Tighten Up
The Black Keys Lyrics


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I wanted love, I needed love,
Most of all, most of all
Someone said true love was dead
And I'm bound to fall, bound to fall
For you
Oh, what can I do?
Yeah
Take my badge but my heart remains
Lovin' you, baby child
Tighten up on your reins
You're runnin' wild, runnin' wild
It's true

Sick for days,
So many ways
I'm achin' now,
I'm achin' now
It's times like these I need relief
Please show me how,
Oh show me how
To get right,
Yes outta sight

When I was young and moving fast
Nothing slowed me down,
Oh slowed me down
Now I let the others pass
I've come around,
Oh come around
'Cause I've found

Living just to keep going
Going just to be sane
All the while live knowing
Such a shame

I don't need to get steady
I know just how I feel




Telling you to be ready
My dear

Overall Meaning

The song Tighten Up by The Black Keys is about love and the emotions that come with it. It talks about a love that is not reciprocated and the pain that comes with it. The first two lines of the song, "I wanted love, I needed love, Most of all, most of all" show how important love is to the singer. Love is the one thing that he wants and needs more than anything else in the world. However, his love for someone is unrequited, as he mentions in "Someone said true love was dead, And I'm bound to fall, bound to fall for you."


The chorus of the song is a message to the person he loves. He says that she can take his badge, his possessions, but his heart remains with her. He asks her to "tighten up on her reins" because she is running wild. The singer is willing to do whatever it takes to make her happy and wants her to be with him. This message is further reinforced in the second verse, where he talks about how he is sick and needs relief. He wants her to show him how to get right and outta sight, meaning he wants her to help him out of his misery and make him happy again.


Overall, the song is about the pain of unrequited love and the singer's desire to be with the person he loves. He is willing to do whatever it takes to be with her and is willing to let go of his past and move forward. The song is a powerful and emotional message about love and the struggles that come with it.


Line by Line Meaning

I wanted love, I needed love, Most of all, most of all
I was in search of love, it was what I needed most.


Someone said true love was dead And I'm bound to fall, bound to fall For you Oh, what can I do? Yeah
Despite claims that real love no longer exists, I am going to fall for you regardless, and I don't know what to do about it.


Take my badge but my heart remains Lovin' you, baby child Tighten up on your reins You're runnin' wild, runnin' wild It's true
Even if you take everything tangible I have to offer, my love for you will always endure. However, I implore you to control your actions, as you're acting recklessly and without direction.


Sick for days, So many ways I'm achin' now, I'm achin' now It's times like these I need relief Please show me how, Oh show me how To get right, Yes outta sight
I have been suffering for a while in various ways, and I am struggling to find relief. I need someone to show me how to overcome these issues and get back on track.


When I was young and moving fast Nothing slowed me down, Oh slowed me down Now I let the others pass I've come around, Oh come around 'Cause I've found
In my youth, nothing could hold me back, but now I have learned to slow down and let others catch up. This is because I have discovered something valuable.


Living just to keep going Going just to be sane All the while live knowing Such a shame
I feel like I am only living to survive, and my only hope is to maintain my sanity. All the while, I know that this is a sad reality.


I don't need to get steady I know just how I feel Telling you to be ready My dear
I don't need to commit or become predictable, as I am certain of how I feel. However, I advise you to be prepared for what could happen between us, my dear.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@theblackkeys

Brothers Deluxe Remastered 10th Anniversary Edition is available in North America on December 18, 2020 & internationally on January 1, 2021.
Pre-order the 7” box set or 2-LP set or CD here: http://smarturl.it/TheBlackKeysBrothers

@Anarchy_Shark

got to love the way they combine child like inocence and girl troubles. truely a master peice.

@Badass392

Man those kids have deep voices

@haydenspears19

man buddy holly and ron weasley with a beard make some good music

@yassarout

Black Keys you're the proof that there's still some good music out there.

@MaeChristabel

I'm in love with The Black Keys. I introduced them to my boyfriend, he is now also in love with them. Our relationship has been amazing since.

@xbartndrgrl

I heard this on the radio last night while driving home super late- and I almost ran into the curb. Their sound is reminiscent of rock and old soul; something rarely heard in today's music. This song tugs at your soul. Thanks so much for making it.

@Qrocknrollfreak13

"Living just to keep going, going just to be sane" One of the best lines of the whole song

@LiamCrowley1990

I remember seeing this video when it had about 4,000 views, I'm so happy they broke through, they deserve it so much, this album is absolutely awesome.

@1luigy2

Nice Parents

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