I do what I can

I got friends in high places, I get out for free
I got in a fight, but they don't know me
'Cause I'm only a man
And I do what I can

B-E-H-A-V-E
Arrest us
Italiana mobster
Looking so precious
B-E-H-A-V-E
Never more
You gave up being good when you declared a state of war!

Eh I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh
I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh
I don't behave, I don't behave, oh
Are you going to the party? Are you going to the show?

'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can, oh
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can
Are you going to the party? Are you going to the show?

I did something bad, maybe I was wrong
Sometimes people say that I'm a big time bomb
But I'm only a man
And I do what I can

B-E-H-A-V-E
Arrest us
Italiana mobster
Looking so precious
B-E-H-A-V-E
Never more
You gave up being good when you declared a state of war

Eh I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh
I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh
I don't behave, I don't behave, oh
Are you going to the party? Are you going to the show?

'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can, oh
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can
Are you going to the party? Are you going to the show?

Oh, whoa, o, whoa
The fire it's alright
'Cause we can make 'em all go crazy
We can make 'em wanna die
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa
The fire it's alright
The people touch it
I can't touch, even though it's mine

Eh I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh
I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh
I don't behave, I don't behave, oh
Are you going to the party? Are you going to the show?

'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can, oh
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can

B-E-H-A-V-E
Arrest us
Italiana mobster
Looking so precious
B-E-H-A-V-E
Never more
You gave up being good when you declared a state of war

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Grimes's song Kill V. Maim function as a plea for understanding and validation for a person who is regularly misunderstood and judged by the world. The first two stanzas set the tone for this message, with the singer acknowledging that they got into a fight and were judged harshly for their actions. However, they want listeners to understand that they are just doing the best they can with the circumstances they've been given. The chorus of the song, with its repeated refrain of "B-E-H-A-V-E, Arrest us. Italiana mobsters. Looking so precious. B-E-H-A-V-E. Never more. You gave up being good when you declared a state of war!" seems to suggest that this plea for acceptance is being made to society as a whole who makes judgments and determinations about the worth of a person based solely on their actions.


Through this message, Grimes is perhaps trying to communicate the limitations of societal expectations in judging an individual's worth. Specifically, Kill V. Maim is a commentary on how outside factors and context can have a major impact on one's actions, regardless of whether or not they should be ultimately held accountable. The lyrics suggest that the singer is tired of being unfairly judged and wants society to understand that they are just trying to do the best they can, given the challenging circumstances that they find themself in.


Line by Line Meaning

I got in a fight, I was indisposed
I was in a physical altercation, which left me unavailable or lying low


I was in, despite all the wicked prose
I had made it through or triumphed despite any difficulties or challenges that were thrown my way


But I'm only a man
I am human, with limitations and imperfections


And I do what I can
I make the best effort I can with what I have


I got friends in high places, I get out for free
I have connections in powerful positions, which has helped me avoid consequences or punishments


'Cause I'm only a man
My mistakes or shortcomings are not due to anything other than my humanity


B-E-H-A-V-E Arrest us Italiana mobster Looking so precious B-E-H-A-V-E Never more
The person is spelling out 'behave,' but then subverting that expectation by referencing Italian mobsters (who are often associated with not obeying rules), and then asserting that 'never more' will they behave


You gave up being good when you declared a state of war!
The 'you' in this line is accusing someone of abandoning any expectations of moral behavior when they embraced conflict or declared a state of war


Eh I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh I don't behave, I don't behave, oh
The repetition of 'I don't behave' reinforces the idea that the artist is rejecting societal expectations or norms of behavior


Are you going to the party? Are you going to the show?
This repetition of a question is unclear, but it could be the artist challenging someone's willingness to join them in their rebellion or rule-breaking


I did something bad, maybe I was wrong Sometimes people say that I'm a big time bomb
The singer is acknowledging having done something wrong or controversial but is pushing back against any implication that they are inherently dangerous or unpredictable


The fire it's alright 'Cause we can make 'em all go crazy We can make 'em wanna die
The artist is referencing causing chaos or inciting people to act irrationally, but it's unclear why they believe this kind of energy is 'alright'


The people touch it I can't touch, even though it's mine
This line is enigmatic, but it could be that the singer is describing a sort of ownership over a dangerous or alluring element that they themselves cannot engage with




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CLAIRE ELISE BOUCHER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@crizubtw8378

Lyrics:
I got in a fight, I was indisposed
I was in despite all the wicked prose
But I'm only a man
And I do what I can

