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.
Waste
Arca Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It′s almost at the
But now your place, administrate
Take in the noise
Inject the
Sittin' in my head spinnin′
Yeah, he picked up the slack
Fold if you back down
Giving it assholes
Taking it all, all in
Pushing it back home
Nothin' to win, win
You're runnin′ the
Take me
And put another wall up
With my hand
To blame, I hate to say
Blood rush up my crack, the tighter the rope
Rain, looking up
Mayne
Why does he know my name?
But you can stay a while
City straits high, high high, high high
Oh high
Now, what′s that sound?
Look at you
Look at me
Look at you
Heavy sippin'
Higher, too real
It′s not the same
Close, better shake that waist
In this place, comes one thing
Turn it up high, high, high
For a long, a long
From the feeling, and I'm
Kinda fucked up
Can′t take the
And you're sleeping while trippin′
These hits, sniff these
Got you puffing these, got you puffing these
Giving it assholes
Take it all in
Pushin' it back right home
Wit' nothin′ to win
You′re runnin' the
Hey, hey
The lyrics of Arca's song "Waste" convey the experience of being lost in a turbulent and chaotic world. The opening lines, "Hey, hard song, it's almost at the end," suggest that the song is a metaphor for life, which is difficult but approaching its inevitable conclusion. The following lines, "But now your place, administrate, take in the noise, inject the space," suggest that rather than being a passive observer of life, the singer is actively engaging with the world around them. They are trying to make sense of the chaos by taking it in and infusing it with their own presence.
The chorus of "Waste" repeats the phrase "Giving it assholes, taking it all in, pushing it back home, nothin' to win." This can be interpreted as a commentary on the human tendency to consume and take from the world without regard for the consequences. The singer seems to be questioning whether this cycle of consumption and destruction is ultimately worth it, as there is nothing to be gained from it.
The lines "Blood rush up my crack, the tighter the rope, rain, looking up, Mayne, why does he know my name?" suggest a sense of unease and vulnerability in the singer. They feel like they are being watched and judged by others, and they are struggling to maintain their composure in the face of this scrutiny. The final lines of the song, "Can't take the hits, sniff these, got you puffin' these," suggest that the singer is turning to drugs in order to escape from their problems, but ultimately finding that they cannot provide a solution.
Overall, "Waste" is a powerful and introspective song that explores the complexities of the human experience. It encourages listeners to engage with the world around them and take responsibility for their actions, even in the face of chaos and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hard song
The song is harsh and difficult to listen to.
It’s almost at the
The song is almost over.
But now your place, administrate
It's the singer's turn to take control and set the tone of the music.
Take in the noise
The singer wants to absorb all the sounds and distractions around them.
Inject the
The singer is possibly referencing injecting drugs to augment the experience of performing.
Sittin' in my head spinnin'
The singer is feeling mentally overwhelmed and disoriented.
Yeah, he picked up the slack
Someone else has taken over and done the work that the singer was supposed to do.
Fold if you back down
If you give up, you are showing weakness.
Giving it assholes
The singer is giving their all, with little regard for others' feelings.
Taking it all, all in
The singer is dealing with everything thrown at them.
Pushing it back home
The singer is pushing their struggles and emotions aside and going back to their familiar environment.
Nothin' to win, win
Even if they succeed, the singer feels like they have nothing to gain.
You're runnin' the
The singer is in charge and leading the way.
Take me
The singer wants to be taken away from their current struggles and environment.
And put another wall up
The singer wants to block out the distractions and negativity around them.
With my hand
The singer wants control of the situation.
To blame, I hate to say
The singer is hesitant to take responsibility for their problems.
Blood rush up my crack, the tighter the rope
The singer is feeling the physical and emotional strain of their situation.
Rain, looking up
The singer is looking up and seeing rain, perhaps as a symbol of sadness or struggle.
Mayne
The singer is using a slang term for 'maybe.'
Why does he know my name?
The singer is referring to someone who knows personal information about them and is wondering how the person knows.
But you can stay a while
The singer is inviting someone to stay and share in their struggles.
City straits high, high high, high high
The singer is describing the city as chaotic and overwhelming.
Oh high
The singer is experiencing a euphoric or altered state of mind.
Now, what's that sound?
The singer wants to know what noise they are hearing.
Look at you
The singer is addressing someone, possibly in derision or admiration.
Look at me
The singer is asking someone to pay attention to them.
Heavy sippin'
The singer is drinking heavily.
Higher, too real
The singer is experiencing an intense and overwhelming sensation.
It's not the same
The singer is acknowledging that their experience is different than something else.
Close, better shake that waist
The singer wants someone to move or dance with them.
In this place, comes one thing
The singer is saying that one particular thing always happens in that environment.
Turn it up high, high, high
The singer wants the volume to be turned up as high as possible.
For a long, a long
The singer wants this intense experience to last a long time.
From the feeling, and I'm
The singer is referring to their emotions or sensations.
Kinda fucked up
The singer is describing their current state as being messed up or impaired.
Can't take the
The singer is unable to cope with a particular situation or emotion.
And you're sleeping while trippin'
The singer is describing someone else who is sleeping while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
These hits, sniff these
The singer is encouraging someone to use drugs with them.
Got you puffing these, got you puffing these
The singer is saying that someone is already using drugs with them.
Hey, hey
The singer is addressing someone or calling attention to something.
Contributed by Kaylee I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.