The balaclava is essentially the mask that the man wears when hooking up with a woman in order for them both not to get emotionally attached and for it to remain just sex.
“The confidence is the balaclava,” hints that even though the man might be catching feelings, nothing will ever be revealed. Not to the woman by giving hope, and not to the man by hinting anything. After all, it’s just sex."
Balaclava
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before the hour is done
It's more a question of feeling
Than it is a question of fun
The confidence is the balaclava
I'm sure you'll baffle 'em good
Will the ending reek of salty cheeks
And runny makeup alone?
Of a boy bewildered and scorned?
Or you'll find yourself in a skirmish
Where you wish you'd never been born
You tie yourself to the tracks
And there isn't no going back
And it's wrong, wrong, wrong
But we'll do it anyway 'cause we love a bit of trouble
Are you pulling her from a burning building
Or throwing her to the sharks?
Can only hope that the ending is a pleasurable as the start
The confidence is the balaclava
I'm sure you baffle 'em straight
And it's wrong, wrong, wrong
She can hardly wait
That's right, he won't let her out his sight
Now the shaggers perform
And the daggers are drawn
Who's the crooks in this crime?
That's right, he won't let her out his sight
Now the shaggers perform
And the daggers are drawn
Who's the crooks is this
Crime?
That's right, he won't let her out his sight
That's right, he won't let her out his sight
That's right, he won't let her out his sight
Well, you'll be able to boast
Of the day of the most
Flawless heist of all time
You knew that it'd be trouble
Right before the very first kiss
Quiet, unassuming
But you heard that they were the naughtiest
She pleaded with you to take it off
But you resisted and fought
But sorry, sweetheart, I'd much rather
Keep on the balaclava
The Arctic Monkeys' Balaclava is a haunting and edgy song that highlights themes of daring adventure, dangerous crime, and forbidden love. The song narrates the story of a couple who engage in criminal activities wearing balaclavas, a headgear that covers the face except for the eyes. The song's opening lines describe how the couple runs off into a neighbor's garden, and the singer states that the act is driven by the thrill of adventure and feeling more than for fun. The balaclavas serve as a symbol of confidence that baffles and intimidates their victims, adding an element of danger and intrigue to the story.
As the song progresses, the lyrics continue to describe the illicit activities of the couple. The chorus repeatedly refers to the balaclava as a symbol of confidence used to fool and outsmart their victims. The song also suggests the possibility of violence and bloodshed in the couple's criminal adventures. The singer wonders whether the couple will end up with runny makeup alone or blood on their face. The lyrics suggest that the couple's daring heist could go either way, resulting in either a triumphant conclusion or disastrous consequences.
Overall, Arctic Monkeys' Balaclava is an evocative, dark, and thought-provoking song that captures the spirit of daring adventure and the allure of the forbidden.
Line by Line Meaning
Running off over next door's garden
Making a quick escape through the neighboring garden
Before the hour is done
It must be done quickly
It's more a question of feeling
It's a matter of emotions rather than reason
Than it is a question of fun
It's not about enjoyment
The confidence is the balaclava
Wearing a mask gives confidence
I'm sure you'll baffle 'em good
You'll surely confuse them well
Will the ending reek of salty cheeks
Will the outcome be a sad one?
And runny makeup alone?
Will tears be shed?
Or will blood run down the face
Will violence occur?
Of a boy bewildered and scorned?
Resulting in the boy being confused and rejected?
Or you'll find yourself in a skirmish
Perhaps there will be a fight
Where you wish you'd never been born
Where you'd regret every decision you've made
You tie yourself to the tracks
You willingly put yourself in danger
And there isn't no going back
It's too late to change your mind
And it's wrong, wrong, wrong
It's morally incorrect
But we'll do it anyway 'cause we love a bit of trouble
But we'll do it anyway for the thrill of it
Are you pulling her from a burning building
Are you rescuing her from danger?
Or throwing her to the sharks?
Or putting her in danger yourself?
Can only hope that the ending is a pleasurable as the start
Hopefully, it ends on a positive note
She can hardly wait
She's eagerly anticipating it
That's right, he won't let her out his sight
He's keeping a close eye on her
Now the shaggers perform
Now they're intimate
And the daggers are drawn
Tension is building
Who's the crooks in this crime?
Who's at fault in this situation?
Well, you'll be able to boast
You'll be able to brag
Of the day of the most
About the day of the greatest
Flawless heist of all time
A perfect crime
You knew that it'd be trouble
You knew it would cause problems
Right before the very first kiss
Even before the start of their relationship
Quiet, unassuming
Appears innocent
But you heard that they were the naughtiest
But rumors suggest otherwise
She pleaded with you to take it off
She asked you to take off the balaclava
But you resisted and fought
But you refused to take it off
But sorry, sweetheart, I'd much rather
Sorry, but I prefer
Keep on the balaclava
To continue wearing the mask
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nick O'Malley, Alex Turner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pax
on 505
yo this is sick
robin
on When the Sun Goes Down
DAMNNN THEY ARE GOOD GOOD
robin
on Old Yellow Bricks
damn looking at these comments remind me that there is so many things to understand about the lyrics
Birgit Eierhoff
on Do I Wanna Know
The sound goes into the blood. :)
Jeannie Smith
on Do I Wanna Know
I like it.