I got friends in high places, I get out for free
I got in a fight but they don't know me
'Cause I'm only a man
And I do what I can

B-E-H-A-V-E arrest us
Italiana mobster looking so precious, uh
B-E-H-A-V-E never more
You gave up being good when you declared a state of war

Eh, oh, don't behave, oh don't behave, oh
Eh, oh, don't behave, oh don't behave, oh
Eh, oh, don't behave, oh don't behave, oh
(You're goin' to the party and you're goin' to the show)
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can, ooh-woah-oh
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can
(You're goin' to the party and you're goin' to the show)

I did something bad, maybe I was wrong
Sometimes people say that I'm a big time bomb
But I'm only a man
And I do what I can

B-E-H-A-V-E arrest us
Italiana mobster looking so precious, uh
B-E-H-A-V-E never more
You gave up being good when you declared a state of war

Eh, oh, don't behave, oh don't behave, oh
Eh, oh, don't behave, oh don't behave, oh
Eh, oh, don't behave, oh don't behave, oh
(You're goin' to the party and you're goin' to the show)
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can, ooh-woah-oh
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can
(You're goin' to the party and you're goin' to the show)

Oh, woah-oh-woo
The fire hurts alright
'Cause we can make 'em all a bit crazy
We can make 'em alright
Oh, woah-oh-woo
The fire hurts alright
The people touch it
I can't touch it, even though it's mine

Eh, oh, don't behave, oh don't behave, oh
Eh, oh, don't behave, oh don't behave, oh
Eh, oh, don't behave, oh don't behave, oh
(You're goin' to the party and you're goin' to the show)
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can, ooh-woah-oh
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can (do what I can)

B-E-H-A-V-E arrest us
Italiana mobster looking so precious, uh
B-E-H-A-V-E never more
You gave up being good when you declared a state of war



@lucasdemedeirosfigueiredo4207

Letras
I got in a fight, I was indisposed
I was in, despite all the wicked prose
But I'm only a man
And I do what I can
I got friends in high places, I get out for free
I got in a fight, but they don't know me
'Cause I'm only a man
And I do what I can
B-E-H-A-V-E
Arrest us
Italiana mobster
Looking so precious
B-E-H-A-V-E
Never more
You gave up being good when you declared a state of war!
Eh I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh
I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh
I don't behave, I don't behave, oh
Are you going to the party? Are you going to the show?
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can, oh
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can
Are you going to the party? Are you going to the show?
I did something bad, maybe I was wrong
Sometimes people say that I'm a big time bomb
But I'm only a man
And I do what I can
B-E-H-A-V-E
Arrest us
Italiana mobster
Looking so precious
B-E-H-A-V-E
Never more
You gave up being good when you declared a state of war
Eh I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh
I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh
I don't behave, I don't behave, oh
Are you going to the party? Are you going to the show?
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can, oh
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can
Are you going to the party? Are you going to the show?
Oh, whoa, o, whoa
The fire it's alright
'Cause we can make 'em all go crazy
We can make 'em wanna die
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa
The fire it's alright
The people touch it
I can't touch, even though it's mine
Eh I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh
I don't behave, I don't behave, oh eh
I don't behave, I don't behave, oh
Are you going to the party? Are you going to the show?
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can, oh
'Cause I'm only a man, do what I can
B-E-H-A-V-E
Arrest us
Italiana mobster
Looking so precious
B-E-H-A-V-E
Never more
You gave up being good when you declared a state of war



All comments from YouTube:

@ilikealotofthings731

I don't understand anything she says.. but i'm living for it.

@lightup6882

Y?

@vanessasarahilizarragaoliv6591

your profile picture relates it xDD

@ey04

Drag race reference??

@21stCenturyDub

A, e oa e a

@smuglumine4949

I dont know what the fuck she saying, but girl i am living!

23 More Replies...

@miahipolito7

I was wondering why the lyrics didn't make any sense until someone explained that this song is about Al Pacino in the Godfather as a gender fluid vampire who travels space and suddenly I understood everything.

@minizomoni

ikr same and i think the lyrics are pretty cool and that Grimes is a true genius B)

@annaleathompson2702

I thought it was a burn on the American apparel controversy cause she’s wearing the bodysuit from there talking about wing a man and doing whatever she wants and doing dangerous shit

@ChloeLKhossmer

I'm sorry, but how did that clusterfuck of random concepts make perfect sense??

More Comments

More Versions