Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics

I don't ever want to hate you
The singer does not wish to despise the person they are addressing.

So don't show me your bed
The singer desires to avoid sexual relations with the person they are addressing.

The only roads are cul-de-sacs
There are no alternatives or escape routes in this situation.

The first thing that she said
The girl in question made the first statement in the conversation.

Temptation greets you like your naughty mate
The feeling of desire is compared to a mischievous companion who encourages risky behavior.

The one that used to get you in bother
The temptation feels like the same trouble-making friend from the past.

But one you could never bring yourself to hate
Even though the temptation is potentially harmful, the singer still feels drawn to it.

And she said we've got that spark
The girl suggested that there is a particular spark between them.

That only lights a fuse
This spark leads to explosive excitement and adventure.

Helps you see in the dark
The excitement can guide you in the right direction when everything else is uncertain.

But it's a sight you'll lose when
This ability to see clearly will fade when something else takes over.

The temptation greets you like your naughty friend
Once again, the feeling of desire is compared to a troublesome friend.

The only ends are dead
There is no hope or benefit in continuing down this path.

One that made you steal and set things on fire
The singer has been drawn to similarly dangerous temptations in the past.

But one you haven't seen of late
They have not indulged in such temptations in some time.

And I said that kind of talk
The artist is referencing their own words in a conversation with the girl.

Only adds intrigue
This kind of language only increases the temptation and allure of the situation.

To the cauldron of thought
The various thoughts and emotions brewing inside of the singer are like a boiling pot, ready to spill over.

It's already exceeding
The singer is already overwhelmed by their own desires and impulses.

Temptation, the very thing that held her back
The girl has also been held back by her own temptations and desires, preventing her from making certain choices.

It's not part of the plan
Desiring to avoid hating the person they are addressing is not part of some plot or scheme.

So keep your charm where I can't see it
The person should not try to use their charm to draw the artist in.

And your hands where I can
The person should not physically touch the singer in order to maintain distance.

We used to be in tight me and my naughty friends
The artist once indulged in risky behavior with a group of mischievous companions.

Caused enticement in the air I mean day 'n' night
This group of friends created an atmosphere of seduction and excitement that permeated everything they did.

We robbed, we stole, we loved to fight
Together, the group engaged in criminal activity and enjoyed physical conflict.

Smoking, drinking, joyriding
They also indulged in various vices like smoking, drinking, and reckless driving.

Drugs, thugs, not law-abiding
The group had no regard for the law and partook in illicit drugs and other illegal behavior.

Reckless gangsters, no direction
The artist and their friends were like disorganized criminals, often acting on impulse without any real plan.

No sign of correction
None of the group members ever sought to correct or change their behavior.

But then I switched it off
The singer decided to change and leave this lifestyle behind.

Changed my ways
The artist took steps to reform their behavior and make better choices.

What the hell
It was a difficult and unexpected decision to make.

Like oh my days
The artist is astonished by the changes they made in their life.

But like my naughty friends they're not phased
Despite the singer's changes, their old friends seem to be unaffected and unimpressed.

Can't believe that this music pays
The artist finds it hard to believe that they can now make a living through their music.

See no reason why we can't do
The singer sees no reason why they cannot still engage in risky behavior with their old friends.

All the things we've always done
The singer wishes to continue with their same habits and lifestyle from before.

Still in my heart I know that's just what
The singer understands that these desires are misguided and unwise, but they still exist within them.

But its hard to fight the temptation son
The artist struggles to resist these impulses and desires.

The panic will fall down around you
If the person does not follow the artist's instructions, they will be overwhelmed with fear and anxiety.