Arca embraces fluidity and changing between states, whether it be gender, genre, or personality. In a 2020 interview, they say "We all have multiple personalities. Rather than causing panic, I think maybe that could cause some relief". "There was a clear intention on her fourth album, Kick i to allow every self to express itself. Not to decide how much air time each self would get, but to allow for modulation between them in a spontaneous way. There is no such thing as normal". In Mutability and ambivalence guide the sound of her music — the atmospheres they create often contain abrasive percussive blasts, metal-shop whine, the screech of subway brakes, the whine of jet engines overheating. Anthropomorphic and animalistic sounds abound —mewling cats, mooing cows, anguished screams, the grunts and groans of orgasm, commingling pleasure and terror and beauty and ugliness in the most thrilling ways possible.
She has also been credited for her writing/producing efforts on Björk's Vulnicura and the entirety of Utopia. Alongside FKA twigs' EP2 as well as for their collaborations with Dean Blunt, Frank Ocean, Kelela, Kanye West, ROSALÍA and Lady Gaga, among others.
DOEP
Arca Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Winkin' at fate
I'm 'bout to lift off
Forever maintained if I hit the first stalls
Give it all up, sweet, we could take you [?]- stop
Never for time to push pause
If you drink it up, we keep it goin' for long
[?] what'd you do for no cause, pause
A body that swing, swing
Just do the right thing
Bobbin', I mean just do the right thing
See you gettin' it
Takin that dude off your hand
Cuz, uh
Tonight I'mma watch you stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke
Feels like I'm on dope, dope, dope, dope, dope, dope
When I watch you stroke
When I watch you stroke
Stroke
Remember, you had all those dreams, always seemed so obscene
The ones you twisted and turned
I'm gonna
I split from my lip
Hand of steady shit
Talkin burgers up Lincoln's finna get-
Breakin the flow now hear me [?]
After the shit you put me through, say it
Cuz I'mma little bit about you, stroke
Uh, uh, uh
Feels like I'm on drugs
Tied down when I watch you, stroke
Stroke, stroke, dope, stroke
The song DOEP by Arca starts with a repetitive chant of "dope" indicating the theme of the song, which seems to be about the effects of drugs. The second line mentions the artist "winkin' at fate" and indicates that they are about to get high. The following lines suggest that the artist will be able to maintain the feeling of being high forever if they hit the first stall, indicating that they are in this for the long haul. The phrase "even if you did have a clause" suggests that the artist is not bound by any rules and can engage in whatever behavior they want, regardless of the consequences.
The pre-chorus carries the same theme when it asks the listener what they would do for no cause, indicating that the artist does not care about the reason for their behavior as long as it helps them to feel good. The chorus is repetitive and indicates the pleasure that the artist experiences when watching someone stroke, with the word "stroke" used as a metaphor for sex. The bridge talks about the dreams that the artist used to have and how they are going to fulfill them. The song ends by emphasizing the feeling of being high when watching someone stroke.
Line by Line Meaning
Mmmm dope, dope, dope, dope, dope, dope
Expressing how amazing something is, using the slang for an illegal drug.
Winkin' at fate
Being ready to take risks and challenge fate.
I'm 'bout to lift off
About to embark on an exciting and transformative journey.
Forever maintained if I hit the first stalls
If I achieve success early on, I'll be able to sustain it for a long time.
Give it all up, sweet, we could take you [?]- stop
Offering to help someone get ahead by giving them the opportunity to focus their efforts on their goal.
Never for time to push pause
There's no time to waste; we need to keep going and striving towards our goals.
If you drink it up, we keep it goin' for long
If you keep up your motivation, we can continue to work hard and succeed for a long time.
But you held back, even if you did have a clause
You let something hold you back, even though you had the option to succeed.
[?] what'd you do for no cause, pause
Asking someone to explain why they did something without any good reason.
A body that swing, swing
Someone who is confident and comfortable in their own skin.
Just do the right thing
Encouraging someone to make the right decision.
Bobbin', I mean just do the right thing
Repeating the same encouragement to do the right thing.
See you gettin' it
Noticing someone succeeding and making progress towards their goals.
Takin that dude off your hand
Helping someone who is struggling to achieve their goals because they have someone else who is holding them back.
Cuz, uh, Tonight I'mma watch you stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke
Watching in admiration as someone makes steady and consistent progress towards their goal.
Feels like I'm on dope, dope, dope, dope, dope, dope
Feeling a sense of euphoria and excitement while watching someone succeed.
When I watch you stroke
Finding inspiration and motivation in someone's steady progress towards success.
Stroke
Continuing to make slow and steady progress towards a goal.
Remember, you had all those dreams, always seemed so obscene
Recalling how someone had big and seemingly impossible dreams in the past.
The ones you twisted and turned
The dreams someone had to adjust and adapt over time in order to make them achievable.
I'm gonna
Indicating a forthcoming action or decision.
I split from my lip
Speaking honestly and saying what is on your mind.
Hand of steady shit
Having a confident and stable approach to handling challenges and obstacles.
Talkin burgers up Lincoln's finna get-
Using slang to say that something big is about to happen.
Breakin the flow now hear me [?]
Pausing to emphasize the importance of a point being made.
After the shit you put me through, say it
Demanding that someone recognize and acknowledge the struggles and obstacles someone has faced.
Cuz I'mma little bit about you, stroke
Having admiration and respect for someone who has overcome struggles and made steady progress towards their goals.
Uh, uh, uh
Expressing a sense of excitement and anticipation.
Feels like I'm on drugs
Feeling a sense of euphoria and excitement while watching someone succeed or make progress.
Tied down when I watch you, stroke
Feeling captivated and entranced by someone's steady and consistent progress towards their goal.
Stroke, stroke, dope, stroke
Repeatedly emphasizing the importance of making steady and consistent progress towards a goal.
Writer(s): Alejandro Ghersi
Contributed by Anna D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.