Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics


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The mirror's image
Tells me it's home time
But I'm not finished
'Cause you're not by my side
And as I arrived I thought I saw you leavin'
Carryin' your shoes
Decided that once again I was just dreamin'
Of bumpin' into you

Now it's three in the mornin'
And I'm tryna change your mind
Left you multiple missed calls
And to my message you reply
Why'd you only call me when you're high?
High
Why'd you only call me when you're high?

Somewhere darker
Talkin' the same shite
I need a partner (high)
Well are you out tonight?
It's harder and harder to get you to listen
More I get through the gears
Incapable of makin' alright decisions
And havin' bad ideas

Now it's three in the mornin'
And I'm tryna change your mind
Left you multiple missed calls
And to my message you reply (message you reply)
Why'd you only call me when you're high?
(Why'd you only call me when you're) high?
Why'd you only call me when you're high?

And I can't see you here, wonder where I might
It sort of feels like I'm runnin' out of time
I haven't found what I was hopin' to find
You said you gotta be up in the morning
Gonna have an early night
And you're starting to bore me, baby
Why'd you only call me when you're high?

Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?
Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?




Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?
Why'd you only ever phone me when you're (high)?

Overall Meaning

In the Arctic Monkeys' song Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?, the singer is obsessed with someone who only contacts them when they are under the influence. The mirror represents a transitional moment in the night where the singer is forced to acknowledge that he should go home but still wants to be with this person. He is disappointed to find out that he has just imagined seeing them again. The singer then attempts to contact them multiple times, but the only time his messages are replied to is when the person is high, leaving him confused and frustrated. The repetition of the phrase "Why'd you only call me when you're high?", combined with the escalating desperation in the singer's tone, emphasizes the frustration of the situation.


Line by Line Meaning

The mirror's image
Looking in the mirror, I can tell that it's time to go home.


Tells me it's home time
The mirror is reminding me that it's late and time to leave.


But I'm not finished
I still want to hang out or do something else.


'Cause you're not by my side
I feel incomplete without you here.


And as I arrived I thought I saw you leavin'
When I got to where you were, I thought you were leaving.


Carryin' your shoes
You were holding your shoes, which could mean you were planning on staying out longer.


Decided that once again I was just dreamin'
Realized that what I thought was happening was only in my imagination.


Of bumpin' into you
Of accidentally running into you.


Now it's three in the mornin'
It's very late at night.


And I'm tryna change your mind
I'm attempting to persuade you to come over or do something with me.


Left you multiple missed calls
I tried calling you several times.


And to my message you reply
You responded to my text message.


Why'd you only call me when you're high?
Why do you only contact me when you're under the influence of drugs?


High
Referring to being under the influence of drugs.


Somewhere darker
In a more mysterious or unknown location.


Talkin' the same shite
Having the same boring conversation.


I need a partner (high)
I want someone to hang out with who is also high.


Well are you out tonight?
Are you available to hang out tonight?


It's harder and harder to get you to listen
You are becoming increasingly difficult to communicate with or persuade.


More I get through the gears
The more I try to connect with you or get closer to you.


Incapable of makin' alright decisions
Unable to make good choices or decisions.


And havin' bad ideas
Thinking or suggesting things that are not well thought through or could lead to negative consequences.


And I can't see you here, wonder where I might
I'm not sure where you are or what you're doing, and I want to find you.


It sort of feels like I'm runnin' out of time
I feel like I'm running out of chances or opportunities to see you.


I haven't found what I was hopin' to find
I haven't achieved what I set out to do or find.


You said you gotta be up in the morning
You mentioned that you need to wake up early tomorrow.


Gonna have an early night
You plan to go to bed early.


And you're starting to bore me, baby
I'm beginning to lose interest or become less attracted to you.


Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?
Why do you only call me when you're under the influence of drugs, and not when you're sober?


Why'd you only ever phone me when you're (high)?
Again, why do you only contact me when you're under the influence of drugs?




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alex Turner

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@dawid5850

Lyrics
The mirror's image, it tells me it's home time
But I'm not finished, 'cause you're not by my side
And as I arrived I thought I saw you leavin', carryin' your shoes
Decided that once again I was just dreamin' of bumpin' into you

Now it's three in the mornin' and I'm tryin' to change your mind
Left you multiple missed calls and to my message, you reply
"Why'd you only call me when you're high?"
"Hi, why'd you only call me when you're high?"

Somewhere darker, talkin' the same shite
I need a partner, well, are you out tonight?
It's harder and harder to get you to listen
More I get through the gears
Incapable of makin' alright decisions, and havin' bad ideas

Now it's three in the mornin' and I'm tryin' to change your mind
Left you multiple missed calls and to my message you reply
"Why'd you only call me when you're high?"
"Hi, why'd you only call me when you're high?"

And I can't see you here, wonderin' where am I
It sort of feels like I'm runnin' out of time
I haven't found all I was hopin' to find
You said you gotta be up in the mornin'
Gonna have an early night
And you're startin' to bore me, baby
Why'd you only call me when you're high?


"Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?"
"Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?"
"Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?"
"Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?"



@azrielisasaylendra3076

The mirror's image
Tells me it's home time
But I'm not finished
'Cause you're not by my side
And as I arrived I thought I saw you leaving
Carrying your shoes
Decided that once again I was just dreaming
Of bumping into you

Now it's three in the morning and I'm trying to change your mind
Left you multiple missed calls and to my message you reply
"Why'd you only call me when you're high?
Hi, why'd you only call me when you're high?"

Somewhere darker
Talking the same shite
I need a partner (hey)
Well, are you out tonight?
It's harder and harder to get you to listen
More I get through the gears
Incapable of making alright decisions
And having bad ideas

Now it's three in the morning and I'm trying to change your mind
Left you multiple missed calls and to my message you reply (message you reply)
"Why'd you only call me when you're high? (why'd you only call me when you're high?)
Hi, why'd you only call me when you're high?"

And I can't see you here wonder where I might?
Sort of feels like I'm running out of time
I haven't found what I was hoping to find
You said, "You gotta be up in the morning, gonna have an early night
And you're starting to bore me, baby
Why'd you only call me when you're high?"

Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?
Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?
Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?
Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?



All comments from YouTube:

@klara9496

Nononononooo... This can't be 7 years ago, damn, time flies

@k_ratt

It made me have a whole ass mental breakdown 😔

@wardhi585

Ikrrrr

@Disturbedelv121

Jfc ik

@nenamarie3764

Exactly, I always come back to their videos and I forget that it was that long ago.

@arielreyz1636

Nah that's a different band

39 More Replies...

@tilda9865

It's crazy to me that this song is 9 years old but still a masterpiece

@human6638

it gives 1980 vibes

@Loganisbad

Songs as old as my sister

@Loganisbad

Well while AM album

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